The Arena Lacrosse has handed out their 2019 season hardware and four members of the Peterborough Timbermen were recognized.
Captain Mark Vradenburg, goaltender Nick Damude, forward Aaron Woods and defenseman Colton Armstrong were all recipients of league honours.
After finishing second in league scoring with 77 points, Vradenburg was nominated for the league’s MVP award. His 33 goals was third and 44 assists second in the league. An Ottawa native, Vradenburg has been a member of the Timbermen since the team’s inception in 2017 and took over as captain this year, leading them to their best season with a 9-5 record and second place regular season finish. His best game came on March 30 in which he scored 10 points.
“Mark Vradenburg was the strongest left handed player in the Arena Lacrosse League this season with clutch goals, phenomenal play making skills and a great persona,” said Timbermen head coach and general manager Joe Sullivan. “Mark has the ability to make players on his team better. His charisma and ability make him a high potential NLL player.”
John St. John of the Oshawa Outlaws ultimately won the MVP award after leading the league with 79 points.
Vradenburg was also named to the ALL’s First All-Star Team.
“I am happy to be able to contribute to a team who experienced success in the regular season despite falling short of our goal of a championship,” Vradenburg stated. “It’s a good feeling to be recognized as one of the top players in the league with the First Team All-Star nod and MVP nomination.”
Vradenburg is currently playing alongside Armstrong and fellow Timbermen Doug Utting and Cam Simpson for the MSL’s Cobourg Kodiaks.
Armstrong, the Jr. C Lakers’ graduate, was also named to the First All-Star Team. He earned a contract with the NLL’s Rochester Knighthawks after an impressive start to the ALL season.
Damude, from St. Catharines, was nominated for rookie of the year after a nine-win season but lost out to the Whitby Steelhawks’ Luke Pilcher. Damude spent the 2019 seaosn on the Knighthawks’ practice roster. His St. Catharines Athletics are currently down 3-1 to the Burlington Chiefs in OJALL playoff action.
“Damude was a shining star in our league and developed into a young professional,” Sullivan said. “I’m confident that with time we will see Nick wearing an NLL jersey full time. He made saves he had no right making on numerous occasions that were game changers. He carries himself very professionally and is a confident young man with fantastic work ethic.”
Damude and Courtice product Aaron Woods were named to the All-Rookie team. Woods finished sixth in league scoring with 65 points. He also finished seventh in goals scored with 28 and eighth in assists with 37.
Woods is currently playing for Sullivan in the QSLL with the Captial Region Axemen. Other members of the Timbermen on that team are Fred Hartley, Tim Bergin, Blake Kenny, Brett Perras, Joe Wasson and Lyman Beatty.
