Whalers finish season with banquet

The Plymouth Whalers concluded the 2010-11 season with an annual awards banquet held last Friday at CJ’s Brewing Company at Compuware Arena.

The following players received awards:

LEADING SCORER and MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, REGULAR SEASON: Right wing Stefan Noesen, who scored a career-best 34 goals with 43 assists for 77 points in 68 games.

REGULAR SEASON LEADING SCORER: Overage center Robbie Czarnik, who tied Noesen in points with 33 goals and 44 assists for 77 points in 61 games.

LEADING SCORER and MOST VALUABLE PLAYER in the PLAYOFFS: Overage forward Tyler Brown, who scored three goals with 11 assists for 14 points in 11 playoff games.

BEST DEFENSEMAN: Whalers captain Beau Schmitz, who scored a career-high seven goals with 24 assists for 31 points and was +8 over 48 games.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Noesen, who is rated 35th overall by Central Scouting for the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

UNSUNG HERO: Defenseman Colin MacDonald, who scored a goal with 14 assists for 15 points and was +15 in 68 games.

BLUE COLLAR, HARDEST WORKING PLAYER: Left wing RJ Mahalak, who scored seven goals with 12 assists for 19 points in 56 games.

ROOKIE of the YEAR: Center-right wing Rickard Rakell, who scored 19 goals with 24 assists for 43 points and was +14 in 49 games.

HUMANITARIAN of the YEAR: Center Mitchell Heard, who led the Whalers Community Relations efforts with 64 appearances.

ACADEMIC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Goaltender Matt Mahalak and right wing Tom Wilson.

ALICE IAFRATE AWARD (Off-Ice Officials Overage of the Year): Czarnik, a Los Angeles Kings draft pick who will be reporting to Manchester of the American Hockey League.

WHALERS BOOSTER CLUB AWARDS:

BARBARA MOHRLOCK MEMORIAL AWARD as FAN FAVORITE: Goaltender Scott Wedgewood.

SCHOLASTIC PLAYER of the YEAR: Czarnik.

GRINDER of the YEAR: Overage right wing James Livingston, who has been called up by the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.

NEXT UP FOR THE WHALERS: Five Whalers – Stefan Noesen, Rickard Rakell, Garrett Meurs, Dario Trutmann and Matt Mahalak – are all up for the National Hockey League Entry Draft, held June 25-26 in St. Paul, Minn.

Before that, the Whalers will be participating in the annual Ontario Hockey League draft on Saturday, May 7.