Highland Bulldog Hockey Club’s

2007 – 08 End of the Year Awards

HM = Honorable Mention

Most Improved Player Award – Arron Wilcox, HM – Bricker

Most Consistent Award – Blake Manville

Bulldog Pride Award – Travis Anderson, HM – Klostermann

Toughness Award – Jim Hoffmann,  HM – Bircher

Best Defensive Player Award – Jim Hoffmann

Best Offensive Player – Ryan Newton,  HM – Eilerman & Heinold

Best Two-Way Player Awards – Taylor Heinold, HM – Gibbons & Ingram

Most Dedicated Player Award – Tyler Klostermann, HM - Hoffmann

Season Achievement Award – Blake Manville, HM – Heinold & Gibbons

Below is a recap from an article in the Highland News-Leader about the February 4th All Star game...

Five players from the Highland Bulldog Hockey Club all made significant contributions to the West team in the Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association Class 1 A All Star game Monday night at East Alton Ice Arena.

Representing the Bulldogs were senior forward Ben Eilerman, junior goalie Blake Manville, junior forwards Derek Sallee and Ryan Newton and junior defenseman Blake Bircher. In addition, HBHC coach Jeff Dortch served as an assistant coach.

“We were well represented with our five guys. All five of them did a phenomenal job and they were great representatives for our hockey club and for our town.”

Manville manned the net in the first period and pitched a shutout. He stopped all 11 shots he faced. On a half dozen of them, he robbed the opposition on quality scoring chances.

With Manville backstopping his team, the West held a 2-0 advantage after one period of play. However, the West would eventually lose the contest 4-3.

“The biggest highlight of the night was Blake Manville. He really stopped the rubber.” Dortch said. “Not only did he achieve his goal of making it to the all-star game, but he really played great in shutting out a great East All Star team for 15 minutes, which is even greater when we normally play 12 minute periods.”

The West outshot the East 17-11 in the first period. Sallee and Eilerman teamed up for a goal as Eilerman fed Sallee, who banged it in to give the West a two-goal first period lead.

“We kept Ben and Derek together and it paid off in a big way as they scored our second goal”, Dortch said.

Newton was put on a line with two talented Civic Memorial forwards. “They didn’t put any points up on the board, but they were sure exciting to watch. They were a high-flying line”, Dortch said.

Bircher started out the season on defense for Highland but recently switched to forward. He returned to play defense as an All Star.

“All star games usually are not physical, but Blake Bircher took it upon himself to be physical”, Dortch said. “He made two crushing body checks, one in the open ice and one along the boards. He really set the tone early and did a great job in our defensive zone.”

Dortch said the coaches and players had fun with the game. “I had a fun time coaching in it for the first time, and all five guys had a lot of fun too.”

Most Improved Player Award – Jimmy Hoffman - Honorable Mention’s – Sallee & Manville

Most Consistent Award – Adam Allen – HM’s - Heinold

Bulldog Pride Award – Adam Allen – HM’s – Anderson & Klosterman

Toughness Award – Blake Bircher – HM’s – Hoffman & Lowe

Best Defensive Player Award – Blake Bircher – HM’s – Reichmann & Lowe

Best Offensive Player – Adam Allen – HM’s – Frank & Perigen

Best Two-Way Player Awards – Taylor Heinold - HM’s – Perigen & Isaak

Most Dedicated Player Award – Derek Sallee – HM’s Hoffman & Anderson

Season Achievement Award – Adam Allen – HM’s – Bray & Hoffman

Most Improved Player Award – Blake Bircher
Most Consistent Award – Dakota Huey
Bulldog Pride Award – Adam Allen
Leadership Award – Adam Allen
Toughness Award – Blake Bircher
Best Defensive Player Award – Brady Reichmann
Best Offensive Player – Zach Resmann
Best Two-Way Player Awards – Josh Perigen
Most Dedicated Player Award – Derek Sallee
Season Achievement Award – Brady Reichmann