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pontcanna
03-18-2012, 01:50 AM
Jamie Crooks steals the show at Royals awards ceremony with MVP honours

BY CLEVE DHEENSAW, TIMES COLONIST MARCH 17, 2012 11:01 PM

The quiet-spoken Jamie Crooks is a man of few words, but many goals.

Thirty-seven this season, to be exact.

The unassuming 20-year-old native of Vermillion, Alta., was named the MVP of the Victoria Royals’ inaugural season during the team’s awards gala Saturday at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

The previous night, before a capacity crowd of 7,006 in the same building, Crooks scored the final goal of the regular season in a riveting 3-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks that clinched a playoff berth. It was a fitting closing of the circle since Crooks also scored the first-ever goal by a Royals player in the Memorial Centre last fall.

“I’ve got a good shot and like to go to the net to get some of the greasy goals, too,” said Crooks, who turned 20 in January.

Only five-foot-11, Crooks has a way of finding the offensive seams. He also won the team’s top scorer award with his 67 points in 72 games.

A pivotal point in the season came in January when Buffalo Sabres-prospect and then-Royals leading scorer Kevin Sundher was traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

“Some of the other guys knew they had to step up, and that’s what a bunch of us did,” said Crooks.

The seventh-seed Royals are preparing for the first round of the playoffs, where they will meet the Western Conference’s second-seeded Kamloops Blazers on the road in Games

1-2 next Friday and Saturday.

“It doesn’t stop here by just making the playoffs,” said Crooks.

“We hope to go on a bit of a run. We’re not satisfied yet.”

Crooks is clearly integral to the Royals’ playoff prospects.

“Jamie has hands of gold and a real knack and a mind for the game,” said Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.

“When Kevin [Sundher] was traded, some wondered how Jamie would play. He answered the critics. Jamie was thrust into a leadership role. In his own quiet way, he has done a really good job.”

Minnesota-native Logan Nelson, who placed second behind Crooks in team points with 62 and is listed the 108th-ranked North American skater for the 2012 NHL draft, was a revelation this season and won the Royals rookie of the year award.

“Logan has a ton of potential,” said assistant coach Ben Cooper.

Captain and graduating player Hayden Rintoul was selected top Royals defenceman.

“Through all the ups and downs of the season, these were the best fans in the WHL,” said the native of Calgary, who went to the Memorial Cup last year as a member of the WHL-champion Kootenay Ice.

“It was awesome. Marc [Habscheid] gave me all the opportunity in the world this season. I didn’t know what was in store for me but the buzz around town was really exciting. I am proud to be the first captain of the Victoria Royals. That was something special.

“We ended the season on a high note [five of a possible six points over the final three games] and definitely hope to carry it into the playoffs and make a run. I can’t wait to start the playoffs.”

Mike Forsyth, who scored the winning goal in Friday’s critical victory over the Winterhawks, won the Unsung Hero award.

“Mike does the little things — like playing against the other team’s top lines and is one of the glue guys,” said Cooper.

Californian Taylor Crunk, who has a seven-course load in school, was selected the most dedicated player while forward Tim Traber was cited as the hardest-working player.

The gentle giant and Carolina Hurricanes draft-pick Tyler Stahl won the community service award, Austin Carroll the scholastic award and graduating Czech-import and the team’s third-leading scorer Robin Soudek won the Fan’s Choice Award.

“It’s been a heck of a ride so far,” said Habscheid, of 2011-12.

It just got bumpier with energy-forward Brandon Magee likely to miss the playoffs because of an injury incurred in Friday’s game.

CdnSailor
03-18-2012, 10:13 AM
ROYALS CAP OFF REGULAR SEASON WITH AWARDS CEREMONY
Jamie Crooks takes home National Bank Financial Most Valuable Player and Monster Signs Top Scorer honours!

For Immediate Release
Saturday, March 17, 2012

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals 1st Annual Awards Ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Cliff Lesquene, from 100.3 the Q, hosted the inaugural event that saw the organization hand out 10 awards in total.

Jamie Crooks was chosen as the team’s most valuable player as he took home the National Bank Financial MVP Award. The Vermilion, AB native also earned the Monster Signs Top Scorer award finishing the season with 67 points (37g-30a).

Royals’ captain, Hayden Rintoul, was presented the Wilson’s Transportation Top Defenseman award, and Logan Nelson was named the Ron Neal Rookie of the Year.

Austin Carroll was presented with the Fisgard Scholastic player of the year award. The Telus Community Service award was given to Tyler Stahl.

Tim Traber was awarded the Regus Hardest Worker award, while Mike Forsyth was named the Coke Zero Unsung Hero. Rookie Taylor Crunk earned the Connect Hearing Most Dedicated trophy.

The Keg Fans’ Choice award, chosen by a vote on www.victoriaroyals.com, was presented to Robin Soudek.