PHOTOS: Lisa Mazurek Photography & Tami Quan Photography
Burnaby, B.C. — After polling coaches and broadcasters from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Vernon Vipers and West Kelowna Warriors, the BC Hockey League announced on Friday the winners of the individual Vernon pod awards.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks won three of the four voting awards, plus had the top scorer.
Vernon Pod Most Valuable Player
Simon Tassy (SA Silverbacks) – 20GP – 18G – 9A – 27PTS
Tassy led the entire BCHL in goals with 18 in 20 games and his 27 points ranked 7th league-wide, so this honour comes as little surprise. What’s most impressive is how much of his offence came at 5-on-5. Tassy had just three power play points and one short-handed goal during the pod season, making him the top even-strength scorer in the league. His combination of speed, quick hands and lethal shot made him dangerous every time he was on the ice. After just one goal in his first five games, Tassy went on to score 17 goals in his final 15 games! The Mirabel, Que. native also led the BCHL in multi-goal games, with six. Tassy committed to Minnesota State University this pod season.
Vernon Pod Top Defenceman
Hunter Sansbury (SA Silverbacks) – 20GP – 2G – 11A – 13PTS
Sansbury’s impact off the ice was gigantic during his time in Salmon Arm, but let’s not understate how valuable he was for the Backs on the ice. The Lomita, CA native led all Backs defencemen with 13 points, which was just outside the top-10 in the BCHL amongst blueliners. He played in all situations for the club, averaging close to 30 minutes per game during a stretch in the middle of the season when the Backs only dressed five defencemen. And yet, he never tired. His physical style of play set the tone on many nights. Sansbury is headed to Sacred Heart University next season.
Vernon Pod Top Rookie
Noah Serdachny (SA Silverbacks) – 20GP – 6G – 18A – 24PTS
Serdachny took massive strides from the exhibition season last fall to the pod season, where he jumped right in and centered the most dangerous line in the BCHL alongside Tassy and Sullivan Mack. The 18-year-old finished fourth in rookie scoring in the BCHL with 24 points, but was the highest scoring 2003-born player (or younger) by far. His 18 assists were the most of any rookie and were the third-most of any skater in the BCHL. Just like Tassy, Serdachny’s high 5-on-5 totals were impressive, with just six of his 24 points coming on the power play. The Edmonton, AB native began his BCHL career on a six-game point streak and recorded seven multi-point games.
Vernon Pod Top Goalie
James Porter Jr. (Vernon Vipers) – 14GP – 9-3-1 – .918 SV% – 2.38 GAA – 2 SO
Non-Voting Awards
Vernon Pod Leading Scorer: Simon Tassy (SA Silverbacks) – 27 points
