The Winnipeg Women's High School Hockey League's announced the nominees for their yearly awards.

Three Portage Collegiate Institute Saints have made the list. Grade 12 forward Bailey Grantham's been nominated for League MVP, Grade 11 defender Kiera Shwaluk's been nominated for Top Defence, and Grade 11 goaltender Morgan Klassen received a nomination for Top Goalie.

Grantham finished the season second in the league in points scored with 50, 31 goals and 19 assists. She was the engine that powered the Saints' offence this season and could change the game single handily when she chose. She also scored 12 points in five playoff games, five goals and seven assists.

"She's been the backbone of this team for the past four years, but even more so this season," says head coach Jo-Anne Clark-Gillespie. "She's just a great asset to the program. She believes in the program and is very loyal and committed, and I was very thankful for everything she brought to the program."

Shwaluk was arguably the best defenceman in the entire league. She played more than half of the game whenever she was dressed, brought knowledge and consistency to the Saints' back-end, and helped and taught other defenders a lot through the season. She finished with 10 goals and 17 assists through the regular season, and six points in the playoffs. She was a two-way defender that wasn't afraid to jump into the play.

"Her ability to teach players is something that people wouldn't be able to pick up just watching her play," says Clark-Gillespie. "What she did for the four other girls on the blue line with her and her being the oldest one, her offensive and defensive ability really stand out and people notice her for her speed and her smarts, but her leadership on the blue line and helping the young girls develop, you can't even describe how important she was in our own zone."

Morgan Klassen went 11-2 through the regular season and finished with the most shutouts with 6. Her goals against average was an incredible 1.18, good enough for second overall, and she only allowed 14 goals all year. She didn't have her stronger performance in the playoffs dropping to a 3.36 GAA and going 0-2 through the two games she played.

"Morgan is pretty consistent in her play. She's pretty quiet, she works hard and it was nice to see at the end of the year that she quietly snuck up on everyone in the stats department. I don't think people knew the stats she was putting up when she was leading our division and the whole league in shutouts. Very happy and excited she's being recognized with a nomination this year."