CHIEFS ANNOUNCE 2014-15 TEAM AWARD WINNERS
SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Chiefs captain Jason Fram earned a pair of awards, including the John “Hitman” Hern Defenseman of the Year, and Adam Helewka was named the Chiefs’ Player of the Year in a ceremony prior to Sunday night’s Coca-Cola Regular Season Finale versus the Everett Silvertips on at the Spokane Arena.
Fram, who was also named the Ken Rabel Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, came into Sunday night’s game with 62 points in 70 games, second in the WHL amongst defensemen. The South Delta, B.C. native has only 20 penalty minutes.
On his way to leading the Chiefs in goals scored with 42, Helewka found the net in nine straight games in December and January, equaling a mark only three other players in Chiefs history had accomplished. Coming into Sunday’s game, Helewka was fifth in the league in goals scored and 11th in overall scoring with 84 points.
Liam Stewart, entering the final regular season game of his career, was selected by his teammates as the Players’ Player. Stewart has recorded career highs in goals and points with 25 and 53, respectively, in 71 games.
Fellow 20-year-old Calder Brooks earned the Coaches’ Award after scoring 23 goals and 58 points in 52 games. Brooks was acquired by the Chiefs early in the season in a trade with the Prince Albert Raiders.
Spokane native Kailer Yamamoto was named the team’s Rookie of the Year after becoming just the third 16-year-old in franchise history to score 20 goals (Pat Falloon, 22, 1988-89; Jason Podollan, 36, 1992-93) and fourth to score 50 points (Falloon, 78, 1988-89; Ray Whitney, 50, 1988-89; Podollan, 69, 1992-93). Entering Sunday’s game, Yamamoto had 22 goals, 34 assists and 56 points. Among WHL rookies, he ranks second in scoring. He leads the Chiefs in plus-minus (+13) and game-winning goals with six.
Three-year veteran Jackson Playfair was named the Humanitarian of the Year for helping lead the team in community efforts. After playing the first one-and-a-half seasons of his career as a Chief, the 20-year-old was reacquired by Spokane in November and set career numbers with 12 goals and 23 points.
Rookie 17-year-old defenseman Evan Fiala won the Scholastic Player of the Year award after an 87% average in College Prep English, Advanced Algebra, and Physics in the first semester. He is currently enrolled in College Prep English and an online university-level psychology course. The defenseman is tied with Yamamoto amongst rookies with 68 games played. He has 12 assists and his 103 penalty minutes lead all WHL rookies.
SPOKANE CHIEFS 2014-15 AWARDS WINNERS
Player of the Year – Adam Helewka
John “Hitman” Hern Defenseman of the Year – Jason Fram
Rookie of the Year – Kailer Yamamoto
Ken Rabel Most Sportsmanlike Player – Jason Fram
Humanitarian of the Year – Jackson Playfair
Players’ Player – Liam Stewart
Coaches’ Award – Calder Brooks
Scholastic Player of the Year – Evan Fiala
