2018-19 Emera Top Scorer Award Finalists
Portland Winterhawks left-wing Joachim Blichfeld, Niagara IceDogs left-wing Jason Robertson, and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies centre Peter Abbandonato are the 2019 finalists for the Emera Top Scorer Award.
The winner of the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's Top Scorer is @SanJoseSharks prospect @joachimblich of the @pdxwinterhawks! #WHLAwards pic.twitter.com/CPYPxwPGrf
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 1, 2019
In his third season with the Winterhawks, the Denmark-born Blichfeld took home the Bob Clarke Trophy, presented to the Western Hockey League’s top scorer after he finished the 2018-19 campaign with 53 goals and 61 assists for 114 points in 68 games, more than doubling his production from the previous season. In early November, Blichfeld was recognized with WHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week honours after he recorded four goals and five assists for nine points in three games.
Blichfeld began his WHL career in 2016-17 after he was selected 85th overall by the Winterhawks in the 2016 CHL Import Draft. Across three seasons, he has collected 105 goals with 123 assists for 228 points in 187 career contests. He finished the 2019 postseason with two goals and two assists in a five-game quarter-final matchup versus the Spokane Chiefs.
The San Jose Sharks selected Blichfeld in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Congrats @JasonRob1999!@DallasStars prospect captures #OHL scoring crown and first Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy in @OHLIceDogs history.
DETAILS: https://t.co/tKkBKOdIUH pic.twitter.com/BGUsjYALjm
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 18, 2019
A midseason trade from the Kingston Frontenacs to the IceDogs jump started Robertson’s season, as his production climbed by half-a-point per game with his new club to finish the 2018-19 campaign with 48 goals and 69 assists for 117 points in 62 appearances as he claimed the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, awarded to the Ontario Hockey League’s top scorer. He then added another 10 points in 10 games of playoff action.
This season, Robertson was a three-time recipient of OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week honours, while he was also twice recognized as the CHL Player of the Week. A native of Northville, Mich., Robertson’s most impressive stretch with the IceDogs came in a 19-game point streak that saw him tally 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points. Across four OHL seasons, Robertson, who was selected 62nd overall in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, has registered 149 goals and 168 assists for 317 points in 252 career games.
The Dallas Stars chose Robertson with the 39th selection in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Peter Abbandonato of the @HuskiesRn is this year’s Jean-Béliveau Trophy recipient. He finished the 2018-19 season as QMJHL’s top scorer with a total of 111 points! #QMJHL50 pic.twitter.com/0yprL5SqUq
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) April 4, 2019
Abbandonato took home the Jean Beliveau Trophy after leading the QMJHL with 111 points, counting 29 goals and 82 assists. That performance helped the Huskies finish first league-wide and later claim the President’s Cup as the league playoff champions before advancing to the 2019 Memorial Cup presented by Kia.
The 21-year-old native of Laval, Que., has spent the past four seasons with the Huskies, recording 82 goals and 185 assists for 267 points in 264 career games. This season, he also led the QMJHL in assists, while also topping the charts with a plus-71 rating. He was a four-time recipient of Ultramar Player of the Week honours, with his most impressive showing coming when he put together back-to-back five-point outings in mid-November, which also earned him CHL Player of the Week recognition.
In the 2019 postseason, Abbandonato notched six goals and 21 assists for 27 points in 15 appearances to sit tied for fourth in league playoff scoring. Abbandonato was selected by Rouyn-Noranda with the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft.