Steinbach Regional players nab WHSHL awards
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Area hockey players were well represented at the 2025 Winnipeg High School Hockey League year-end awards.
Steinbach Regional Secondary School’s (SRSS) Ryder Chabot was given the Gerry Varnes Sportsmanship Award for the Platinum Promotions division, the top tier of high school hockey in the province.
The grade 12 forward nabbed 20 points in 22 games, and played for the Steinbach Huskies as an affiliated player after the Sabres were eliminated from contention.
“Ryder has represented the SRSS and our program very well over the past two seasons by competing hard and respecting teammates, opponents and officials,” SRSS head coach John Laninga said.
“His gritty style of play was complimented by staying out of the box.”
Archer Ives also picked up some hardware. The Steinbach forward was named the division’s most improved player. Ives had 29 points this season, also playing in the Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League with the Mitchell Mustangs for a game.
“Archer has been a strong leader for our team the past two years and has always excelled on the defensive side of the puck,” Laninga said.
“The point totals he amassed in his senior season are indicative of how he unlocked the offensive side of his game as one of the top two-way talents in the WHSHL in 2024/2025.”
Other players from the region picked up notable scholarships, with Spingfield’s Max Scholdra nabbing a $1,000 Fountain Tire award and Lorrette’s Owen Lambert getting a “Jack of all Trades” scholarship.
River East’s Nolan Fielding was the major winner of the awards ceremony, named the WHSHL’s most valuable player in addition to picking up the scoring champion award.
Gerry Varnes was a longtime referee who got his start officiating elementary and junior high school hockey leagues. He joined the MJHL in 1957, embarking on a long career across Manitoba, including officiating international events. He was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and passed away in 2021.