EVERETT — Both, in their own way, are charged with keeping the puck out of the Everett Silvertips net. Both have been so effective at their jobs that the Tips decided they deserved equal recognition.
Defenseman Ryan Murray and goaltender Kent Simpson were named Everett’s co-Most Valuable Players during Saturday night’s year-end awards ceremony, which took place at Comcast Arena following the Tips’ game against Portland.
The 17-year-old Murray has been Everett’s rock on defense. The White City, Saskatchewan, native had five goals, 37 assists and was a team-best plus-20 in 66 games going into Saturday. He served as the team’s stand-in captain while Landon Ferraro was out following hernia surgery.
Simpson, an 18-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta, has been a workhorse in goal for the Tips, particularly during the second half of the season. He is 21-20-5-4 with a 2.78 goals against average and .916 save percentage. Simpson was at his best during a recent stretch where he started 19 consecutive games before being sidelined because of a sprained ankle.
Murray was also given the Coaches Award, which is given to the player who best utilizes instruction. He was one of two players given an Iron Man Award — he’s played in every Everett game this season except for one he missed while trying out for Canada’s team for the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Nineteen-year-old defenseman Brennan Yadloswki was the other Iron Man Award recipient. Yadlowski played in all 61 of Everett’s games since arriving via trade with Lethbridge.
Josh Winquist was named the team’s Most Improved Player. The 17-year-old winger had seven goals and 16 assists in 60 games, nearly tripling his output from his rookie season.
Winger Jari Erricson was named the Rookie of the Year. Erricson, who turned 17 in January, had seven goals and seven assists in 55 games.
Center Clayton Cumiskey was named the Unsung Hero for his contributions beyond the scoresheet. It was the second straight year the 20-year-old, who had seven goals and 17 assists in 57 games, was named the Unsung Hero.
Ferraro, Everett’s 19-year-old captain, took home two awards. He received the Community Relations Award for his work in the public realm, and he also won the booster club’s F.I.E.R.C.E. Predator Award.
Seventeen-year-old defenseman Evan Morden was named the team’s Scholastic Player of the Year.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
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