Tuesday, September 6, 2016

2016-2017 Western Hockey League Award Nominations

In conjunction with the league preview I just finished, I will now distribute some of the major awards for this upcoming season. The format I'll use is as follows: For each respective club, I'll nominate  their player of the year candidate, top forward because even though it's not an officially recognized award in some cases the player of the year and top defenceman will be one of the same, top defenceman, and top rookie. Once that is concluded, I will announce my conference finalists for each award while adding my observations for who I surmise will land the conference's top goalie and coach honours. A subjective entry yes but one I'm looking forward to penning. The teams will be listed alphabetically.


Brandon Wheat Kings:

Player of the Year: Nolan Patrick(Winnipeg,Manitoba)

Top Defenceman: Kale Clague(Lloydminster, Alberta)

Top Forward: Patrick*

Top Rookie:Baron Thompson(Lakeville,Minnesota)

____________________________________________________________________
Calgary Hitmen:

Player of the Year: Jakob Stukel(Surrey,British Columbia)

Top Defenceman: Jake Bean(Calgary,Alberta)

Top Forward:Stukel*

Top Rookie:Ty Prefontaine(Saskatoon,Saskatchewan)
__________________________________________________________
Edmonton Oil Kings:

Player of the Year: Aaron Irving(Edmonton,Alberta)

Top Defenceman:Irving*

Top Forward:Artyom Baltruk(Belarus)

Top Rookie:Baltruk*
________________________________________________________________-

Everett Silvertips:

Player of the Year:Eetu Tuulola(Hameenlinna,Finland)

Top  Defenceman:Kevin Davis(Kamloops,British Columbia)

Top Forward:Tuulola*

Top  Rookie:Tuulola*

___________________________________________________________________ Kamloops Blazers:

Player of the Year:Collin Shirley(Saskatoon.Saskatchewan)

Top Defenceman:Nolan Kneen(Duncan,British Columbia)

Top Forward:Shirley*

Top Rookie:Carson Denomie(Regina,Saskatchewan)
_______________________________________________________________
Kelowna Rockets:

Player of the Year:Nick Merkley(Calgary,Alberta)

Top Defenceman: Cal Foote(Engelwood,Colorado)

Top Forward:Merkley*

Top Rookie:Jack Cowell(Winnipeg,Manitoba)
________________________________________________________________
Kootenay Ice:


Player of the Year: Zak Zborosky(Regina,Saskatchewan)

Top Defenceman:Cale Fleury(Calgary,Alberta)

Top Forward:Zborosky*

Top Rookie:Keenan Taphorn(Yorkton,Saskatchewan)

_____________________________________________________________ Lethbridge Hurricanes:

Player of the Year:Brayden Burke(Edmonton,Alberta)

Top Defenceman:Nick Watson(Delta,British Columbia)

Top Forward:Burke*

Top Rookie:Calen Addison(Brandon,Manitoba)
_______________________________________________________________
Medicine Hat Tigers:

Player of the Year:Mason Shaw(Wainwright,Alberta)

Top Defenceman:Kristian Rubins(Riga,Latvia)

Top Forward:Shaw*

Top Rookie:Baxter Anderson(Langley,British Columbia)
________________________________________________________________
Moose Jaw Warriors:


Player of the Year:Noah Gregor(Beaumont,Alberta)

Top Defenceman:Dmitri Zaitsev(Togliatti,Russia)

Top Forward:Gregor*

Top Rookie:Zaitsev*

___________________________________________________________________
Portland Winterhawks:

Player of the Year: Caleb Jones(Arlington,Texas)

Top Defenceman: Jones*

Top Forward:Skyler McKenzie(Sherwood Park,Alberta)

Top Rookie:Jake Hobson(Prince Albert,Saskatchewan)
_________________________________________________________________

Prince Albert Raiders:

Player of the Year:Brendan Guhle(Sherwood Park,Alberta)

Top Defenceman:Guhle*

Top Forward:Simon Stransky(Ostrava,Czech Republic)

Top Rookie:Josh Maser(Houston,British Columbia)
______________________________________________________________________

Prince George Cougars:

