Here are this year’s winners and the nice things their teams had to say about them! Congrats to all the winners!
Individual teammates submitted nominations and trophies were awarded on Championship night, 3/29 (if you are on this list and did not receive your trophy, your captain probably has it).
Be Grey, Do Crime: Ryan Pakula
He is the team’s biggest cheerleader and athletic supporter! He always has a positive attitude and a smile on his face. He is always down to help someone outside of the locker room. If I were describing Ryan it would literally be everything MGHA.
Blutonium: Ilana “Lani” Bar-av
Lani brings the good vibes! She cheers earnestly for everyone on the team. She’s always relaxed and doesn’t take the games too seriously. She’s a bundle of joy. They always try really hard and have an amazingly positive attitude!
Chirps and Queso: Doug Lowe
Doug is a *grate* part of Chirps & Queso. He sets a Gouda example on the ice, playing with respectful intensity emblematic of the MGHA way. Doug always brings the fire as our fearless defense this season. No matter what the score – he gives it his all on the ice and stays strong through every period. He always has a great attitude on our team and in the league, is encouraging and kind to everyone. He keeps us smiling, laughing, and inspired on the ice to have fun and stay true to the spirit of MGHA every Sunday night. He’s given lots of feedback in helping the team grow hockey wise and brings a cheesy fun energy to every game. Doug truly goes all the *whey*.
Cirque du Sol-Gay: Hannah Hansen
Always bumpin music. Always smiling and happy for their teammates. Good vibes in the locker room. Type of person who can brighten someone’s day just by being there. Goes all the way on the ice, smart and calm on the puck, important to the overall success of the team. What a teammate!!
Chilluminati: Lindsay McElhenie
Lindsay is an incredible ambassador for the MGHA and for the sport of rec hockey in general. A welcoming presence, Lindsay really took the reins as captain by making us all feel valuable while teaching us about the sport. Her genuine enthusiasm for hockey and, maybe more importantly, for watching new folks succeed helped make my first year playing less intimidating and encouraged me to play better. It is for these reasons that I think Lindsay embodies the MGHA Way!
Clifford’s Big Gay Hockey Team: Syd Vossen
Syd dove head first into their first year of hockey and hit the ground running. They are an amazing teammate to play with and they always are working hard to improve their skills. They contribute to the amazing community MGHA has built and exemplify the MGHA way.
Cloud 69: Sarah Stellino
Sarah always has a great attitude in the locker room. Her effort on the ice is only surpassed by her focus on having a good time. Great teammate!
Cookie Monsters: Aiden Ochoa
From Day 1, Aiden has fought to become a better skater and has been one of the greatest cheerleaders on the bench. He is always so excited to play, always recognizing others accomplishments, and always saying how proud he is of the team. His spirit is so bright and his excitement is infectious. He has improved so much as a hockey player, and has won a spot in everyone’s hearts.
Dairydevils: Kyle Kaczmarek
Kyle lights up the locker room, the bench, and the ice with his personality and humor. He’s often providing the music and joking in the locker room and works hard during the game. Kyle is a really positive presence every week and he’s been really willing to take feedback and improve his game on the ice!
Gotta Check ‘Em All: Alana Katz
Alana ALWAYS has a smile on her face, is always ready to give support while busting a move on the bench. She is so supportive of all of our teammates whether it be on the ice or off the ice with a simple compliment about anything.
Gravity Storm: Brian Bischel
Brian is a consistent source of coaching and inspiration for our team, and I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s taught me about positioning and hockey. As a newer player on L2, Brian’s guidance has been invaluable to my growth as a player. Aside from that, his positivity and team-oriented “let’s do this” attitude, even in the face of incredibly difficult personal challenges, makes me proud to call Brian a teammate and friend.
Gravity Storm: Special GOAT Award: Kriona Hagen
Kriona is always there to cheer for you and hype you up! She is an outstanding player and skilled coach. As league president, Kriona also had the weight of the league and the outside world to deal with and carried it all with a smile and a hug for anyone who needed one!
