Tisdale Trojans defenceman Landon Kosior (centre) is the recipient of the first Adam Herold Memorial Award, in honour of his former teammate and friend who tragically died in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. (submitted photo/Wayne Kosior)

By Aaron Schulze

HUMBOLDT BRONCOS

Trojans defenceman wins inaugural Adam Herold Memorial Award

Mar 27, 2019 | 4:26 PM

On their drive to Melfort the night before Jaskirat Singh Sidhu’s sentencing on March 22, Russ and Raelene Herold stopped by the Humboldt Broncos memorial site at the intersection of Highway 35 and 335 to pay respects to their 16-year-old son Adam, who died in the crash.

Russ heard his phone beep as he was taking his time to pay respects to Adam at the memorial site. When he got back into his vehicle, he had discovered Landon Kosior – Tisdale Trojans defenceman and Adam’s former defence partner in Bantam AA hockey with the Prairie Storm – was the first winner of the Adam Herold Memorial Award.

“We’re thrilled,” Russ told northeastNOW. “We know the family very well. They’re a great family. You know a little bit of insight on Landon as a person and a player from spending that year together with him on the same team and being Adam’s defence partner, so you get to know a little more about the player just from Adam’s interaction with him and things he had told us. Landon’s a leader in his own right and very deserving of this award. His team nominated him for the award, so they must feel he’s a worthy recipient.”

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Adam joined the Broncos for their playoff run after his season with the Regina Pat Canadians in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) concluded.

Before the Trojans played in the Regina Pat Canadians’ home opener on Oct. 14 where Adam’s number 10 was going to be retired, Kosior told northeastNOW how much Adam meant to his development as a player and a person.

“Adam was hands down the best leader I’ve ever had,” Kosior said. “He was always there to pick you up after a bad shift or tell you what you can correct. Off the ice he was the nicest guy ever; just brightened a whole room and was a great guy all around.

“There’s probably not a day that goes by where I don’t somehow think of him. If I’m about to make a decision, I’ll think ‘What would Adam do’ and that helps me decide what’s best.”

The criteria needed for the Adam Herold Memorial Award isn’t just being the best defenceman in the SMAAAHL. The requirements include leadership, motivating others, maintaining a minimum 75 per cent average in studies and plans to attend post-secondary within a year of Junior Hockey eligibility.

The winner of the award also receives $1,000 toward post-secondary studies.

Russ said he and his family tried to model the Adam Herold Memorial Award requirements from what Adam showed during his playing career.

“He was more than a defensive defenseman,” he said. “He could put up offence as well, but his forte was his defensive play. He was a fearless defender, really intense, worked extremely hard, and never, ever gave up from start to finish. He was a leader on and off the ice. Whoever he talked to he led by example.

“Academics was for sure one of his strong suits – he was a 90 per cent average student – very good at school, very well rounded, and that’s kind of the thing we look for in this award.”

Russ mentioned how much Kosior improved since he saw him play with Adam, noting his improved offensive game (leading all SMAAAHL defenceman in scoring with 52 points in 44 games) and being named one of the SMAAAHL’s First Team All Star’s.

“I’m sure Adam’s been up above watching Landon’s game,” he said. “Maybe he had a little part and he’ll help Landon on their drive to win Regionals and get to the Telus Cup.”

The Tisdale Trojans host the Telus Cup Western Regionals at the Tisdale RECplex from April 4 to 7.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow