Frank Sabatino Tournament Chair Sportsmanship Award Winner - Atom Division

2011 FSMT Tournament Chair - Shona Compton (pictured) Mitchell was not available for photo - award accepted on his behalf.

Atom Award Recipient -  MITCHELL RAPOSO – LONDON SSE WILD DOGS

The SSE Wild Dogs are pleased to nominate Mitchell Raposo for the Sportsmanship Award for his solid work ethic on the ice and extremely positive influence on his teammates on and off the ice. 

Mitchell is enjoying his first full season following a fairly severe broken leg that sidelined him most of last season.  From the season’s outset, his mobility was noticeably impacted by the injury but we’ve seen measurable and consistent improvement as a result of his very solid work ethic on the ice.  Clearly Mitchell has been playing through a fair bit of discomfort but we never once heard him complain about it and, in fact, Mitchell is always among the hardest workers on the ice.  I should add that Mitchell is a bit of a victim of his size in that, being our biggest player, he would definitely stand out if he was not working hard both in games and in practice.  Instead, Mitchell has lead his team mates by his example and other players have been quick to pick up on his work ethic.  Each game, we present what we call the “Worked Like a Dog” Award which is a hardhat to signify the hardest working player during that game.  Mitchell was one of the very first to receive that award. 

For these reasons, Mitchell has been a joy to have on our team this year but his on ice example is only part of the reason for this nomination.  Rather it is Mitchell’s off ice leadership and positive influence on his team mates that made him our choice for this nomination.  To follow is a quick Mitchell story to illustrate his unassuming yet influencial nature;   

Early in the season, Mitchell showed up for a game with his stick taped in bright pink tape.  Being October, I initially assumed it was for Breast Cancer Awareness Month although a number of London high schools had also adapted pink as an anti-bullying statement as well.  Either way, Mitchell certainly attracted a fair bit of attention on that day and despite some good natured ribbing on the bench, he scored a pivotal goal during the game.  The next game another player came with his stick taped in bright pink and darned if he didn’t score a goal as well.  At that point, we felt that we were on to something and before long, the entire team had followed Mitchell’s lead and pink tape became a great team building statement for us.  Even the kids that were initially reluctant, and even a bit standoffish, came onside and it was Mitchell’s lead role that made the difference.  I’ve heard him remark on a number of occasions that “there is no I in team” and I’ve thought that he really is wise beyond his years with his approach. 

A neat twist to the story is that the pink tape actually came to be an anti-bullying statement for our team during a December tournament when we became aware that a few opposing parents had taunted the boys over the pink tape.  As a team, we had a good discussion about the issue of bullying before our next game and the boys responded with not only a solid victory over that same team but they also started putting pink tape on their helmets and socks and a few even showed up with pink laces on their skates as well.   All of this became a terrific team unifier at an important time of the season and it all started with Mitchell Raposo.  On that day in December, I could not have been prouder of the boys. 

One of the more memorable moments of the season so far was prior to a game in December when it looked like someone had exploded a “pink tape bomb” in the dressing room.  We pressed Mitchell on the reason for him putting pink tape on his stick in the first place.  His response, “it’s my favorite colour”.  Cue a terrific team laugh that preceded a very spirited Wild Dogs victory that day.

In the initial team selection and rebalancing process, our team was the “spare parts” bunch.  A few of the boys have played together on different teams in the past but for the most part, they were mostly strangers to start the year.  We believe that Mitchell Raposo, in his unassuming yet influential way,  had a direct impact on our team coming together quickly and bonding early in the season and we have been looking forward to this tournament “on the road” to take that unity to another level.  He’s a great character guy and as mentioned earlier, he’s been a joy to have on our team this season.    

Thanks for your consideration.

 

Back to top

 

Peewee White Division

We, The Coaches of KMHA Major PeeWee Phantoms, would like to nominate Jason Bleach for the Frank Sabatino Sportsmanship award. This is a player who, in our opinion, exhibits the best of what hockey is meant to teach our children.

He has a sense of humor on and off the ice that keeps all of the players laughing, highlighting the primary function of minor hockey, Having Fun. He inspires the team even in the face of adversity to keep playing with heart, showing Dedication to his team and Focus on the objective.

When frustrated on the ice he forces himself to keep on playing, never quitting, showing Perseverance and Courage. He plays as a Team Player not an individual, by playing his assignments versus trying to score, knowing that his job on the ice contributes to the whole teams success.

This player is an inspiration to the coaching staff as he reflects the attributes that we try to instill in every individual on our team.

Thank you

The Coaching Staff

KMHA PeeWee Phantoms

 

Back to top

Peewee Red Division

This is the fourth consecutive year I have coached Marc-Andre.  I can tell you that without one single exception in four years Marc-Andre has always been respectful to his coaches, listened attentively, NEVER needed to be motivated to work hard and has always displayed a heart three times the size of any other player. 

Marc-Andre is not a big player by any means, he does not have the hardest shot, he is not the fastest skater nor does he score a lot of goals but all you have to do is watch his determination, grit and lack of fear to know this young man is a real competitor.  At the same time he has NEVER shown any sign of dis-respect to any opponent, official or coach in the four years I have been around Marc-Andre. 

From other Coaches and Teachers: In any sport he has played he is always respectful of officials, coaches and other players.

He demonstrates his positive attitude by his work ethic and how hard he plays the game and encourages his teammates to do the same.

He was named to be captain of his football team although he was a year younger than almost all the players, this was not related solely to skill but because he was encouraging to the players who needed help and was more than happy to provide that help as well as showing a very hard work ethic, especially in the huddle.  

At school he has volunteered to help the kindergarten children at recess, organizing games for them and helping them to get dressed in their snow suits to go outside.

He takes instruction well and co-operates with his teammates and coaches to create a fun environment for all.  

The way he plays the game as hard as he does, and without fear, is and should be encouraging to the other players on the team, as he is certainly not the biggest or most skilled player on the ice. I believe the other player respect this as do his opponents and officials, this should have positive impact on his teammates.

Back to top