Player of the Year:Justin Almeida(Kitimat,British Columbia)

Top Defenceman:Tate Olson(Saskatoon,Saskatchewan)

Top Forward: Almeida*

Top Rookie:Reid Perepeluk(Yorkton,Saskatchewan)
______________________________________________________________
Red Deer Rebels:

Player of the Year:Adam Musil(Delta,British Columbia)

Top Defenceman:Josh Mahura(St.Albert,Alberta)

Top Forward:Musil*

Top Rookie:Alexander Alexeyev(St.Petersburg,Russia)

_________________________________________________________________
Regina Pats:

Player of the Year:Sam Steel(Sherwood Park,Alberta)

Top Defenceman:Connor Hobbs(Saskatoon,Saskatchewan)

Top Forward:Steel*

Top Rookie:Nick Henry(Portage La Prairie,Manitoba)
_______________________________________________________________

Saskatoon Blades:

Player of the Year:Libor Hajek(Smrcek,Czech Republic)

Top Forward:Cameron Hebig(Saskatoon,Saskatchewan)

Top Defenceman:Hajek*

Top Rookie:Jantzen Leslie(Lloydminster,Alberta)

________________________________________________________________________

Seattle Thunderbirds:

Player of the Year:Matt Barzal(Vancouver,British Columbia)

Top Defenceman:Ethan Bear(Ochapowace,Saskatchewan)

Top Forward: Barzal*

Top Rookie:Elijah Brown(Edmonton,Alberta)
________________________________________________________________

Spokane Chiefs:

Player of the Year:Kailer Yamamoto(Spokane, Washington)

Top Defenceman:Tyson Helgesen(Fairview,Alberta)

Top Forward:Yamamoto*

Top Rookie:Ty Smith(Lloydminster,Alberta)
____________________________________________________________________

Swift Current Broncos:

Player of the Year:Riley Stotts(Winnipeg,Manitoba)

Top Defenceman:Max Lajoie(Calgary,Alberta)

Top Forward:Stotts*

Top Rookie:Stotts*
________________________________________________________________________

Tri-City Americans:


Player of the Year:Parker Wotherspoon(Surrey,British Columbia)

Top Defenceman:Wotherspoon*

Top Forward:Michael Rasmussen(Surrey,British Columbia)

Top Rookie:Carson Focht(Regina,Saskatchewan)

_________________________________________________________________________
Vancouver Giants:

Player of the Year:Ty Ronning(Burnaby,British Columbia)

Top Defenceman:Matt Barberis(Surrey,British Columbia)

Top Forward:Ronning*

Top Rookie:Marcus Kichton(Spruce Grove,Alberta)
___________________________________________________________________________

Victoria Royals:

Player of the Year:Tyler Soy(Cloverdale,British Columbia)

Top Defenceman:Marsel Ibragimov(Kazan,Russia)

Top Forward:Soy*

Top Rookie:Matthew Smith(Saskatoon,Saskatchewan)
_____________________________________________________________________


WHL AWARD FINALISTS:


Dunc McCallum Coach of the Year Award:

East:March Habscheid-Prince Albert Raiders
West:Mike Williamson-Tri-City Americans

WINNER: Williamson


Del Wilson Top Goaltender Award:

East:Cody Porter(North Vancouver,British Columbia)-Calgary Hitmen
West:Conor Ingram(Imperial,Saskatchewan)-Kamloops Blazers

WINNER: Ingram


Jim Piggott Rookie of the Year Award:

East:Riley Stotts-Swift Current Broncos
West:Ty Smith-Spokane Chiefs

WINNER:Stotts


Bill Hunter Top Defenceman:

East:Brendan Guhle-Prince Albert Raiders
West:Tate Olson-Prince George Cougars

WINNER:Olson

Four Broncos Memorial Player of the Year Award:

East:Mason Shaw-Medicine Hat Tigers
West:Matt Barzal-Seattle Thunderbirds

WINNER:Barzal











                               


1 comment:

  1. Williamson will be gone in Tri after this year. No chance or better yet, 0% chance he is coach of the year. aggressive prediction, but way off base.

    ReplyDelete