By Zach Amin

Two Brooks Bandits up for AJHL Awards

Feb 16, 2018 | 3:33 PM

BROOKS, AB – Brooks Bandits captain Dennis Cesana is one of four finalists for the most Most Valuable Player Award, as well as the AJHL’s Outstanding Defenceman Award. The Providence, Rhode Island native committed to Michigan State University last season.

Cesana has 11 goals and 50 assists in 52 games, the Bandits are 39-12-1 with eight games left in the season. He leads all AJHL defencemen in scoring, leads his team in scoring, and broke former teammate Cale Makar’s record for assists in a single season by a defenceman.

Makar was Colorado’s fourth-overall pick in the NHL Draft last season.

“Cale Makar won it last year, and he’s an unbelievable player so it’s kind of cool to be mentioned up there with him, or even considered for that,” Cesana says.

Cesana isn’t the only Brooks player nominated for an award.

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

Goaltender Mitch Benson is one of four finalists for the league’s Top Goaltender award. He’s had quite the workload this season, playing in 50 of Brooks’ 52 games. Benson has a record of 38-11-1, a goals-against-average of 2.19, and a .912 save percentage.

“It’s a huge honour obviously, a lot of credit to my teammates who do a really good job of keeping most of the stuff to the outside but it’s pretty cool and I’m pretty excited,” Benson says.

If Benson wins Top Goaltender, he would be the first Bandits goalie to ever take home the award. He is also on pace to break the record for minutes played by a goaltender. Benson has played in all but two Bandits games this season.

Also up for an award is former SEAC Tiger and Medicine Hat product Jordan Taupert. The Drumheller Dragons forward has lit up the AJHL this season, putting up 67 points in 54 games.

“I didn’t know where my hockey career was going to take me. Luckily it took me here to Drumheller and I’ve been having a good season so far so I’m very honoured,” Taupert says.

While an award would be nice for any player in the league, a trip to the Royal Bank Cup this year is the ultimate goal for any player.