NEWS

The Northern Pacific Hockey League's Board of Governors voted for the Annual League Awards this past week.  The following categories were decided on with more categories to come during the NPHL playoffs. 

The NPHL Awards were announced on Friday and a couple of Outlaw members took home hardware.

Coach of the Year: Greg Sponholtz, Tri-City Outlaws

Success is not always measured in a team's ability to win games it is measured in the development of the players and what a franchise has accomplished from year to year.  The inaugural season of the Outlaws saw them miss the 2013 Playoffs by one point.  This season the Outlaws will be making their first playoff appearence in franchise history in the NPHL Playoffs.  Sponholtz and the very young Outlaws team have come a long way from day one and they look to wreak havoc in their first playoff appearence.    

Student Athlete of the Year: Alex Svoboda, Tri-City Outlaws

A player’s ability to compete at a junior level, maintain excellent grades in the classroom and set aside time for the community is quite the challenge given the schedule that most players face.   Svoboda, currently in his first season with the Outlaws, doesn’t let much get in his way.  Alex maintains a 4.0 while taking online classes and has done a tremendous amount of work with our community.  Being a hearing impaired player, Alex spent a lot of time with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center helping out with a Charity Golf Tournament in September.  He also has spent time with goaltenders during Youth Goalie Lab Sessions and is always willing to give a hand in the various charities that Outlaws organization work with.  Svoboda is the true definition of adversity and not letting your disabilities get in the way of what you love to do.

"We are very proud of the accomplishment that Greg and Alex have received and these awards are a testimate to the people and efforts that they have put forth this season," stated General Manager Jordan Owen.