Mac Olsen
and Chris Clegg
Express and SPN Staff
@SmokyRiverExprs
The honours keep coming for Falher Pirates’ player Pat Rowan.
Rowan received four of seven first place votes, easily winning the award. He only received eight PIM in 23 games this season.
Not that it is nothing new for Rowan. He joined the Pirates in 2010-11 and has now played in 124 games and only spent 64 minutes in the penalty box.
That’s roughly a minor penalty every four games.
“It was an unexpected surprise,” says Rowan. “Anytime your recognized, it’s icing on the cake.”
The former Montreal and Toronto resident says he’s learned a lot since joining the team.
“It’s been a big learning experience coming from a big city to a small town. I feel very welcomed here and I’m very humbled to be accepted here.”
Everyone on the team knows what it takes to win games, he adds. This is his first season as the captain of the Pirates, but he also plays at a High Level.
Including this season, he is now a four-time NPHL All-Star. He was named the NPHL’s Best Right Winger in 2012-13 [co-winner] and 2013-14; the Best Left Winger in 2011-12 [co-winner].
Amazingly, NPHL records show that Rowan is the first Pirate to win the award in 41 years. Vic Tardif last won the award for Falher in 1974-75.
Rowan is excited about the future of the team and he is pleased with the new team management.
“Everybody has stepped up, from coaching to management and the players. We’ve got a good thing going and hopefully it continues.”
The East Division All-Star Team
Besides Rowan, defenceman Neil Maisonneuve was named for the East Division All-Star Team this season.
A seven-season veteran of the Pirates, Maisonneuve was honoured to be named and also feels fortunate to be part of the Falher Pirates.
“You put in a full effort every game and when you do that, you get the results,” says Maisonneuve. “It really is a team effort.”
Maisonneuve was surprised to be chosen for the all-star team, given that there are a lot of competitive players in the NPHL. But he is also proud to represent the Pirates and the community of Falher.