WHL Awards Finalists

Press Release

The Western Hockey League will hand out the hardware to honor the 2008-09 season’s most outstanding performances at the annual WHL Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, April 29th.

This year, the WHL Awards Luncheon, as well as the WHL Bantam Draft, will be held in Edmonton, AB.

Conference finalists were announced for the following 2008-09 WHL awards: Rookie of the Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, Scholastic Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.Conference finalists for the WHL Player of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, and Scholastic Player of the Year will be announced at a later date.

Here's a look at the Conference finalists for the WHL awards announced last week:

WHL Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference: Jordan Weal – Regina Pats

Weal was a bright light on the 2008-09 edition of the Pats. The 16-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., notched 16 goals and 54 assists for 70 points in 65 games during the 2008-09 season to finish second on the team in scoring. Weal led all 16-year-old rookies in scoring and assists while finishing second among all WHL first-year players in points. His 54 assists tied him for the lead among all WHL rookies in that category. A terrific passer with excellent skating ability and great vision, Weal was the Pats’ fourth-round pick, 79th overall, at the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

Western Conference: Brett Connolly – Prince George Cougars

Connolly enjoyed a terrific campaign in his first season in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars in 2008-09. The 16-year-old Prince George, B.C., product led his hometown Cougars with 30 goals and 60 points in 65 games this season, helping the Cougars earn a playoff berth. Connolly was one of just two rookies to lead his team in scoring this season while also becoming the first 16-year-old rookie to score 30 goals in a season since current NHL star Patrick Marleau did it with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 1995-96. A sniper with tremendous accuracy and a quick release, Connolly was drafted by the Cougars in the first round, 10th overall, at the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

WHL Goaltender of the Year - Del Wilson Trophy

Eastern Conference: Braden Holtby – Saskatoon Blades

Holtby enjoyed his finest campaign in the WHL with the Blades in 2008-09, helping the team not only end a two-year playoff drought but doing so by winning their first East Division title since 1993-94. The 19-year-old from Marshall, SK, appeared in a WHL-high 61 games for the Blades, posting a 40-16-2-2 record with six shutouts to go with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Holtby was one of only two WHL goalies to top the 40-win mark, and also enjoyed streaks of 10 and nine consecutive wins throughout the season. Holtby is a Washington Capitals prospect.

Western Conference: Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans

Pickard was again one of the WHL’s top netminders in 2008-09, and finds himself the Western Conference’s nominee for WHL Goaltender of the Year for a second straight season after winning the award last year. The 19-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, made 50 appearances for the Americans this season, posting a 35-12-0-3 record with six shutouts while sporting a 2.28 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage, helping the Ams earn their second straight U.S. Division title. He was also named the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week on December 9th. Pickard is a Nashville Predators prospect.

WHL Defenseman of the Year - Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference: Paul Postma – Calgary Hitmen

Postma enjoyed an outstanding 2008-09 regular season for the Hitmen, helping the team to one of the best regular-season campaigns in WHL history. The 19-year-old from Red Deer, AB, scored a franchise-record 23 goals while tying a franchise record with 84 points in 70 games this season to lead all WHL defensemen in scoring by a 17-point margin. In addition, Postma posted a WHL-best +67 rating for the highest +/- rating since the 1998-99 season. Postma, an Atlanta Thrashers prospect, is the second Hitmen defenseman in the last two seasons to earn the Eastern Conference nomination for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy. Karl Alzner won the award last season.

Western Conference: Jonathon Blum – Vancouver Giants

Blum has put up another excellent regular-season campaign for the Giants, helping the team to their fourth consecutive B.C. Division crown and to the second-best defensive record in the WHL. The 20-year-old from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, notched 16 goals and a career-high 50 assists for 66 points to go with a +53 rating in only 51 games for the Giants this season. Blum was named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for September/October after starting the season with 14 points and a remarkable +20 rating in his first 10 games of the season. Blum is a Nashville Predators prospect.

WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year - Brad Hornung Trophy

Eastern Conference: Tyler Ennis, Medicine Hat Tigers

The reigning Brad Hornung Trophy recipient, Ennis finds himself as the Eastern Conference’s finalist for the award for a second straight season after another solid campaign for the Tigers. The 19-year-old Edmonton, AB, native was an offensive force for the Tigers, netting 43 goals and 85 points in 61 games to place 10th in the WHL scoring race. The Buffalo Sabres’ prospect also drew only 21 minutes in penalties this season, despite playing top-line minutes. A well-respected player throughout the WHL, Ennis has accumulated 115 career goals to go with just 103 penalty minutes in 244 career regular-season game.

Western Conference: Colin Long, Kelowna Rockets

Like Ennis, Long finds himself as a finalist for the Brad Hornung Trophy for a second consecutive season after enjoying another productive season for the Kelowna Rockets. The 19-year-old from Santa Ana, CA, scored a career-high 33 goals while adding 58 assists for 91 points in 68 contests, helping the Rockets to their best regular-season campaign since 2004-05. Long also sat for only 28 minutes in the penalty box despite playing big minutes in all situations for the Rockets. One of the highest-scoring players in the WHL over the last two season, Long has racked up 64 goals and 191 points over his last 140 games while drawing just 69 penalty minutes. Long is a Phoenix Coyotes prospect.

