While the fans of the EIHL are getting loaded up on booze in various watering holes across Nottingham city centre on the Friday night of the playoff weekend, the great and the good of the EIHL and those who were willing to shell out on a ticket, will be at a venue in the city to see who gets awarded what for their play this season at the EIHL awards dinner.

There are eight awards up for grabs and four Giants players have been nominated. Colin Shields is in for three awards with Colin Murphy up for two. Jeff Szwez and Tim Cook are in for one award each, so the Giants are well represented. Actually, there should be five Giants players in for awards but more on that at the bottom of this blog.

Here are the shortlists for each award:

Goalie of the Year
Peter Hirsch (Coventry), Stephen Murphy (Belfast), Cody Rudkowsky (Edinburgh).

Defenseman of the Year
Tim Cook (Belfast), Wes Jarvis (Cardiff), Jonathan Weaver (Coventry).

Forward of the Year
Greg Chambers (Coventry), Luke Fulghum (Coventry), Colin Shields (Belfast).

British Player of the Year
Stephen Murphy (Belfast), Colin Shields (Belfast), Jonathan Weaver (Coventry).

Newcomer of the Year
Owen Fussey (Edinburgh), Cameron Mann (Nottingham), Jeff Szwez (Belfast).

Elite League MVP
Greg Chambers (Coventry), Luke Fulghum (Coventry), Colin Shields (Belfast).

Coach of the Year
Doug Christiansen (Edinburgh), Corey Neilson (Nottingham), Paul Thompson (Coventry).

‘The Sean McMorrow’ fans Favorite*
Jade Galbraith (Nottingham), Luke Fulghum (Coventry), Colin Shields (Belfast).

I imagine Colin Shields as the leagues top point scorer this year will have an excellent shot at the overall MVP as well as forward of the year and British player of the year. If he doesn’t get that British player of the year award then Stephen Murphy could – with 8 shutouts this season it’s an all-time Giants high in one season. Murphy also has a huge shot at goalie of the year.

Anyway, you might have noticed my odd naming of the fans favorite award? ‘The Sean McMorrow’ fans favorite? I say that because McMorrow is the man who should be winning this award if you actually go by what the fans picked. McMorrow was leading the EIHL poll by a country mile until last week when the league – apparently off the back of calls from the Giants – pulled McMorrow out of the award in order to save face after his indictment back in America of which he has flown home to fight. McMorrow was dropped and three others selected to the shortlist for winning the award that really should come with an astrix beside the winners name.

Anyway, if you’re going to the awards night, enjoy yourself and I’ll write something about the winners following the playoffs.

On the subject: Colin Murphy, Colin Shields, Jeff Szwez, Sean McMorrow, Tim Cook | ALL SUBJECTS |

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