CHL Announces 2012-13 Award Winners
Saskatoon, SK – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the ten national award winners for the 2012-13 season including Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads who earned CCM Player of the Year honours. The awards were presented as part of 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup festivities at the Remai Arts Centre in Saskatoon, presented locally by DirectWest.
2012-13 CHL Award Winners:
Jack Link’s Top Prospect of the Year: Seth Jones (Portland Winterhawks)
Seth Jones is listed first overall by NHL Central Scouting in their Final Rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft which takes place June 30 in New Jersey. The 18-year-old defenceman from Plano, Texas, also claimed WHL Rookie of the Year honours posting 14 goals and 42 assists for 56 points in 61 games for the Portland Winterhawks along with an impressive plus-minus rating of plus-46. Finalists for the award were Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads, and Darnell Nurse of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
FRAM Sportsman of the Year: Tyler Graovac (Belleville Bulls)
Tyler Graovac led the Belleville Bulls in scoring with 38 goals and 35 assists for 73 points in 60 games while recording just 18 penalty minutes which was the lowest amount for any player listed among the OHL’s top-20 scorers. The 19-year-old Brampton, ON, native recently signed with the Minnesota Wild who selected him in the seventh round of the 2011 NHL Draft. Finalists for the award were Zach O’Brien of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Dylan Wruck of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Dodge Top Scorer of the Year: Brendan Leipsic and Nicolas Petan (Portland Winterhawks)
Linemates Brendan Leipsic and Nicolas Petan of the Portland Winterhawks become the first pair to receive the Top Scorer Award recording 120 points each. Leipsic, a 19-year-old Nashville Predators prospect from Winnipeg, MB, scored 49 goals and 71 assists for 120 points in 68 games, while 2013 NHL Draft prospect Petan, an 18-year-old from Delta, BC, scored 46 goals and 74 assists. Finalists for the award include Ben Duffy of the PEI Rocket, and Vince Trocheck of the Plymouth Whalers.
Travelodge Humanitarian of the Year: Ben Fanelli (Kitchener Rangers)
Ben Fanelli of the Kitchener Rangers, a 20-year-old from Oakville, ON, earns Humanitarian of the Year honours for his tireless efforts in raising funds and awareness for head injuries. In March, 2011, the defenceman began an initiative called Head Strong: Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness, which has contributed over $18,000 to the Brain Injury Association of Canada and other beneficiaries. Finalists for the award include Konrad Abeltshauser of the Halifax Mooseheads, and Cody Sylvester of the Calgary Hitmen.
Subway Scholastic Player of the Year: Josh Morrissey (Prince Albert Raiders)
Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders maintained a 92.4% average in his Grade 12 year at Carlton Comprehensive High School. The 18-year-old from Calgary, AB, is also a top rated defensive prospect for the 2013 NHL Draft ranked 27 by NHL Central Scouting after producing 47 points in 70 games this season. He follows Jeff Nelson (1989 and 1990) as the last Raider to win the award. Finalists for the award include Charles-David Beaudoin of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, and Darnell Nurse of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Old Dutch Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year: Dominique Ducharme (Halifax Mooseheads)
Dominique Ducharme led the QMJHL Champion Halifax Mooseheads to a CHL-best 58-win season finishing 2012-13 with 120 points. The 40-year-old from Joliette, QC, is in just his second season behind the bench for the Mooseheads. Finalists for the award include Mike Vellucci of the Plymouth Whalers, and Ryan McGill of the Kootenay Ice.
BMO Rookie of the Year: Valentin Zykov (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Valentin Zykov of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar led all first year CHL players in scoring with 40 goals and 35 assists for 75 points in 67 games. The 18-year-old from St. Petersburg, Russia, is also a top rated NHL Draft prospect ranked seventh by NHL Central Scouting. Finalists for the award include Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters, and Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks.
Vaughn Goaltender of the Year: Patrik Bartosak (Red Deer Rebels)
Patrik Bartosak of the Red Deer Rebels posted a 33-14-5 record with five shutouts along with a goals-against-average of 2.26 and a CHL-best save percentage of .935. The 20-year-old from Koprivnice, Czech Republic, is eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft and is ranked eighth among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting. He is the third Rebel to win the award following Darcy Kuemper (2011) and Cam Ward (2004). Finalists for the award include Etienne Marcoux of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, and Jordan Binnington of the Owen Sound Attack.
Post Defenceman of the Year: Ryan Sproul (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Ryan Sproul recorded 66 points in just 50 games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds this season scoring 20 goals while adding 46 assists. The 20-year-old from Mississauga, ON, is a Detroit Red Wings prospect selected in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft and just completed his third season with the Greyhounds. Finalists for the award include Kevin Gagné of the Rimouskic Oceanic, and Brenden Kichton of the Spokane Chiefs.
CCM Player of the Year: Jonathan Drouin (Halifax Mooseheads)
Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads scored 41 goals and 64 assists for 105 points in only 49 games this season with an impressive plus-minus rating of plus-49. The 18-year-old from Ste-Agathe, QC, is playing in just his second QMJHL season and is a top rated prospect for the 2013 NHL Draft ranked third overall by NHL Central Scouting. He is the first player to claim the award in their first NHL draft-eligible year since Sidney Crosby won the award with the Rimouski Oceanic in 2005. Finalists for the award include Vince Trocheck of the Plymouth Whalers, and Adam Lowry of the Swift Current Broncos.
The 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup is proudly supported by MasterCard, title sponsor of this event for 15 straight years. Associate sponsors include Bank of Montreal, Subway, Old Dutch, Post, and broadcast partners Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
For more information about the event please visit www.mastercardmemorialcup.ca.
