Thursday, April 19, 2012

ETEM NAMED WHL PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Press Release

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League today announced the WHL Eastern Conference finalist for the 2011-12 WHL Player of the Year. The two finalists for WHL Player of the Year are determined through voting by General Managers, coaches, broadcast and media representatives of all WHL Member Clubs.

In the WHL's Eastern Conference, which includes the East and Central Divisions, the Player of the Year Nominee is forward Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Etem enjoyed an outstanding season for the Tigers, scoring 61 goals and 46 assists for 107 points to go with a +29 rating in 64 games to lead the Tigers in scoring and help the team reach the WHL playoffs for a 10th straight season.

Etem, a product of Long Beach, CA, led all WHL players in goals while becoming the first player in the WHL to hit the 60-goal mark since the 2000-01 campaign. The 19-year-old also became the first WHL player to scored 50 goals in 50 or fewer games since the ’00-01 season, getting his 50th and 51st goals in his 50th game of the season. In addition, Etem finished sixth among WHL players with 17 power play goals and led all WHL players with 10 shorthanded markers. His 11 game-winning goals tied him for the WHL lead. The Husky WHL Player of the Month for September/October, Etem was twice named the WHL Player of the Week over the course of the season. Having shown great consistency this season, Etem recorded at least one point in 55 of the 64 games he played, and wasn’t held off the score sheet in back-to-back games throughout the campaign.

Chosen by the Tigers in the 6th round, 115th overall, of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, Etem has played three seasons for the Tigers, scoring 143 goals and 252 points in 202 regular-season games. Etem was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks, his hometown team, in the 1st round, 29th overall, in the 2010 NHL Draft.

The WHL Western Conference finalist for the 2011-12 WHL Player of the Year will be announced tomorrow, Friday, April 20. The recipients of all WHL individual awards will be announced at the 2012 WHL Awards Luncheon, which will be held in Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.

WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Sam Reinhart (Vancouver, BC), Kootenay Ice
Western Conference – Tim Bozon (Cureglia, SUI), Kamloops Blazers

WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy
Eastern Conference – Tyler Bunz (St. Albert, AB), Medicine Hat Tigers
Western Conference – Ty Rimmer (Edmonton, AB), Tri-City Americans

WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Alex Petrovic (Edmonton, AB), Red Deer Rebels
Western Conference – Brenden Kichton (Spruce Grove, AB), Spokane Chiefs

WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Brad Hornung Trophy
Eastern Conference – Mark Stone (Winnipeg, MB), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Ryan Murray (White City, SK), Everett Silvertips

WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Jimmy Bubnick (Saskatoon, SK), Calgary Hitmen
Western Conference – Reid Gow (Killarney, MB), Spokane Chiefs

WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Pat Conacher, Regina Pats
Western Conference – Jim Hiller, Tri-City Americans

WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Bob Green, Edmonton Oil Kings
Western Conference – Craig Bonner, Kamloops Blazers

WHL Humanitarian of the Year, Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Taylor Vause (Calgary, AB), Swift Current Broncos
Western Conference – Brendan Gallagher (Delta, BC), Vancouver Giants

WHL Marketing / Business Award
Eastern Conference – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference – Spokane Chiefs

WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
Edmonton Oil Kings: GP – 72 W – 50 L – 15 OTL – 3 SL – 4 Pts – 107

WHL Top Scorer – Bob Clarke Trophy
Brendan Shinnimin – (Winnipeg, MB) Tri-City Americans
GP – 69 G – 58 A – 76 Pts – 134 PIM - 82

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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