A sportsmanlike Warrior

Photo: Wayne Moore - File Photo

Mike Hardman scores one of his team-leading 39 goals.

West Kelowna Warriors rookie forward Mike Hardman has collected some BCHL hardware.

Hardman was voted the league's most sportsmanlike player and winner of the Bob Fenton Trophy.

The award is handed out each year to a player who exhibited the fundamental aspects of sportsmanship while excelling at the game, as determined by a vote of the league’s coaches.

In his first season with the Warriors Hardman, 19, led the team in goals with 39 and points with 72 while playing all 58 regular season games.

Overall, he was second in the league in goals and third in points.

He amassed those point totals while spending just 16 minutes in the penalty box.

"Biggest thing is that I try to play the right way but at the same time I play physical and create scoring chances" stated Hardman.

"Thank you to my coaches and my teammates for pushing me to be best I can be."

He's the first Warrior to ever win the award.

Hardman is also one of four Interior Division players named winner of on the of league's six voted-on awards.

Other winners include:

• Top Defenceman, James Miller - Penticton Vees
• Top Goaltender, Jack LaFontaine - Penticton Vees
• Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy - Coach of the Year, Joe Martin - Merritt Centennials
• Vern Dye Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player, Alex Newhook - forward - Victoria Grizzlies
• Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy - Rookie of the Year, Alexander Campbell - forward - Victoria Grizzlies

Newhook was also the league's top scorer with 102 points while Penticton's goaltending duo of LaFontaine and Derek Krall were the top tandem with a combined 2.33 goals against average.