9 CHL grads win NHL Awards
Thursday June 25, 2015
Nine CHL graduates are 2015 NHL award winners following Wednesday’s ceremony in Las Vegas, NV. Montreal Canadiens goaltender and Tri-City Americans graduate Carey Price headlined the evening, receiving four different honours.
Price became the first goaltender to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP, the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender, the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player as voted by the players and the William M. Jennings Trophy for being on the team that surrendered the fewest goals in the NHL this season (189).
In addition, Price joins Guy Lafleur (1977) as the second player in Montreal Canadiens history to win four different awards.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Price told Dan Rosen of NHL.com. “I’m just truly grateful just to be here. I don’t really know what to say. It’s been an amazing experience. This whole season has been just amazing.”
Wednesday night was also big for a recent CHL grad. Former Barrie Colts defenceman and 2014 NHL first overall pick Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers received the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. The big rearguard scored 12 goals, 27 assists and 39 points in 81 games to earn the prestigious award also won by recent CHL grads in Nathan MacKinnon (2014) and Panthers centreman Jonathan Huberdeau (2013).
“I want to thank the coaching staff with Gerard Gallant and the other guys in Florida who have given me the opportunity to play every night in every situation,” said Ekblad during his acceptance speech. “The opportunities I was given were sometimes not deserved, but they threw me in the fire and gave me the opportunity to find ways to succeed.”
Seven other CHL graduates including leading scorer Jamie Benn (Art Ross Trophy), Patrice Bergeron (Selke Trophy), Devan Dubnyk (Masterton Trophy), Corey Crawford (William M. Jennings Award), Brent Burns (Foundation Player Award), Bob Hartley (Jack Adams Award) and Steve Yzerman (GM of the Year) also received awards.
In addition, 12 CHL graduates were named to NHL All-Star and All-Rookie teams, with Price joining defenceman P.K. Subban (Montreal Canadiens/Belleville Bulls) and forwards John Tavares (New York Islanders/London Knights) and Jakub Voracek (Philadelphia Flyers/Halifax Mooseheads) as first team all-stars.
CHL graduates who received 2015 NHL Awards:
Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
Carey Price (G) (Montreal Canadiens/Tri-City Americans)
Art Ross Trophy (Top Scorer)
Jamie Benn (C) (Dallas Stars/Kelowna Rockets)
Vezina Trophy (Outstanding Goaltender)
Carey Price (G) (Montreal Canadiens/Tri-City Americans)
William M. Jennings Award (Lowest Team GAA)
Carey Price (G) (Montreal Canadiens/Tri-City Americans)
Corey Crawford (G) (Chicago Blackhawks/Moncton Wildcats)
Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player)
Carey Price (G) (Montreal Canadiens/Tri-City Americans)
Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
Aaron Ekblad (D) (Florida Panthers/Barrie Colts)
Selke Trophy (Defensive Forward)
Patrice Bergeron (C) (Boston Bruins/Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Masterton Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, Dedication)
Devan Dubnyk (G) (Minnesota Wild/Kamloops Blazers)
Foundation Player Award (Humanitarian)
Brent Burns (RW) (San Jose Sharks/Brampton Battalion)
Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)
Bob Hartley (Calgary Flames/Laval Titan)
GM of the Year Award
Steve Yzerman (Tampa Bay Lightning/Peterborough Petes)
CHL Graduates on NHL All-Star/All-Rookie Teams:
First Team
G – Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens/Tri-City Americans)
D – P.K. Subban (Montreal Canadiens/Belleville Bulls)
RW – Jakub Voracek (Philadelphia Flyers/Halifax Mooseheads)
Second Team
G – Devan Dubnyk (Minnesota Wild/Kamloops Blazers)
D – Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings/Guelph Storm)
D – Shea Weber (Nashville Predators/Kelowna Rockets)
C – Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins/Rimouski Oceanic)
LW – Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars/Kelowna Rockets)
All-Rookie Team
G – Jake Allen (St. Louis Blues/Drummondville Voltigeurs)
D – Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers/Barrie Colts)
F – Mark Stone (Ottawa Senators/Brandon Wheat Kings)