It's that time of the year again folks, welcome one and all to the San Francisco Pride award ceremony! Last season, we had quite the program lined up with the announcement of the awards, some guest appearances from former stars as well as a jersey retirement of arguably the most beloved player that has ever played for this franchise. Every ceremony can’t be filled with that much excitement and hubbub but nonetheless, we still have a great show for you all tonight.
So without further ado, please join me in recognizing some of the fantastic talent currently donning the purple and gold!
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The Kelly Rivet Award
The first award we are handing out tonight is the Kelly Rivet Award. The Kelly Rivet Award is awarded each season to the most valuable player on the Pride as voted on by his/her peers. It is named after the legendary hard-nosed forward Kelly Rivet, a player that was instrumental in creating the identity and spirit of this team in the early days.
San Francisco is a team that still relies heavily on the veteran players to lead the way on and off of the ice so it's not surprising to see both Henrik Lekberg Osterman and Captain Sven Svenson on this list. Both of them play a huge role for the team in every on-ice situation for the team. HLO continues to be a top two-way forward in this league and Svenson had a bit of a breakthrough season, scoring 30 goals and it has become clear that he is not only more confident in his own abilities but that he feels more comfortable throwing his weight around. Finally, we come to the Prides star goalie, Nicolae Antonescu. The young Romanian came up a couple of seasons ago to little fanfare but quickly established himself in the conversation for best goalie in the league. Without Antonescu in net, it's clear that the Pride would not have the confidence that they have as a team and that confidence in turn has proven to be key for a young, rebuilding group.
And the winner is…
Sven Svenson
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The Geronimo Otto Award
Our second award for the evening is the Geronimo Otto award, an award that recognizes the leaders on our team. It is awarded to someone who not only shows the qualities of a leader on the ice and in the locker room but also off of the ice and in our community. The award is named after the much loved forward Geronimo Otto, still one of the most beloved players in franchise history.
And the nominees are…
F: Henrik Lekberg Osterman @Thatguy91
D: Alexander Oscarsson @Zema
F: Sven Svenson @LordBirdman
For the second season running, this list is made up entirely of Swedes. Clearly there is something in the water over there because its clear that this core of guys have a very high personal standard that has imprinted itself on the team. Its perhaps unsurprising that we see Lekberg Osterman and Svenson on this list as they are alternate captain and captain, respectively, of the team. When management announced half way through the season that they had acquired defenseman Alexander Oscarsson through a trade with New England there were some high expectations but I doubt anyone expected Oscarsson to become such an integral part of the leadership group so quickly.
And the winner is… Henrik Lekberg Osterman
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The Jack Tanner Award
Next up we have the Jack Tanner award. This award is handed out to the most underrated player on the team as voted on by his/her peers. It is also worth noting that this award takes into account both on-ice and off-ice contributions to the team. Named after the recently tired defenseman Jack Tanner, a player that might be one of the most criminally underrated players in recent history.
And the nominees are…
F: Daedalus James @littleb
G: Nicolae Antonescu @Rancidbudgie
F: Walton Stromberg @sulovilen
It's hard to overstate just how important Antonescu has been to this team over the past couple of seasons. His stellar goaltending has been one of, if not THE, biggest reasons for San Francisco's relatively quick turnaround recently. Stromberg (last season's winner of the Jack Tanner) also continues to play a vital role for this young team, centering the second line and can always be relied upon to bring his responsible playstyle to bear night in and night out. Daedalus James had an outstanding season as the third line shutdown center and, together with linemate Patrik Mooney, proved to be more than a handful for even some of the most skilled lines in the league. The level of devotion and excellence that he continues to bring to a role that is often overlooked is admirable and I am sure that his excellent work ethic and determination will quickly make him a favourite amongst the fan base here in San Francisco.
And the winner is…
Nicolae Antonescu
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The Pride of the Pride Award
Finally, we come to the last award that we will be handing out tonight. The Pride of the Pride award is handed out to a member of our club that best personifies the things that we strive for as a team and a community. It is awarded to the player that best exemplifies important attributes such as camaraderie, friendship, kindness, sportsmanship and team spirit. The voting for this award also included a short written justification for your selection.
And the nominees are…
D: Alexander Oscarsson @Zema
F: Kev Kevens @Keven
D: Nathan Thomas @KaleSalad
And the winner is…
Nathan Thomas
Its always hard to see such fantastic users move on to a different team and while we as an organisation are thrilled that the league is in such good health and continues to grow, it still stings to see someone like Thomas wear another team's jersey. Always buzzing, always active, always with a big smile on his face, we can’t say enough good things about Thomas. An amazing player and an amazing human being. We wish you all the best in Philly and send you off with this last parting gift!
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And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us to the end of this season's San Francisco Pride award show. We would once again like to take a moment to congratulate all of our nominees and winners and wish you all a pleasant night and safe journey home. Thank you and goodnight!
Henrik
Sven Svenson 
Nathan Thomas ![[Image: JvI8fTp.png]](https://i.imgur.com/JvI8fTp.png)
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