Lakers’ Waller EARNS Desire Award
Lakers captain Trevor Waller, pictured with President Skip Harvey and GM Ritch Kanally, receives a plaque as an over-ager prior to his final home as a Laker. Waller has been awarded the PJHL Stobbs Division Most Desire Award.
Trevor Waller has heart. That we know. Trevor Waller led the Wallaceburg Lakers in every way through another painful 2016-17 season.
A year after being recognized with hardware from his own team for his heart, hustle and hard work, Waller is now the recipient of the Most Desire award for the PJHL’s Stobbs Division.
Deservedly so.
It’s no secret. Being among the Wallaceburg Lakers faithful hasn’t been exactly easy over recent years. For six consecutive seasons, Wallaceburg has finished ninth in a nine-team division, the lone team to go without a playoff berth in each of those six years.
Now imagine being one of those kids. A veteran player who has stuck it out over the course of time, emerging as a team leader and a scoring threat, earning his way to the captain’s “C” on his chest.
That’s Lakers captain Trevor Waller, who finished the season with 21 goals and 16 assists while only spending 23 minutes in the penalty box.
Waller, 21, played his entire four-year PJHL career with the Lakers – all tough years. Waller is one of four Wallaceburg over-agers and will be incredibly difficult to replace. On top of athletic ability, scoring touch and leadership, while other players rotated through the Lakers dressing room door, many requesting trades or quitting, Waller was a mainstay.
Trevor told David Gough of the Wallaceburg Courier Press (PostMedia) he’s proud to have played for his hometown team, despite the results or lack of a playoff appearance.
“I’ve come a long way and it’s great to build confidence as you go, with all coaches we’ve had and the players that have come and gone,” Waller told the Courier. “It’s definitely given me a lot of confidence.”
In a recent post-game interview with 99.1 CKXS, Lakers General Manager Ritch Kanally, credited Waller’s drive and ability.
“Trevor deserves to be the captain. He likely should have been captain a long time ago. He’s a great role model for all of the guys in the dressing room and is always the hardest working guy on the ice. He’s going to be missed around here.”
On top of his team high 37 points, Waller played in all 40 games while more than doubling his career best totals.
The Lakers finished the year 3-36-1.