Lawn and Order: Seth Johnson
Seth always has a good attitude in the net, and has good advice for the team or individuals before/during/after our games. He is also always happy to step in when another goalie or skater needs a sub.
Licorice Sticks: Rachel Sullivan
She was consistently a positive frame of mind in the locker room and on the ice, while still aiming to improve her play any time she was in the game. Considering it was her first year with the MGHA, she was a delight for all her team, and hopefully comes back for many more seasons in the future.
Mx Teal Yo Goal: Luke Kneubuehl
You’d think Luke has been in net for years, and yet you’d be wrong.
Luke never fails to bring his A game and a positive attitude to the ice every weekend, and his high spirits and quips in the locker room always make my day!
Purple Penguins: CJ Kendall
CJ is a ray of sunshine in the locker room and on the ice! Always smiling, always happy to be there, and always a force to be reckoned with on Defense!
Red Zeppelin: Matty Berteaux
He’s a quietly kind individual, bringing treats from Europe, offering to pay for people to play pick up hockey, having 0 negative talk. He’s a good representation of the foundation of kind and caring folks you need in a community. Someone you can depend on or go to in a time of need and he’ll just be like “yep, what do you need?”
Smashing Pumpkins: Charlie Houser
Charlie has been awesome all season at team building and a positive attitude on and off the ice. Charlie made our team flag fabulous with his Cricket. Then he made each of us personalized cups, too! A batch of homemade cookies didn’t hurt, either. Charlie is quiet and a bit reserved, but his team-first attitude speaks very loudly. I’m very glad I’ve gotten to play with Charlie this year.
Star GAYzers: Isaiah Lucre
We all love hockey, but hockey/skating newbie Isaiah stands apart from all others in L1 in just how much he has taken to the sport. His unbridled playing enthusiasm is inspirational to behold, and on the ice that manifests itself in 100% effort at all time, which lifts all of the Star GAYzers up.
The Margayritas: Spencer Christoffel
Spencer hurt his leg during team reveal night and is just now back playing. I was initially really bummed because I knew Spencer was a good hockey player. But Spencer made the most of a bad situation. He DJ’d a game at DeForest from his phone while also coaching our game. He showed up in a ridiculous green suit one night showing his team spirit. While Spencer hasn’t been on the ice with us, he has very much been an important part of our team. He has definitely gone “All the way”
The Orange Guys: Matty Brausen
Matty is always encouraging and offering advice to new players! They look out for opportunities on the ice to set up their teammates to try and make good plays. They’ve got everyone’s back!
The Rink Panthers: Logan Harper
I love being on a team with Logan. She is an incredible hockey player and teammate. She is a playmaker who effortlessly includes everyone in the action. She has a flow with her line that is rarely built over the course of one season. However, my favorite thing about Logan is the joy she radiates on the ice and in the locker room. She reminds me that the most important thing about hockey is the happiness and connection it brings to all of us in the MGHA.
The Wonderful Blizzard of Oz: Max Stillings
Max was the first person I met MGHA and I was so lucky to be on a team with them! Max makes an effort to get to know everyone in the locker room and on the bench. They’ve been a really welcoming and fun team member all around.
ToTEALly90s: Callie Freitag
Callie was one of the many new players on our team this year. She came in every week with a positive attitude for herself and the whole team. Always looking to improve every week, that’s exactly what she did. She lifted everyone with her upbeat positivity and she is one hell of a music buff!
Wicked On Ice: Meg Graemling
Meagan’s positive & enthusiastic disposition is infectious. Their attitude embodies the MGHA spirit. They were always willing to get out on the ice and try something new. Meg is such a joy to have in the locker room and on the ice. They have an exuberant energy that lifts everyone’s spirits and a constant smile.They’ve grown so much as a skater this year, and I hope they have many more years with MGHA in their future!