Tier 1 Thunder hand out year-end awards

With the season in the books for the Langley Junior Tier 1 Thunder, the team has announced its year-end award winners.

Cayden Beck-Boreson, Caleb Khan, Brayden Longacre, Nigel Nowak, Mac Timms and Xavian Washington were recognized as the individual award winners, as chosen by the team’s coaching staff and management.

It was a young Thunder squad with 16 of its 26 players in their first year of junior eligibility.

“The mix of youth and experience blended very well and resulted in a very fun year,” said Thunder head coach Darren Buchan. “The growth and improvement is a testament to their hard work. They all pushed each other to try harder, act better and want more.”

The group managed a record of 9-8-1, good for sixth place in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League standings.

Most Valuable Player: Caleb Khan

The first-year goaltender quickly established himself as not only a leader for Langley, but one of the top goalies in the league as evidenced by his 7.08 goals against average and .860 save percentage, which ranked fourth and second, respectively, in the league.

“Nobody worked harder or asked more questions than Caleb. And the most impressive part was his willingness to take advice, work on the weaknesses, and get better everyday.”

Unsung Hero: Cayden Beck-Boreson

The captain and only fifth year on the team, Beck-Boreson was a true leader for the team.

“He showed up every game, ready to work and proved worthy of his captaincy, every day, every shift. A strong, silent type who led by example.”

Offensive Player: Brayden Longacre

The rookie left-handed forward led the team in assists (38), points (67) and points per game (4.5). His assists and points also ranked him third and fourth in the league, respectively. Longacre also scored 29 goals with nine on the power play (second in the league) and two short-handed (tied for second).

“His consistency and desire shone through all year and he did it all: goals, assists, leading the back check, Brayden was a great example for all the young guys on how to carry yourself on and off the floor.”

Defensive Player: Nigel Nowak

A six-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed rookie defender, Nowak was a steadying presence for the Thunder in the back end.

“Nigel worked hard all year and did everything asked of him, and more. He has a bright future and will be a big part of our organization for years to come.”

Top Rookie: Mac Timms

A right-handed forward, Timms led the Thunder with 33 goals, which was also tied for third in the league, and was second on Langley’s roster with 62 points.

“Mac is a natural born leader who worked hard and led our young offence in every way possible. His diligence in practice and constant communication with his teammates helped everyone grow and develop.”

Most Improved: Xavian Washington

The versatile right-handed played all over the floor, stepping into whichever role the coaching staff needed and finished with a dozen goals and 25 points.

“Xavian’s talent was evident from the early stages of development camp and he just worked hard and quietly went about his business. With his speed and raw talent, we moved him to the short-man unit and out the back door and he excelled in the defensive end. Just a true athlete who got better as the year progressed.”

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