Ripplinger cleans up at Legionnaires Awards Banquet

The Swift Current U18 AAA Legionnaires handed out their annual awards. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Team captain Matthew Ripplinger won over half of the awards at the Swift Current Home Hardware U18 AAA Legionnaires awards banquet with five individual awards.

The Legionnaires missed the playoffs by mere percentage points this season with a 17-22-0-5 record.

Ripplinger, a 5’7’’ forward from Regina, led the Legionnaires with 22 goals and 43 points in 42 games. He collected the Most Valuable Player Award, the Top Scorer Award, and the Most Game Stars Award after being named the game star in 10 of 44 regular season games. He was also named the recipient of the Players Choice Award as voted on by the players and won the Scholastic Award with a 97.3 average.

Local player Hudson Darby won the Top Rookie Award after leading the team with 22 assists and finishing second with 36 points in 43 games.

Nick Smolinski was named the Best Defenseman. The Moose Jaw product contributed two goals and 16 assists in 44 games on the blueline.

Carter Cormier captured the Coaches Award for Dedication and Desire after contributing 30 points in 28 games with the Legionnaires.

Local defenseman Theo McGuire was named the Most Improved Player after posting six points in 43 games on the blueline this season.