WHL Scholastic Player of the Year – Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy

Eastern Conference: Stefan Elliott – Saskatoon Blades

Elliott has been a star on the ice and in the classroom during the 2008-09 WHL season. The 18-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., earned a 93.3% average during his first semester of studies in 2008-09 while taking a heavy course load of Grade 12 classes at Marion Graham Collegiate in Saskatoon, SK. Having earned a 90% average in Chemistry 30, a 96% average in Francais immersion, and a 94% average in English B 30 in the first semester of the school year, Elliott is now tackling English A 30 and Phys Ed 30 to complete his high school curriculum. On the Ice, Elliott notched 16 goals and 55 points in 70 games to help the Blades win the East Division title. Eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Elliott has the potential to be a first-round selection.

Western Conference: Tyler Maxwell – Everett Silvertips

Maxwell enjoyed a terrific rookie season on the ice for the Everett Silvertips in 2008-09, and excelled in the classroom as well. The 17-year-old from Manhattan Beach, CA, earned a 3.85 GPA in his first full year at Everett High School, posting A’s in Creative Writing and English, and A-‘s in Drama and American Government. Impressively, Maxwell was able to accomplish this in his first year away from home, in a new city and a new school, and while continuing to play high-caliber hockey with the Silvertips. On the ice, Maxwell scored 22 goals and 46 points in 57 games for the ‘Tips, helping them clinch a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive season. Maxwell’s 22 goals placed him fourth among all WHL rookies. Maxwell is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

WHL Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference: Lorne Molleken – Saskatoon Blades

Under head coach Lorne Molleken, the Saskatoon Blades were not only able to end a two-year playoff drought, but do so as East Division champions for the first time since 1993-94. Molleken, also the Blades’ general manager, led the team to an outstanding 49-18-3-2 record for 103 points during the 2008-09 season, marking a 20-win, 36-point improvement from the previous season. Under Molleken’s guidance, the Blades also posted a remarkable 28-6-1-1 record on the road this season, tying a WHL record for most road victories in a single season. Molleken also became the 11th coach in WHL history to reach the 400-win mark for his career.

Western Conference: Don Hay – Vancouver Giants

Under Hay’s watch, the Giants posted their best regular-season campaign in franchise history while winning the B.C. Division title for a fourth consecutive year. Hay’s Giants skated to a 57-10-2-3 record for 119 points during the regular season while owning the League’s second-best offense and defense. Under Hay, the Giants posted franchise records for home wins (30), road wins (27), goals for (319), and goal differential (+168). The Hay-led Giants also topped the 100-point plateau for the fourth straight year, tying a WHL record. Over the last four seasons, Hay has led the Giants to a 198-61-7-22 record. Hay currently ranks seventh on the WHL’s list for all-time regular-season coaching victories with 445.

WHL Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference: Kelly Kisio – Calgary Hitmen

Kelly Kisio finds himself as the Eastern Conference nominee for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy for a second straight season after the Hitmen posted the second-best regular-season record in WHL history in 2008-09. In his first season with the sole title of general manager – he was the team’s head coach last season – Kisio’s Hitmen posted a 59-9-3-1 record for 122 points for the second highest win and point total in WHL history. Despite losing many key players from last season, Kisio managed to keep the Hitmen more than competitive with several astute moves and through the development of prospects selected through the WHL Bantam Draft. 12 players on the Hitmen’s Scotty Munro Trophy-winning roster were Calgary Bantam Draft picks, while another five were listed by the team.

Western Conference: Scott Bonner – Vancouver Giants

Under Scott Bonner’s management, the Giants enjoyed yet another outstanding regular season, posting a 57-10-2-3 record for 119 points and earning a fourth consecutive B.C. Division title. Bonner’s savvy as a general manager and knack for acquiring talent allowed him to accumulate one of the deepest rosters – defensively and offensively – of any WHL team. The Giants boast 13 players, including All-Stars Evander Kane and Jon Blum, on their squad who were selected by the team through the WHL Bantam Draft. In addition, Bonner has managed to acquire high-end players such as defensemen Nick Ross to improve his team this season. Bonner’s ability to assemble elite teams year after year has helped the Giants continually be among the WHL’s leaders in attendance.

WHL Regular Season Champion - Scotty Munro Trophy

WINNER: Calgary Hitmen

The Calgary Hitmen put together one of the best regular-season campaigns in WHL history. The 2008-09 season saw the Hitmen post a 59-9-3-1 record for 122 points to earn their second consecutive Central Division and Eastern Conference regular-season titles. Their 59 wins puts the Hitmen second in the WHL’s record books, as does their 122 points. In addition, the Hitmen posted a 32-3-1-0 record on home ice and a 27-6-2-1 record on the road. It’s the third time in their 14-year history that the Hitmen have won the Scotty Munro Trophy for owning the WHL’s best regular-season record.

WHL Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy

WINNER: Casey Pierro-Zabotel – Vancouver Giants

Pierro-Zabotel notched 36 goals and 79 assists for 115 points in 72 games for the Vancouver Giants during the 2008-09 WHL regular season to earn the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s top scorer. The 20-year-old from Kamloops, B.C., becomes the first Vancouver Giant to win the WHL’s Top Scorer award, and fourth straight B.C.-born player to top the WHL’s scoring ladder. Pierro-Zabotel’s 79 assists were 11 more than his nearest competitor this year, and the most put up by a WHL player since the 1996-97 season. Having joined the Giants from the BCHL in November 2007, Pierro-Zabotel has amassed 55 goals and 163 points in 121 games, helping the Giants to back-to-back B.C. Division titles in that time. Pierro-Zabotel is a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)