FESER NAMED WHL PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Press Release

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League today announced the WHL Western Conference finalist for the 2012-13 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 Western Conference, which includes the B.C. and U.S. Divisions, the Player of the Year Nominee is forward Justin Feser of the Tri-City Americans.

Feser, a Red Deer, AB, native, enjoyed an outstanding season for the Americans, leading them to their seventh consecutive season with 40 or more victories.  In his 20-year-old campaign, Feser scored 44 goals and 62 assists for 106 points along with a +20 rating while appearing in all 72 games for the Americans.

Feser lead the Americans in scoring by a wide margin this season, netting 40 more points than the team’s second-highest scorer, and placed him fourth among all WHL players in points.  His 44 goals put him seventh among all WHL players while his 62 assists also placed him seventh in that category.  In addition, Feser netted 13 power play goals and four shorthanded goals, and finished tied for second among WHL players with eight game-winning goals.  The 5’9”, 190-lb forward displayed great consistency during the 2012-13 season, being held off the score sheet for two or more consecutive games just five times.  Twice named the Denny’s WHL Player of the Week, Feser was also named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for February after collecting 24 points in just 11 games.

Feser has played five seasons in the WHL, all with the Americans, recording 155 goals and 198 assists for 353 points in 351 regular-season games.  He has also proven to be the most durable player in WHL history, setting the WHL record for consecutive games played at 321.  Feser was selected by the Americans in the ninth round, 194^th overall, in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

The recipients of all WHL individual awards will be announced at the 2013 WHL Awards Luncheon, which will be held in Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.  

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)