Over the last few weeks, members of the NCHL's executive have been honoring longtime players with recognition awards. The league in recent years has been recognizing those who have reached the 100 game mark in their NCHL careers.
Denis Cadrin - Bonnyville Pontiacs
President Sam Maupin - Denis Cadrin On January 20th, the NCHL presented Denis Cadrin of the Bonnyville Pontiacs with a recognition award for having played over 100 games in the league. Denis is Bonnyville's career leader in all-time points scored, career assists and career games played. He is currently playing in his 7th season with the Pontiacs (in the NCHL), but his history in Bonnyville goes further back than that. Denis played for the Bonnyville Jr Pontiacs of the AJHL for three seasons before playing two seasons with the Jr B Cold Lake Ice of the NEJBHL. In 2014-15 he moved up to senior hockey with the Sr Pontiacs in the old Battle River League, where they won the last league championshiip before that league disbanded to merge into the NCHL. During his time in the NCHL, Denis was the league's scoring champ in 2016 as well as a 2nd team all star in 2022. Denis's career stats in the NCHL are impressive as he is currently the second leading active scorer with 105 GP, 60 G, 100 A, 160 Pts, 138 PIM. Congratulations Denis on these acheivements.
Karmen Ward - Westlock Warriors
Vice President Jerry Muise - Karmen Ward - President Sam Maupin On January 21st, the NCHL executive were on hand to present the Warrior's Karmen Ward with a recognition award for having played over 100 games in the league. Ward, from nearby Clyde, Alta, started his career with the Morinville Jets of the Capital Junior Hockey League, spending three seasons there before moving to the St. Albert Merchants of the CJHL for another two years. It was during this time (2013-14) that Karmen appeared with the Warriors as an affiliated player, appearing in two games. Ward joined the Warriiors for good for the 2015-16 season and has been a mainstay on their defense since that time. Purely a defensive defenseman, he's more renowned for preventing goals than scoring them. Karmen's NCHL totals are 106GP, 4G, 20A, 25Pts, 138 PIM. Congratulations Karmen on receiving this award.
Josh Kaliel - Westlock Warriors
Jerry Muise - Sam Maupin - Josh Kaliel Also on January 21st, the executive presented Warrior's defenseman Josh Kaliel with a recognition award for having played over 100 games in the NCHL. Josh, a native Westlockian, moved around quite a bit in his early hockey career, starting with a year with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL, then to the LaRonge Ice Wolves of the SJHL, then back to the AJHL with the Spruce Grove Saints. Somewhere around that time, Josh thought it was time to learn, so off he went to NAIT where he played for the Ooks in the ACAC for one season. In 2009-10, he suited up with the Legal Vipers of the NCHL before spending the next season in Sweden. He came back and joined the Warriors for the 2014-15 season and has been a mainstay on their defense since that time. Also a defensive defenseman who pots the odd goal, Josh's career NCHL totals are 105GP, 9G, 15A, 24Pts, 34PIM. Congratulations Josh on receiving this award.
Jared Williams - Lacombe Generals
Jerry Muise - Jared Williams - Sam Maupin
On January 27th, the executive presented General's General Manager/player Jared Williams with a recognition award for having played in over 100 games. Jared was one of the founders of the Generals as he and former player Reed Watts decided to move their team from Big Valley (Oil Kings) to Eckville (Eagles) and then finally moving to Lacombe for the 2019-20 season. Jared's career started with the Blackfalds Wranglers of the HJHL in 2009 where he spent 4 seasons, being named the team captain in his 4th season. In the 2014-15 season he played for the Big Valley Oil Kings of the Battle River League until that league folded and the teams merged with the NCHL. When in Eckville in 2018 they were President's Cup champs, losing out in the Vanberg Cup finals to Daysland. The team was moved to Lacombe for the 2019-20 season and have had incredible success there. They were President's Cup winners in 2022 and 2023, winning the Vanberg Cup in 2023. The also won the Alberta Senior AA Provincial championship in 2022. Jared's career totals are 103GP, 37G, 35A, 72Pts, 108PIM. More important than the points, the sucess of the Generals can be tied directly to Jared as their GM. Congratulations on being presented with this award.
Aaron Fedyk - Devon Barons
Jerry Muise - Aaron Fedyk - Kirk Holtet On February 2nd, the executive were on hand to present Baron's defenseman Aaron Fedyk a recognition award for having played 100 games in the NCHL. Aaron's career started off with the Wetaskiwin Icemen of the Capital Junior League for one season, then to the Mountainview Colts of the HJHL for a couple of years. After a year off, Aaron joined the Barons for the 2014-15 season fresh off their second Vanberg Cup. He's been an anchor on the Baron's blueline since that time, forming a dynamic duo with Zach Pezderic for a number of years. During his time in the NCHL, Aaron who has been named team captain on a couple of occasions, has never shied away from the rough going as illustrated by his penalty totals. As an opposing player, you wanted to know when Fedyk was on the ice! He is the Baron's leader in games played and all time penalty minutes, and is currently in the NCHL's top 10 all time penalty leaders. As he was receiving the award Aaron joked that "this should've happened much sooner", referring to his time spent suspended. Aaron's career totals in the NCHL are 100GP, 15G, 37A, 52 Pts, 433 PIM. Congratulations on receiving this award Aaron!
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