CHL Graduates Win NHL Awards at 2010 Ceremony
The 2009-10 NHL Awards took place Wednesday night in Las Vegas with several Canadian Hockey League graduates winning major awards.
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Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres took the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year just one season after winning a WHL championship with the Kelowna Rockets.
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Myers received 94 of 133 first-place votes and 1,178 points, outdistancing Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (778 points) and Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (755) who played last season with the Brampton Battalion.
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Myers not only won an NHL roster spot as a 19-year-old, he posted statistics befitting an established veteran. The 6’8″, 222-lb. defenseman led the Sabres in ice time per game (23:44), three minutes more than blueline partner Henrik Tallinder who ranked second. He shared second place on the club in plus-minus (+13) and was fifth in scoring (11-37–48). Myers ranked at or near the top in several rookie categories, including average ice time (first), shorthanded time (first, 3:04), assists (first), blocked shots (first, 137), plus-minus (T-second) and points (third). He also was one of four rookies to play all 82 games.
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In his acceptance speech, Myers noted the importance of the WHL in his development.
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Other CHL Graduates that won awards include:
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James Norris Trophy – Best Defenceman
Duncan Keith, Chicago (Kelowna 2002-03)
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Mark Messier Leadership Award
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh (Rimouski 2003-05)
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King Clancy Trophy – Leadership Qualities
Shane Doan, Phoenix (Kamloops 1992-95)
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Bill Masterton Trophy – Perseverance
Jose Theodore, Washington (St. Jean/Hull 1992-96)
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In addition to those major awards, Duncan Keith was named a First Team All-Star along with defenceman Mike Green of the Washington Capitals (Saskatoon 2001-05), and Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (London 2006-07).
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Crosby was also named a Second Team All-Star along with defenceman Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings (Guelph 2005-08).
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Myers (Kelowna 2005-09) was also named to the All-Rookie Team along with CHL graduates Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers (Oshawa/London 2006-09), Duchene (Brampton 2007-09), and 2009 first overall pick John Tavares of the New York Islanders (Oshawa/London 2005-09).
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Please visit www.nhl.com for complete award results.
Photo of Tyler Myers by Aaron Bell/CHL
