The US Bandy league awards has been decided for 2018-2019.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER REGULAR SEASON ELITE
Greg Olson, Dinkytown Dukes
The Dukes’ center fullback Olson was a dominating force again this year and was a huge factor in the Dukes winning another regular season title and a place in the Championship Final.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER ELITE PLAY OFF
Kirby Horgan, Tonka Bay Bombers
Bomber fullback Horgan was stellar in all five of the Bomber’s playoff games and was a big reason the Bombers were able to stop the Mojo and Dukes high powered offense.
ELITE SCORING CHAMPION
Jon Keseley , Dinkytown Dukes, 37 goals
Keseley won his amazing ninth straight USA Elite scoring title with 37 goals. The Bombers Mikael Licktieg had a great season and made a strong challenge, but fell short with 27 goals.
ELITE GOAL TENDER
Eric Kraska, Dinkytown Dukes. After an all-world performance last year that included the epic win over Team Norway, Kraska returned to play another stellar season and led the Dukes to the regular season title this year.
ELITE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Chris Halden, Tonka Bay Bombers
As legend would have it, the Bomber squad you see today was one phone call away from folding. But Halden decided to press on, and completely rebuilt the team in four years with the addition of several new players who fell in love with the sport and quickly improved.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jordy Murray, Tonka Bay Bombers
The former Wisconsin Badger Murray made an immediate impact with the Bombers, scoring in his first game. His clutch hat trick vs the Dukes in Game #2 of the Elite Finals was the lift the Bombers a needed to get back into the series and eventually win the Gunnar Cup.
REFEREE OF THE YEAR
Kevin Bowen
The amazing Bowen did it all again. Head of Referees, traveling to both Sweden and Russia for FIB referee duty at two major tournaments, and refereeing the vast majority of the USA Bandy league games.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER DIVISION 1 PLAYOFF
Chris Halden, EIBC
Halden scored a high pressure penalty shot goal in the OT shootout with Tsunami Ice in the semi-finals, and then did it again with the season on the line against the Saints in the D-1 Championship Final when he calmly stepped up and buried his OT penalty shot to give EIBC the D-1 Championship.
DIVISION 1 SCORING CHAMPION
Kyle Smythe, Saints, 18 goals