2010 Wayne Gretzky Recreational Hockey Award Winners

JOSH MCDONALD – JUNIOR PLAYER
Josh McDonald is in his second year of Junior B with the Edmonton Wild and is this year’s Assistant Captain. A solid, steady defenseman, Josh is a key member of the blue line corp and is quickly becoming a leader on the Wild. Studying Accounting and Strategic Management in his first year at Grant MacEwan University, Josh also works as a hockey referee and linesman, volunteering for as many games as he can fit into his busy winter schedule, and is a volunteer coach for the Thunder inline high performance teams during the ice hockey off season.
 

MATTHEW ENCARNACAO – BANTAM AA
Thirteen year old Matthew Encarnacao is playing with the South Side Athletic Club team Sportswear in his first year of Bantam AA. Skating since the age of two, Matthew has played hockey for the past nine years and was named Captain of his spring hockey team for the two years he has played with them. During this time he also received five MVP awards.
In addition to hockey, Matthew enjoys various other sports including skiing, volleyball and swimming. He also excels academically, achieving honours every term throughout Grade 7 last year and remaining on the honour roll with a 92% average this year. He also volunteers as a shooter at goalie camps and is a mentor to children like himself who suffer from severe peanut allergies and have asthma, dedicating one or two hours a week to mentor these youth from across the country online.

DARRIN CRAIG – BANTAM PLAYER
Grade 9 student, Darrin Craig attends Mary Butterworth School and has the highest academic average in his grade, something he has maintains since Grade 8. In addition to playing hockey, Darrin curls and plays slow pitch, volleyball and soccer. He is also highly involved in his community, shovelling sidewalks, doing readings at his local church, and being the Assistant Coach of the Northstar Jr ‘C’ hockey team.
Darrin is also very active in his school where he is a member of the Student Council and helps coach the junior volleyball team. He is a member of the MBS Science Club and has participated on the Science Olympic team and in Skills Canada Challenges.