OFC’S BEST: Thursday’s awards banquet was the first chance for the Braves players to pose with the Teddie Morris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the OFC playoff champion.

Kevin Nagel, Post Sports Editor

Published on Feb 08, 2009

Braves alumni president John Yurincich (right) presents Mayor Cam Jackson with a framed photo from the Braves alumni for his support in 2008.

After enjoying their best season since 1989, the Burlington Braves had good reason to celebrate at their annual awards banquet Thursday at Emma’s Back Porch restaurant.

The Braves advanced all the way to the national junior football final, winning the Ontario Football Conference title in the process, before losing 35-8 to the Vancouver Island Raiders at Nelson Stadium last November.

Major award winners included Jared Manchulenko, who won the Burlington Braves Alumni trophy as most outstanding player.

Defensive back Troy Neufeld (an Ontario Football Conference all-star) and quarterback Wayne Andrejak were winners of William Browers awards as most valuable defensive and offensive players, respectively.

All three were in their final year of junior football eligibility (22 years of age).

For slotback Manchulenko, whose soft hands and speed belie his six-foot-four, 270 lbs. size, the award was gratifying.

"I’m very honoured they would pick me," he said. "We made big strides this year and I’m looking forward to coming back and watching them play in 2009."

Manchulenko will prepare to represent Canada at an upcoming football tournament in the Dominican Republic and may attend a CFL minicamp in April. Failing that, he can still play university ball in the United States.

Neufeld stood out just a little bit more than his defensive teammates, according to coach Brad Anderson.

"It’s impossible to be one of the best defences in the entire CJFL (Canadian Junior Football League) without having a whole lot of great defensive players," Anderson said. "But (Neufeld) extremely elevated his game and is a deserving winner."

Neufeld downplayed his success, suggesting he was just glad to have a good year after the disaster of 2007.

"I had five picks in three games (in 2007) before breaking my knee," he said. "It’s been a lot of hard work to come back. I live in St. Catharines and that’s 110 km every day going to practice and games."

Veteran QB Andrejak shared pivot duties to begin the season but quickly earned the starters job. 

"He’s the guy who put it all together for us," said Davoren of Andrejak, who effectively used the talents of receivers Manchulenko and Robin Medeiros.

OFC all-star defensive back Dennis Lyte, also in his final year, was chosen as Braves’ most sportsmanlike player, receiving the William Rypka Award, while another OFC all-star, receiver/ returner Medeiros, earned an award as the team’s top point-getter.

Medeiros, with his in-your-face personality and a knack for getting himself into trouble with opponents and officials with his antics, nevertheless is coming back for another year with the Braves.

"We have a love-hate relationship," said Davoren of the OFC’s special teams player of the year. "But there’s no doubt he’s a point-producing machine. I talked to him a couple of weeks ago and he’s coming back. I’ll take care of the rest of the stuff."

The Braves head coach has the option of presenting the Coaches Award when it’s warranted, and Davoren presented the honour to the team’s middle linebacker Issiah Berhane.

"He played at (the University of) Waterloo, a good program, and from the first time I saw him at indoor practices, he was a Braves player," said Davoren. "He came to every practice and game, was in the top 10 in the top conference in defensive points and he was captain of the defence. He had to win an award tonight."

Corey Gain, another graduating Brave, won the Ken Allen Award as most improved player and linebacker James Lowes took home the Al Lambert Award as rookie of the year.

Offensive lineman Jason Montgomery, an OFC all-star, won the William Hourigan Award as most valuable lineman on the Braves.

Other Braves who made the OFC all-star team included placekicker Richard Rodrigues and defensive linemen Jake Myers and Ryan Derosa.

Matt Barnwell, Terry Battaglia, Dave Cuthbertson, Brandon Gellert, Shawn Knight, Gajan Sybblis and Richard Tuck were other Braves who were playing their last year of junior ball in 2008.

Two other awards were presented at the banquet. 

Mayor Cam Jackson, an ardent supporter of the Braves, was presented with a framed, autograhed photo of him posing with four former Burlington Braves — John Bonk, Tony Gabriel, Peter Dalla Riva and coach Bernie Custis — who have been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

"Cam has supported us financially, always being there when we needed him the most, was solely responsible for getting the extra stands at Nelson Stadium for the national final, and has been responsible for many of the improvements at the facility," said Braves alumni president Lou Mattiacci. "And, he is the first mayor ever to be in a Braves team photo."

Yours truly, on hand to report on the proceedings, was presented a plaque by the Burlington Minor Football Association, to which the Braves are affiliated, "for long-standing support of amateur football in the Burlington community."

It was presented by BMFA president Joel Marks, and will be proudly displayed in the sports editor’s office at the Post.