Sports & Rec introduces ‘honorable mentions’

Nadler becomes city’s player of month as first-time goalie

By Laureen Sweeney

Nine-year-old Nixon Nadler has earned the distinction of becoming the city’s player-of-the-month for October, the first of the players chosen for the 2022-2023 season. The Westmount Minor Hockey Association also gave one player in each of its 10 teams an honourable mention. Nixon is being recognized for exemplary leadership, respect, eagerness and enthusiasm in answering the call to strap on the goalie pads this fall having never done so before “to ensure that his team has a goalie for the season,” according to Andrew Maislin, operations manager for the Westmount recreation centre (WRC). “So many associations are desperate for goalies as it is by far the hardest position on a hockey team,” Maislin added. “Nixon, who is part of the M11 B Wings team, has shown exemplary willingness to advance his career as goalie.” He is described as being on the ice six or seven times a week after stepping up to fill the net after the team’s original goalie was injured and unable to play for the sea-son. “It is truly unbelievable to see his progress as a goalie.”

The association is honoured to have young boys and girls who are willing to try a new position, Maislin explained. “Goalies need to be very quick, athletic and have great hands. They also need to be smart, brave and tough for this position, and Nixon shows all those.” He also received honorable mention recognitions for his role on both the M11 A and M11 B teams for which he played. He and others named this week as a new component of the recognition program launched on the association’s website can also be found at www.ahmw.org. The four M9 teams do not have any HM picks as they have not started their season yet. They are expected to appear in November.

Honorable Mentions named This month’s are:

Stella West (M11 all-girls team)

Nixon Nadler (for both of the M11 A and M11 B teams he played for)

William Nesbitt (M13 A)

Sophie Du (M13 B)

Spencer Kaplan (M15 A)

Seokhyun Kwon (M15 B)

Ray Lawson (M18 A)