AMHERST, N.S. — Being from a small town should never be a detriment to who you can become.
Speaking at the Amherst Regional High School athletics awards night, Jordan Hunter said people like himself and recent QMJHL draft pick Jacob Melanson are proof that determination and grit can go a long way toward success at every endeavour.
“Aside from certificates and medals, the real celebration tonight is that each and every one of these student-athletes are now composed of some form of grit they can take on the real world with,” said Hunter, an ARHS grade who recently completed his fourth year as video coach with the UNB men’s hockey team. “From Quentin Knock for inspiring change in NSSAF sports, to Jacob Melanson being drafted 15th overall in the QMJHL draft, none of this would have happened if they didn’t have grit. Their secret? They got a lot of it. No activity educates more about life than sport itself.”
Hunter said it’s not about learning how to be lucky, but “how to make your own luck.
“There’s a fine line between putting talent forward and doing it with your best effort in the game that transfers to life. You cannot be successful with one alone, I learned that. And having the opportunity to return back to where it all started for me, was something truly special. I will always remember,” said Hunter, who helped the Red Devils to three national championships with his video work – something that’s garnering attention with Hockey Canada.
As for the major award winners on Wednesday, Ceilidh Bennett was named top senior female and Caleb vanVulpen the top senior male athlete; while Emma Mattinson was the top junior female and Luke Legere the top junior male athlete.
Rohin Minocha-McKenney received the Doug McBrien Memorial Award, Imogen Quinn received the Anne Harrison Memorial Award and Cole Stevens was honoured with the Bill Hiltz Physical Education Excellence Award.
Rohin Minocha-McKenney also received the ARHS Unsung Hero Award.
Other sports award winners include:
Cross country: Rushin’ Rocket – Quentin Knock, Coaches Award – Rohin Minocha-McKenney and Most Valuable Runner – Colton Caballero.
Baseball: MVPs – Cal Hoeg, Graden Chitty and Cole Stevens.
Golf: MVP – Jacob Melanson.
JV Girl’s Soccer: Heart & Hustle – Daneka Hussey, Little Miss Sunshine Award – Taylor Laceby and Fifth Element Award – Victoria Webb.
Sr. Girl’s Soccer: Coaches Award – Hannah Langille, 3D Award – Chloe Stubbert and Rookie of the Year – Chloe LeBlanc.
Sr. Boy’s Soccer: Most Dedicated – Kegan Chitty, Most Sportsmanlike – Aaron Froese and MVP – Zackery Gould.
Curling: Most Dedicated – Jordan Jones and Most Sportsmanlike – Quentin Knock.
JV Girl’s Basketball: Rookie of the Year – Jaya Pardy; 3D Award – Heloise Ruidant and MVP – Ashley Ripley.
JV Boy’s Basketball: Jr. Viking Award – Rohin Minocha-McKenney, Offensive Player of the Year – Jay Gilroy and Rookie of the Year – Declan LeBlanc.
Sr. Girl’s Basketball: Rookie of the Year – Emma Mattinson, 3D Award – Victoria Fletcher and MVP – Ceilidh Bennett.
Sr. Boy’s Basketball: Rookie of the Year – Luke Legere, Viking Award – Brady Crowe and MVP – Caleb vanVulpen.
Badminton: Most Outstanding Player – Nick Lawrence, Most Improved – Olivia Oxner and Coaches’ Choice – Callum Chitty.
Table Tennis: Breakthrough Star – Abboud Sukkar, Female Table Tennis Star – Hannah Langille and Male Table Tennis Star – Jacob Melanson.
Sr. Girl’s Slo-pitch: Rookie of the Year – Hannah Laidlaw, Coaches’ Choice – Emily Bacon and MVP – Ceilidh Bennett.
Sr. Boy’s Slo-pitch: MVPs – Michael Farrell, Cal Hoeg and Graden Chitty.
Grade 9 Slo-pitch: MVPs – Jeremiah Martin and Declan LeBlanc.
Track and Field: Intermediate Girl – Emma Mattinson; Intermediate Boy – Colton Caballero; Senior Boy – Olivia Scott and Senior Boy – Christian Goldie.