KRUG CRAWFORD NOMINEES: Deep group makes cut

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This article was published 27/12/2024 (265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Westman communities have a rich history of developing athletes and coaches who have excelled on the provincial, national and world stages.

Some western Manitoba teams attract talent from across the country and the globe. Those who live in the area, play for teams in it or resided in Westman and have taken their careers elsewhere to accomplish great things are eligible for the Brandon Sun’s H.L. (Krug) Crawford award for sportsperson of the year.

Here are the nominees for the 2024 edition (listed in alphabetical order):

• Ethan Baraniuk

The Vincent Massey left side started his 2024 by helping the Brandon Volleyball Club to a 17-and-under provincial title. He was named a touranment all-star. Baraniuk committed to the Brandon University Bobcats early in his high school season, then was named the No. 6 player in the Winnipeg Free Press coaches poll.

• Sultan Bhatti

The Quebecer knew his role had to expand when the Brandon University Bobcats lost their top two scorers before the 2023-24 season. He stepped up and averaged a team-leading 19.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, leading the Bobcats to match the previous season’s record of 12-8. Bhatti received a Canada West second-team all-star nod, then pushed BU to the conference quarterfinals, where they fell to the eventaul champion Victoria Vikes. This season, Bhatti is third in CW in points with 21.2 per game, tied for first in rebounds at 10.9 and second in assists at 5.2.

• Carson Bjarnason

In his second season as starter and third with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Bjarnason posted a 3.01 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. Those numbers got him drafted 51st overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League draft. After a strong start with the Wheat Kings this season — a 2.90 goals-against average and .913 save percentage — he earned a spot with Team Canada for the world junior hockey championship.

• Kurtis Cullen

The Brandon racquetball player and coach was all over the podium in 2024. Cullen finished second in the winter national team selection event and third at nationals in men’s open singles, as well as a finalist in a professional men’s doubles event in Minneapolis, losing only because his partner suffered an ankle injury during the final. Cullen is the fourth ranked racquetball player in Canada and represented the country at the Pan American championships in March and world championships in August.

• Lara Denbow

The former Legion national track and field champion returned to the podium, this time on the U Sports stage. Denbow overcame a stress fracture that limited her 2023-24 season, posting 1.78 metres in the high jump for her first university national gold medal.

• Jersey Hansen-Young

The Vincent Massey senior had her sights set on a AAAA provincial volleyball title from the start of the season. With the six-foot outside hitter leading the way, the Vikings took the No. 1 ranking early and never gave it up, winning tournament after tournament before capturing their first-ever girls’ volleyball provincial championship. Hansen-Young, who is committed to the University of Manitoba, was named touranment MVP, the No. 1 player in Winnipeg Free Press coaches poll, and Volleyball Manitoba’s AAAA player of the year.

• Jaxon Jacobson

After getting injured in a Western Hockey League pre-season game with the Wheat Kings. Jacobson returned to the U18 lineup with a vengeance. In 35 games, he had 37 goals, 69 assists and 106 points, one point back of the all-time single season league record. In nine playoff games, he added 23 more points, and had 12 points in seven games at the Telus Cup before getting injured early in the final. In a half season in the WHL this winter, he has 23 points in 25 games.

• Simon Leckie

The Crocus Plainsmen played everywhere in his senior year. He started as a receiver, then moved to quarterback while also lining up at safety, punter and punt and kick returner. He led the Plainsmen to their first season over .500 since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic at 4-3 en route to the Vidruk Bowl final. Leckie helped Crocus keep it close against a strong Vincent Massey Vikings team. He also qualified for the high school track and field provincial championships as a jumper.

• Junior Martine

The Brandon volleyballer picked up not one but two provincial tournament MVP honours in 2024. First, he guided the Brandon Volleyball Club to its first-ever 17-and-under title in May. Then, he helped the Neelin Spartans defend their AAA crown as one of the top squads in Manitoba. The five-foot-10 setter was named to the Volleyball Manitoba A-AAA all-Manitoba team.

• Jordan McLeod

Brandon’s Jordan McLeod was named player of the game and capped her five-year university rugby career with a U Sports women’s rugby championship as her UBC Thunderbirds beat the Victoria Vikes 8-3 in the gold-medal match in November in Charlottetown, P.E.I. She is a graduate of Rivers Collegiate Institute.

• Danika Nell

The 18-year-old softball prodigy from Boissevain was part of the Canadian women’s team competing in Group C of the under-18 women’s softball World Cup qualifying stage from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 in Dallas, and she was on the mound in their most important games. She also led the under-19 Smitty’s Terminators to a provincial title, and started school at Boston University while playing with the Division I Terriers. Beyond softball, she was named the Manitoba High School’s Athletic Association’s female athlete of the year in June for volleyball, basketball and softball.

• Ashley Robinson

The all-conference midfielder captained the Brandon University women’s soccer team to a Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference championship and trip to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament. Robinson scored nine goals and added two assists as Brandon went 11-1 in the regular season.

• Kaitlyn Slator

The graduating goaltender with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks helped her team win its first championship since 2015 in her final post-secondary game in March and she was later named most valuable player in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference women’s hockey playoffs. She also set league records during her five-year career, becoming the ACAC’s all-time leader in wins with 50 and minutes played with 4,239:41. She also tied for the shutout record with 12.

• Brayden Smith

The Vincent Massey Vikings running back piled up more than 1,000 rushing yards in seven Winnipeg High School Football League games in his senior year. Smith helped the Vikings defend their Vidruk Bowl title, finishing ninth out of 20 AAAA teams. The five-foot-10 provincial team member was named WHSFL offensive player of the year.

• Daxx Turner

The Neepawa product bounced back from a disqualification at the U Sports track and field championships in 2023 to claim the national gold medal in the triple jump. Turner set a University of Manitoba program record at 15.82 metres while also helping the Bisons men to a silver medal in the team event.

• Paycen Warkentin

The Gladstone product completed a long, improbable ascention in 2024. Having unsuccessfully attempted to walk on to the Brandon University men’s volleyball team out of high school, Warkentin developed at Assiniboine College and earned a roster spot two years later. The six-foot-four middle blocker kept working and secured a starting role he would never give back. He capped his career as one of the best blockers in the country and a Canada West first-team all-star, helping the Bobcats return to the conference playoffs with a 16-8 record.

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