Former Oklahoma City standout defenseman Hardy Sauter has been named the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Coach of the Year. A former SJHL player, Sauter retired following the 2004-2005 season and took over Head Coaching duties for the Nipawin Hawks. Sauter led the Hawks to a share of the best record in the SJHL this season, finishing the regular season with 81 points and a record of 38-12-2-3. Sauter was named the CHLs Most Outstanding Defenseman in both the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons and participated in eight consecutive CHL All-Star games from 1998 through 2005.
At the time of his retirement, Sauter ranked 2nd in career CHL games played (590), 3rd in career CHL points (669), 2nd in career CHL assists (527) and helped the Blazers to the 2000-2001 Ray Miron Cup as CHL champions.