The best of the best from the den were rewarded during the Olds Grizzlys annual awards banquet over the weekend.
The Black & Gold recognized their top performers from the 2024-2025 Alberta Junior Hockey League season on Saturday, February 22nd at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites in Olds.
The evening also included the annual jersey auction, a silent auction, plus hot stove hockey discussion featuring Stanley Cup champion Jay Beagle, former National Hockey League Captain and 1990-1991 Coach of the Year Brian Sutter, as well as Jay Rosehill – a former Olds Grizzly and NHLer with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers.
The winner of the Top Teammate award for the Grizzlys this season is forward Michael Albert (2006) from Clayton, California. He says “just be there for the guys. I mean, you know, I was listening to Jay Beagle tonight and just kind of being that competitor and bringing the energy and contributing for the guys. Doing the best I can for the guys beside me. You know, that’s what I tried to bring here for the season.”
The 19-year-old Albert has posted 2 goals, 6 points, and 87 penalty minutes in 40 games for Olds this season. He explains what winning the Top Teammate award means to him. Albert says “kind of everything for this year. I mean, just trying to be the best role model that I can for the guys. Hopefully, they can lean on me as well as I can lean them. Just look up to each other. That’s kind of what it’s all about. Just trying to push each other every day. That’s kind of all it was.”
He talks about the team’s Most Valuable Player for this season – goaltender Ben Dardis (2004). Albert says “he’s been another rock. He’s probably the most positive guy that I have ever met. Just every day he’s coming up, showing up, last guy off the ice. Just that really positive guy that brings a lot and it shows on the ice as well, like in those big moments. He can always contribute. You know, it kind of brushes off on me too. I just want to bring that positivity that he can.”
The Community Player of the Year is defenceman Jaxson Doyle (2007), forward Aidyn Law (2006) is the Most Sportsmanlike Player, forward Hunter Motley (2005) is the Most Dedicated Player, Jonathan Doucette (2006) is the Rookie of the Year, and Keil Schmalz (2006) is the Defenceman of the Year.
Listen to 96.5 The Ranch’s conversation with Michael Albert.
