CHL Announces 2007 Award Winners

RUSSELL, PRICE AND MOIR EARN CHL HONORS — Richmond, B.C. – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the successful recipients of the 2007 CHL Awards presented by NAPA Auto Parts.
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rJohn Tavares of the Oshawa Generals was named the RBK Player of the Year. The General’s forward has really made his mark in the CHL after capturing the CHL rookie of the year award last year. In only his 2nd season with Oshawa, Tavares broke Wayne Gretzky’s record of goals in a season by a 16-year old with 72 this year and led the Generals with 134 points. Tavares’ future is bright with the Generals and the Ontario Hockey League.
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rPatrick Kane of the London Knights was named the BMO Rookie of the Year, the Boston Pizza CHL Top Scorer of the Year and the NAPA Auto Parts Top Draft Prospect. Kane entered the league on a torrid pace. The high profile forward capped of a stellar first year season with the Knights, leading the team in scoring and playing an instrumental role as London claimed their fourth straight Hamilton Spectator Trophy as OHL Regular Season Champions.
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rClément Jodoin of the Lewiston MAINEiacs was named the Go RVing Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year. Jodoin in his third season with the MAINEiacs led them to their best record in franchise history and a first-place finish in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 50 wins and 106 points in 70 games.
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rAlexandre Picard-Hooper of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar was named the Subway Scholastic Player of the Year. Alexandre was not only a top performer on the ice, scoring 93 points in 67 games this season but excelled off the ice as well. Alexandre produced in the classroom completing his CEGEP program in Human and Social Sciences at Baie-Comeau College and plans to attend the University of McGill in September.
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rDavid Desharnais of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens received the Prospects Hockey Sportsman of the Year award. Desharnais, nominated for the third year in a row as the CHL’s Sportsman of the year, led Chicoutimi with 108 points in 62 games amassing only 32 penalty minutes this season. Desharnais, a fourth year veteran with Chicoutimi, also earned his third straight Frank J. Selke Trophy as the QMJHL’s Sportsman of the year.
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rCarey Price of the Tri-City Americans was named the ADT Goaltender of the Year. Price finished his fourth year with the Americans as the team’s all-time leader in wins (83), goals against average (2.52), save percentage (0.914) and shutouts (16). Price also backstopped Canada to a gold medal at this year’s World Junior Championships in Sweden, claiming the tournament MVP.
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rKris Russell of the Medicine Hat Tigers was named the Air Canada Defenceman of the Year recording 32 goals and 37 assists for 69 points in 59 games. Russell has patrolled the blueline for the Tigers in his fourth season and led the Tigers atop the WHL Eastern Conference Standings in the regular season. The Caroline, Alberta native, was the only defenceman in the WHL to lead his team in scoring with 69 points.
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rKyle Moir of the Swift Current Broncos was named the Home Hardware Humanitarian of the Year. Moir went above and beyond his commitments with the Broncos as he was involved in numerous events including, weekly school visits, Special Olympics Saskatchewan and the Prairie Post Broncos Reading Program. Moir matched his community dedication on the ice as he became the CHL’s all-time games played record holder for a goalie.