PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup, Canada’s 37th National Junior A Championship, held its Awards Banquet on Friday night in Prince George, BC. The recipients of all six individual awards were announced at the banquet.

The awards were based on the tournament’s round-robin, which ran from Saturday to Thursday. Photo Gallery from the Awards Banquet
(Courtesy of Andy Devlin - 'LA Media' www.lamediadesign.com)

The 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup award winners are:

Most Valuable Player (Roland Mercier Trophy)
– Daniel Michalsky – Aurora Tigers (OPJHL)(CENTRAL)
Top Goaltender
– Allen York – Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)(PACIFIC)
Top Forward
– Daniel Michalsky – Aurora Tigers (OPJHL)(CENTRAL)
Top Defenseman
– Evan Oberg – Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)(PACIFIC)
Most Sportsmanlike Player (Tubby Smaltz Trophy)
– Joe Colborne – Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)(PACIFIC)
Top Scorer
– Daniel Michalsky/Scott Kobialko – Aurora Tigers/Camrose Kodiaks (OPJHL/AJHL)(CENTRAL/PACIFIC)

KYLE TURRIS – RBC FINANCIAL GROUP CANADIAN JUNIOR A PLAYER OF THE YEAR
In addition to the tournament awards, the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) handed out its RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior A Player of the Year award. The RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior A Player of the Year award goes to the Canadian Junior A hockey player who has best combined hockey skills and achievement with community involvement during the 2006-07 season. This year’s winner is Kyle Turris of the BCHL’s Burnaby Express.

The BCHL’s Coastal Conference MVP, the 17-year-old scored a league-leading 66 goals, including 50 in 39 games, and added 55 assists for 121 points, good for second in the league. Turris also put together a league-high 19-game scoring streak during the season.

The top-ranked North American skater for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Turris represented his country three times during the 2006-07 season, winning gold with the National Under-18 Team at the Junior World Cup in the Czech Republic in August 2006, winning gold with Canada West at the 2006 World Junior A Challenge in Yorkton, SK in November 2006, and finishing fourth with the National Under-18 Team at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Finland in April 2007.

Turris will attend the University of Wisconsin in the fall, majoring in Business.

RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior A Player of the Year nominees:
BCHL – Kyle Turris (Burnaby Express)
AJHL – Dustin Sather (Grande Prairie Storm)
SJHL – Kyle Reed (Notre Dame Hounds)
MJHL – Brant Hilton (Winnipeg South Blues)
NOJHL – Anthony Libonati (Blind River Beavers)
SIJHL – Jordan Smith (Fort William North Stars)
CJHL – Doug Jewer (Kanata Stallions)
LHJAAAQ – Nicolas Lafontaine (l’Action de Joliette)

IAN MACDONALD
– NATIONAL RBC FINANCIAL GROUP JUNIOR A SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Ian Macdonald of the OPJHL’s Kingston Kimco Voyageurs was named as the winner of the $5,000 national RBC Financial Group Junior A Scholarship. Macdonald was one of 10 nominees, one from each of the CJHL’s member leagues.

Adam Marriner (Nepean Raiders, CJHL) was the $1,000 Nickerson Family Award winner, while Kevin Luft (Sherwood Park Crusaders, AJHL) was the $500 Nickerson Family Award winner.

RBC Financial Group Junior A Scholarship nominees:
BCHL – Riley Whitlock (Cowichan Valley Capitals)
AJHL – Kevin Luft (Sherwood Park Crusaders)
SJHL – Evan Vossen (La Ronge Ice Wolves)
MJHL – Sean Kliewer (Portage Terriers)
NOJHL – Brad Hummel (North Bay Skyhawks)
SIJHL – Jacob Cahoon (Thunder Bay Bulldogs)
OPJHL – Ian Macdonald (Kingston Kimco Voyageurs)
CJHL – Adam Marriner (Nepean Raiders)
LHJAAAQ – Nicolas Lafontaine (l’Action de Joliette)
MJAHL – Andrew Harmes (Truro Bearcats)

In addition, the 2004 Grand Prairie Legacy Scholarships were handed out at the awards banquet. Established following the 2004 RBC Royal Bank Cup in Grande Prairie, AB, these $500 scholarships are awarded to one graduating 20-year-old player from each of the five participating teams.

2004 Grand Prairie Legacy Scholarship winners:
Prince George Spruce Kings – Dylan Exton
Camrose Kodiaks – Brady Cook
Selkirk Steelers – Andrew Fernandez
Aurora Tigers – Doug Henderson
Pembroke Lumber Kings – Scott Campbell

"RBC applauds the hard work and dedication of this year's winners of the RBC Royal Bank Cup tournament awards as well as the RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior A Player of Year and the RBC Financial Group Junior A Scholarship recipients. These athletes are role models for their commitment to their sport as well as academic achievement and community involvement," said Alan Depencier, director of Community Marketing and Sponsorships, RBC Financial Group. "Whether it is a pickup game on a backyard rink or the gold medal game at the Winter Olympic Games, hockey is an integral part of our communities and these players exemplify the best of the sport."

After an exciting week of round-robin play, the semi-finals are set for Saturday, May 12. The Aurora Tigers face the Pembroke Lumber Kings at 2:00 p.m. PT, followed by the Camrose Kodiaks taking on the host Prince George Spruce Kings at 7:00 p.m. PT.

The gold medal game will go at 7:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 13. It can be seen on TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada, beginning at 8:00 p.m. PT (check local listings).