LocalSportsJournal.com
The Local Sports Journal is hosting its first ever Varsity Blues Athletic Awards Show on Feb. 17 at the Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon.
Mona Shores’ Eli Habetler.
Part of the evening will be celebrating the excellence of the student/athletes in the area.
The LSJ staff has been poring over news articles, talking to coaches, athletic directors and even some area sports enthusiasts to come up with nominations for the best athlete in each sport for the current school year. Did we hit the mark on every nomination? Maybe not, but we did our best to find the very best the area has to offer.
Here are the nominees for the Dan Bylsma Hockey Award.
Grand Haven’s C.J. Henke.
Eli Habetler, Mona Shores
C.J. Henke, Grand Haven.
Jackson Stone, Reeths-Puffer
Habetler is not a new name at the rink for Mona Shores as he is the youngest of three brothers who have each played for the Sailors. Habetler is the last Habetler and has been a leader throughout this season for the team.
Grand Haven’s C.J. Henke recently netted a game-winner for the Bucs in their battle against Hudsonville.
Jackson Stone is a name that is well known by hockey coaches in Michigan. The Reeths-Puffer senior broke the 100-point barrier in career points back on January 17.
Reeths-Puffer’s Jackson Stone.
Why is this award called the Dan Bylsma Hockey Award? The Grand Haven native and Western Michigan Christian graduate has had an illustrious hockey career that continues to this day.
Bylsma’s pedigree includes nine seasons in the National Hockey League, coaching the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship and coaching the U.S. Olympic Hockey team at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.
“That would be an honor for me,” said Bylsma, when the Local Sports Journal inquired about using his name on the hockey award.
The winner of the Dan Bylsma Award will be given a special medallion donated by Trophy House in Muskegon.
Tickets for Varsity Blues Athletic Awards show can be purchased by clicking here!
