Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Sharing the Cape Breton Beverages Ltd. Trophy for most valuable player was part of a big haul for Culligan, who took home two other awards on the night along with receiving a crystal Eagle trophy along with Joey Haddad and Robert Slaney for being the three, graduating players this season.

The Howie Centre resident also won the Cape Breton University Alumni Trophy for outstanding academic and athletic performance and the Greg Lynch Memorial Award in memory of the team’s former president, who died in August 2004. The award is given to a player who is dedicated and enthusiastic, has good leadership skills, is loyal, reacts to adversity well and is well respected.

“He passed away the year I was drafted and it’s a big regret for me that I didn’t get to know him more than I did,” said an emotional Culligan after receiving the award in Lynch’s name. “His picture is hanging up in our dressing room and every time before I go out on the ice, I look at that picture and just fill up with pride to be able to wear this jersey. I’m sure he’s watching now, so I hope I made him proud.”

Roy thanked everyone around the team for helping him in his sophomore season.

“I’d like to thank all the staff this year, everyone at school, my billets and my parents who were here last weekend,” he said. “I’d like to say thanks to all the guys who play hard in front of me every night.”

Slaney took home two awards. He was handed the Rolling Phones/Aliant Mobility Trophy as regular season scoring champ and the CJCB 1270 Trophy for the fan’s choice award. Slaney has 36 goals and 45 assists for 81 points in 61 games this season.

“I’d like to thank my linemates, but I don’t know who they are,” joked Slaney, taking a shot at head coach Mario Durocher’s line juggling during the season. “I hopped over the boards Sunday and saw (goaltender Chris) Holden on the left wing.

“I’d like to thank all you guys, the power play unit and I owe this award to you.”

As for top rookie, 16-year-old defenceman Morgan Ellis won the Rudderhams Source for Sports Trophy. Ellis has five assists in 50 games played and boasts a plus nine plus/minus rating.

“I’d like to thank the coaching staff for all the hard work they did this year and my billets, who helped me out this year by keeping the fridge full of food,” he said.

Fellow blue-liner Michael Ward won the Varsity Sportswear Trophy as top defenceman. Ward has seven goals and 26 assists for 33 points in 63 contests this season and has been a solid addition to the team since being acquired by the Eagles during the holiday trade period from the Lewiston Maineiacs.

“I wasn’t really expecting this because we have a lot of good defencemen on this team,” said Ward, who noted fellow blue-liner Jan Piskacek in his speech.

Two players, Nicolas Chouinard and Francis Meilleur, shared the MacLeod-Lorway Insurance Company Trophy as most improved player. The player who won most improved player last year, defenceman Mathieu Brodeur, took home the Bobby Joe Ryan Memorial Trophy donated by Molson Canadian for best sportsmanship.

Other award winners included forward Nick MacNeil, who took home the Tim Hortons Trophy for outstanding community involvement, while Michael Stinziani was given the Jim Hawkins Memorial Bursary for community and educational involvement.

Retired NHLer Mike McPhee of River Bourgeois, who suited up with the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars over an 11-season career, was guest speaker at the event. McPhee won a Stanley Cup in 1986 as a member of the Canadiens.

tjcolello@cbpost.com