NCJHL celebrates and showcases the league's best

Players from the eight teams in the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) faced off against each other in the league's all-star game on Sunday, February 20 at the Vankleek Hill Arena.

The expansion team, featuring players from La Peche, Rockland, Gatineau and Papineauville, played the original team, with players from Embrun, Vankleek Hill, St-Isidore and Cumberland. The expansion team won 8-5.

But while the jerseys were a multitude of different colours, the smiles on every player's face at the end of the game proved that there is no joy in life better than strapping on a pair of skates and playing our true national sport - for nothing more than the pure love of the game.

Above, Vankleek Hill's Yannick Boudrias may not have been selected to take part in the game, but he was recognized for his hard work throughout the season during the awards banquet that same day. The Cougars forward received top honours as the league's most outstanding defensive forward for the 2010-2011 regular season. Champlain Township Councillor Troy Carkner presented Boudrias with the award.

Vankleek Hill Cougars captain Yann Neveu receives an award from Champlain Township Councillor Paul Emile Duval, as the top scorer during the 2010-2011 NCJHL regular season. Neveu finished the season with 26 goals and 50 assists for a total of 76 points in only 34 games.

Gary Barton, mayor of Champlain Township, took in all of the sights and sounds as the stars of the NCJHL showcased their talents in an all-star game in Vankleek Hill. Barton also took part in the awards ceremony between periods and took the opportunity to congratulate Ghilain Nadeau from Les Aigles de St-Isidore on being voted as co-winner of the 2010-2011 NCJHL Most Valuable Player award. Nadeau shared the award with Embrun Panthers forward Shane Hodgins.