Trevor Sprague is now a two-time winner of the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League coach-of-the-year award.
Sprague, who guides the Cariboo Cougars, was also recognized as the league's top bench boss in 2009-10.
"I don't know if that tells you you've been in the league too long and maybe it's time to move on," he said with a laugh, "or, it's just that our organization did a lot of good things this year."
The 38-year-old Sprague was informed of the latest honour on Wednesday morning.
"I'm surprised, to tell you the truth," he said. "When they phoned me I was kind of shocked but obviously I appreciate it (on behalf of our staff). You obviously don't get awarded that without having great people working with you."
Sprague gave credit to fellow coaches Bryan MacLean, Tyler Brough and James Morrison, as well as to skills coach Renzo Berra, video coach Todd Parker and trainer Rick Brown. He also tipped his hat to Andy Beesley, who does a lot of work behind the scenes for the 15- to 17-year-old Cougars.
This season, a young Cariboo squad finished second in the 11-team league with a 29-8-3 record. The Cougars also overcame the loss of their top two forwards, 17-year-olds Colton Thomas and Chase DuBois. Within the space of a couple weeks in late December/early January, Thomas suffered a dislocated kneecap and DuBois went down with a broken ankle. Both injuries were season-ending.
"You take 60 points out of the lineup and guys on our team were able to pick those up and run with it," Sprague said. "And being a young team to boot, nobody figured we'd do what we did, even with the two 17-year-olds in our lineup. We lost them and we found a new identity and the guys kept going. Our staff never gave any excuses on why we couldn't be one of the top teams in the league and I think that shows good coaching on all our parts."
The coach-of-the-year award isn't handed out based solely on on-ice performance. It is also meant to recognize community contributions, and Sprague and the Cougars shone in that regard. The team held a Paint the Rink Pink night in October and raised $2,300 for breast cancer research. As well, the Cariboo organization helped bring awareness to mental health issues during a game in November. The Cougars also held their annual Jameson Jones Night in January and generated $1,700 for the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation.
Sprague, who is also general manager of the Cougars, said he expected the coach award to go to Jesse Leung of the first-place Valley West Hawks (33-6-1).
"That's the best that their franchise has ever done," said Sprague, whose team was beaten by the Hawks in the playoff championship series. "Jessie's been able to go in there and turn that franchise around. He's a young coach, a young man that I've worked with, and I thought hands-down it would have been him that got it. Jessie has done a great job and you've got Clint (Thornton) with the (Vancouver Northwest) Giants. He puts together a pretty good team every year."
