SPORTS IN BRIEF

Pateman, Sprague win hockey awards

Prince George products Ward Pateman and Trevor Sprague were recognized with awards at the B.C. Hockey Annual Congress, held on the weekend in Sun Peaks. Pateman, who now resides in Kelowna, was named official of the year. He worked about 35 games in the Western Hockey League as a referee this past season and also saw regular duty in the B.C. Hockey League. Pateman was chosen as an official for the recent Royal Bank Cup national junior A championship in Chilliwack and also made his professional debut in the American Hockey League in March when he was in uniform for a game between the host Toronto Marlies and the Belleville Senators. Sprague, general manager of the Cariboo