SPONSOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is presented to an individual person, non-profit, or corporate company that has helped promote and support programs, events, or leagues of the game of lacrosse at the local or provincial level.

Award Recipient

$5,000 donation to purchase two sets of shot clocks

Other deserving award recipients:

• Pepsi – Yorkton & Saskatoon
• South Hill Fine Foods – David Klatt – Moose Jaw
• Stan Frank – The Frank Cart – Regina
• Fountain Tire – Saskatoon
• McDonald’s – Estevan

MEDIA AWARD

This award is presented to a member or an organization of the media – radio, television, or newspaper regardless of size or frequency of publication, who is deemed to have contributed to the promotion of lacrosse.

Award Recipient

• Mike Stackhouse – 94.1 Fox FM – Yorkton – winner

• helped Yorkton Junior Bulldogs lead league in attendance in 1^st season in SMBLL by promoting and announcing the games

Other deserving award recipients:

• Moose Jaw Times Herald
• Access Communications – Regina/Yorkton
• CTV Sports – Saskatoon
• Esther Madziya – Global Saskatoon
• Joe Keen – Eagle FM 94.1 Swift Current
• CK 750 & CJVR FM Melfort nominated by Prince Albert

COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD

Candidates are chosen from the ranks of coaches irrespective of division level, league or winning record. They are judged on their accomplishments of instilling playing ability, sportsmanship and competitiveness in their players.

Award Recipient

• Ryan Brimacombe – Saskatoon – co-recipient

- helped in coaching 3 teams in Prince Albert Box Lacrosse

Other deserving award recipients:

• Barry Stewart – Moose Jaw
• Don Larson – Regina
• Bob Sullivan – Saskatoon
• Dwight Harnish – Saskatoon

Candidates are chosen from the ranks of referees. They are judged on their achievements towards promoting sportsmanship and the image of the game.

Award Recipient

• Dave Werrett – Prince Albert – winner                                                                                                                            - Referee in chief for PA Lacrosse

Other deserving award recipients:

• Kevin Hall – Regina
• Greg Arkles – Moose Jaw
• Steven Martina – Saskatoon
• Sean Willick – Saskatoon
• Scott Taylor – Swift Current
• Ian Wilson – Saskatoon
• Corbett McCabe – Regina
• Dana Goertzen - Saskatoon

VOLUNTEER AWARD

Candidates will be judged on their accomplishments towards fostering and promoting the game, and improving the image and stature of lacrosse both at their level of function as well as provincially. The amount of time and commitment the volunteer has dedicated to the sport of lacrosse shall be taken into consideration.

Award Recipient

• Lori Love – Regina – winner

- V.P. Planning/Development for SLA

Other deserving award recipients:

• Bruce Peberdy – Regina
• Barry Stewart – Moose Jaw
• Kim Maher – Regina
• Sheila Weber – Saskatoon
• Geri & Jerry Trobak – Saskatoon
• Mike Surcon – Saskatoon
• Lisa Crowe – Swift Current
• Matti & Ken Hidlebaugh – Prince Albert
• Roxanne Pratt - Estevan

RUSSELL SLOBODIAN MEMORIAL (ATHLETE OF THE YEAR) AWARD -

This award is presented at the AGM to the player that best exemplifies the true spirit of Lacrosse.

This is translated to mean their work ethic, skill & determination, contribution to lacrosse both on and off the field and most importantly for their leadership skills as we believe this is important to the development of youth not only as athletes but also as human beings.

This award is named after Russell Slobodian who was born in 1967 in Ontario but was raised in Saskatoon. Russell was involved in sports his entire life even though he had a severe case of asthma which eventually cost him his life at the age of 21 as he passed away on July 8, 1989. He was a member of 1985 Saskatchewan Junior Provincial Team that attended the Canada Summer Games in St. John, N.B., which was the last year that Lacrosse was in the Canada Games. He was named an all-star In the 1986 Canadian Lacrosse Championships in Winnipeg. Lacrosse was his passion – he played with a great deal of enthusiasm and a high level of intensity. He had a strong desire to win and do his best, but sportsmanship and fairplay were his standard. As great as he was on the field – he was a true ambassador for the game of lacrosse. He volunteered his time by helping organize lacrosse and providing clinics for kids. The Saskatoon Lacrosse Association and the Sask. Lung Association use to hold a tournament in Russell’s name to raise money for children with Asthma to attend summer camps. Russell’s dad, Ron Slobodian stated that " It would have been Russell’s wish that they also could be active."

Award Recipient

• player for Saskatoon Smash & Sask Senior Men’s Field Provincial Team
• helped organize Saskatoon Inter-Lacrosse League & helped coach many teams

Other deserving award recipients:

• Chris Lesanko – Yorkton/Sturgis
• Jeff Kitts – Moose Jaw
• Ken Stewart – Moose Jaw
• Sean Peberdy – Regina
• Jordan Kropla – Saskatoon
• Gabe Sutherland – Saskatoon
• Matt Robin – Prince Albert

David Mitchell Recognition

We would also like to give an honourable mention for the athlete of the year award by recognizing an athlete that accomplished something this year no other Saskatchewan athletes have done since 1992 when Steve & Lyle Michaluk participated on the 1992 Canadian Junior Men’s Field National Team. David Mitchell of Moose Jaw was the only player from the prairie provinces to play for the 2003 Canadian Junior Men’s Field National Team, which captured the Silver medal at the World Championships in Baltimore this past summer.

David has also achieved another Saskatchewan first by being recruited to attend Cornell University, which is a Division 1 NCAA Lacrosse school in the Ivy League Conference.