LONDON, UK – The 2017/18 National Ice Hockey League Britton Conference end of season awards can now be revealed after a panel of coaching staff and senior players from across every team in the league cast their votes.
The Pro Hockey News awards are now in their 8th year and have been unique in British hockey as they offer the ultimate accolade of respect from peers.
The rules are simple. No votes can be cast for a member of their own team and there are no restrictions on non-UK trained players. Additionally no representatives from Pro Hockey News are eligible to cast a vote making the process truly independent. In the All-Star team the first line contains the players who received the most votes for their positions, with the second line following. Last year’s winners can be viewed here.
So without further ado, here are the winners:
NIHL Britton Conference Player of the Year 2017/18
Michael Farn (Streatham IHC)
The 29 year old Durham born blueliner becomes the first defenseman to win the Pro Hockey News Player of the Year Award. Farn won the EPL Play-Offs with MK Lightning in 2016/17 but faced a very different challenge in South London where he was tasked with leading a young defence corps with limited experience of the second tier. He did so with distinction at both ends of the ice notching double figures in goals, finishing 11th in the overall league scoring charts and racking up big minutes in every game to catch the eye of opposition players and fans. Farn was a popular choice for this award in a two horse race where he pipped Bison forward Tomas Karpov in the voting.
NIHL Britton Conference Coach of the Year 2017/18
5 Hole Photography
Doug Sheppard (Basingstoke Bison)
The 41 year old was voted EPL Coach of the Year for his previous success with the Bison back in 2015/16 and added another league title to the Basingstoke trophy cabinet this season. The pressure was on the Ontario native to deliver a trophy with a strong squad at his disposal but with rink uncertainty and stronger opposition than perhaps anticipated, Sheppard kept his cool across the campaign under difficult personal circumstances. Sheppard edged out London Raiders Coach Sean Easton in the voting.
NIHL Britton Conference All-Star team 2017/18
Line 1:
Photo James Assinder
Netminder – Jordan Lawday (Cardiff Fire)
At the start of the season few NIHL fans would have heard of Lawday but by the end of the campaign he was earning plaudits from far and wide. The 19 year old even managed to squeeze in GB u20 duty in a fantastic campaign that saw him face over 1200 shots. Lawday’s team may have ended the season at the foot of the table, but his displays put him top of the voting by a considerable distance.
Photo Rick Webb
Defence – Michael Farn (Streatham IHC)
The highest point scoring defenseman in the league despite Streatham finishing in 6th place, Farn earned plaudits across the season from fans of all teams and was the runaway winner in this category. It wasn’t just his 12 goals and 34 assists that caught the eye but his stand out displays on the blue line in his own zone after his move to South London from Milton Keynes Lightning last summer.
5 Hole Photography
Defence – Dan Scott (Basingstoke Bison)
The former GB junior international shone in his first full season in Hampshire playing a big part in the Bison conceding less goals than any other side on their way to the league championship. The 25 year old was a reliable figure on the blue and a popular choice for this award.
Photo Kat Medcroft
Forward – Aaron Nell (Swindon Wildcats)
The Wildcats Player-Coach had played 56 games at the time of writing and scored 50 goals which tells you everything you need to know about his quality and impact this season. The former Elite League forward is now in his fourth full season after re-joining the club from Sheffield Steelers.
Forward – Nathan Salem (Peterborough Phantoms)
A summer signing from Hull by Phantoms Coach Slava Koulikov, Salem fired in 21 goals and 31 assists in the league to put Peterborough within touching distance of the league title. The former GB junior international was recognised for his good form as he was handed a couple of appearances by Coventry Blaze in the EIHL.
Forward – Tomas Karpov (Basingstoke Bison)
Karpov led his team to the league title with a keen eye for goal and a temperament to match. The former Telford man linked up well with his line mates and scored the big goals when it mattered, using all the experience that saw him play junior hockey for the Czech National team and over in Canada earlier in his career. Karpov was the leader in votes by some distance in this category.
Line 2:
Photo Kat Medcroft
Netminder – Renny Marr (Swindon Wildcats)
As with all EIHL back-up goalies, questions were asked when Marr dropped down from the Coventry Blaze to take the starting spot at Swindon. The 20 year old Fifer answered everything that came at him and helped the Cats to an Autumn Cup win.
Photo by Tom Scott
Defence – Tom Norton (Peterborough Phantoms)
The former GB junior international and EPL Play-Off champ was solid on the blue line for the Phantoms and also in front of net notching 8 goals and 17 assists. The 27 year old completed his fourth season with the Peterborough club after joining from the Nottingham Panthers.
Photo by Kev Slyfield
Defence – Jan Bendik (Bracknell Bees)
In a rollercoaster season for the Bees, the veteran Czech was a much needed dependable presence on the blue line. Bendik joined for his second spell at the Hive following a season in Germany, and his understated class was recognised in the voting.
Photo by Grant King
Forward – Aaron Connolly (Basingstoke Bison)
The all-action Bison Captain is still only 24 despite a long hockey CV that saw him win this league back in 2010 with Chelmsford. Connolly established himself as a legitimate EPL player following that and showed his class this year with 27 goals and 22 assists in the league.
Photo by Kev Slyfield
Forward – Shaun Thompson (Bracknell Bees)
The highly rated forward was hit by injury midway through the campaign but was still a big presence for the Bees and scored 22 goals and 30 assists in the league campaign. The former GB junior international joined the Bees from the Bison last season and his injury arguably derailed the Bees efforts to finish in the top four.
Photo by John Scott
Forward – Juraj Huska
Last season’s player of the year moved back to the Raiders after a spell in Chelmsford and rolled back the years with 24 goals and 21 assists in the league. The Slovak’s output was way down on previous years but with the standard rising considerably he proved he could still cut the mustard and helped the Raiders to a 4th place league finish.
Thank you to everyone who voted and for following the Pro Hockey News coverage this season. Please note that the EIHA player of the month awards and player of the year award is independent of this and voted on by the media panel.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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