Even though the regular season is finished, Squamish rugby players keep raking in the victories.
聽Four Squamish rugby players are part of the team that recently took first at the McKechnie Cup, a regional tournament.
The competition pits athletes from Lower Mainland and Vancouver island against each other.
Players from the Squamish Axemen were brought on to play for the Vancouver Rugby Union.
The Axemen鈥檚 head coach, Blake Mahovic, was named captain of the union鈥檚 team. Other members of the team, Lewis Stockton, Neil Irwin and Oli Watts were also chosen to represent the union.
Over the last two weeks they beat the North Island 48-23 on the 18th of May, and then beat the South Island 46-18 on May 25 to claim the title.
鈥淭he whole club was hugely proud of the lads and it was great to see players from a newer, smaller club earning recognition and their spot in the squad 鈥� a great achievement for all four players, and especially Blake for being selected as captain in the team,鈥� wrote general Cian Starogardzki, player and manager, in an email to The Chief.
In the meantime, the Axemen were also celebrating their regular season victories.
They recently held their end-of-season President鈥檚 Dinner and Player Awards on May 25 at the Fitzsimmons Pub in Whistler.
Awards were handed out for Rookie of the Year (Derek McBean), Clubman of the Year (Cian Starogardzki), Forwards of the Year (jointly awarded to Al Mac and Will Bokan), Back of the Year (Jackson McEvoy), Coach鈥檚 Pick (Oli Watts) and, the top award, Player鈥檚 Player of the Year was overwhelming voted by his peers to be Stuart Jones after an incredible season.
The Player鈥檚 Player award is named after Jesse Murton, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 27. He was a founding member of the club back in 2014 and close friend of many of the players, Starogardzki said.
Each award recipient receives a trophy to keep for the year, as well as a commemorative axe to keep with their name, award and year engraved in the handle and the Axemen logo etched onto the axe head.
Individual medals were also awarded to every player to mark the 3rd Division Championship win.
鈥淭his was the 4th annual player awards and it鈥檚 become a tradition for the club and a big event on our calendar for the players, coaches and support staff - where everyone gets together to celebrate,鈥� Starogardzki said.
