Thunderbirds name team award winners

As they prepare to leave for Fort Frances, Ont. for the 2015 Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Soo Thunderbirds honoured their players with team awards on Saturday night.

The night saw eight awards handed out with captain Anthony Miller taking home the top award.

Miller, who finished the season with 21 goals and 47 points in 48 games, was named the Thunderbirds most valuable player.

Leading scorer Nicolas Tassone shared the most sportsmanlike player award with veteran forward Jaren Bellini.

Defenceman Connor Dea was the lone player to earn two awards on Saturday night as he was named the Player’s Player and earned the player excellence in the community award.

Goaltender Mario Culina was named the Thunderbirds rookie of the year after posting a 21-7-0 record in the regular season along with a 2.24 goals against average and a 0.912 save percentage in 21 games.

David Radke, who committed to play NCAA hockey next year at Colorado College, was named the Thunderbirds top defenceman after posting two goals and 27 points in 44 games this season

Defenceman Brandon Grandinetti and goaltender Brian Kment shared the scholastic award.

The Thunderbirds open the 2015 Dudley Hewitt Cup on Tuesday against the Superior League’s Dryden IceDogs.