Cossa, Robertson, Neighbours & Guenther named to all-star team
Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League announced today the East Division and Central Division All-Star teams for the 2020-21 WHL season, as voted upon by WHL General Managers.
WHL Central Division All-Star Team
Goaltender – Sebastian Cossa (Fort McMurray, Alta.) – Edmonton Oil Kings
Defenceman – Cole Clayton (Prince Albert, Sask.) – Medicine Hat Tigers
Defenceman – Matthew Robertson (Sherwood Park, Alta.) – Edmonton Oil Kings
Forward – Dylan Guenther (Edmonton, Alta.) – Edmonton Oil Kings
Forward – Brett Kemp (Yorkton, Sask.) – Medicine Hat Tigers
Forward – Jake Neighbours (Airdrie, Alta.) – Edmonton Oil Kings
WHL Central Division All-Star Team Biographies
Goaltender Sebastian Cossa (Edmonton Oil Kings): In 19 games, Cossa compiled a 17-1-0-1 record, 1.57 goals-against average, 0.941 save percentage, and four shutouts as the Oil Kings captured the Central Division title. The 6-foot-7, 203-pound product of Fort McMurray, Alta. led WHL goaltenders in GAA and SV% while finishing tied for the league lead in shutouts, and second among WHL netminders in wins. The 18-year-old is ranked #1 among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft. In 52 career WHL regular season appearances, Cossa boasts a record of 38-7-2-2, with a 1.98 GAA, 0.928 SV% and eight shutouts.
Defenceman Cole Clayton (Medicine Hat Tigers): The 20-year-old Tigers blueliner led all WHL defencemen in goals and points, matching his career best point total of 30 (9G-21A) in the process. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound product of Strathmore, Alta. led the Tigers in power-play goals with seven, and was one of only two WHL defencemen to record a hat-trick during the 2020-21 season. Clayton graduates from the WHL having recorded 88 points (45G-190A) in 214 WHL regular season games.
Defenceman Matthew Robertson (Edmonton Oil Kings): The steady Robertson put up 22 points (4G-18A) during the 2020-21 season, finishing tops among WHL defencemen in plus/minus with a career best +26. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound blueliner helped the Oil Kings finish the season with the best record in the WHL. A prospect of the New York Rangers, the Sherwood Park, Alta. product has recorded 127 points (31G-96A) in 208 WHL regular season games.
Forward Dylan Guenther (Edmonton Oil Kings): Guenther scored 12 times in his 12 games played, posting 24 points (12G-12A) during the 2020-21 WHL season before helping Canada to a gold medal performance at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Texas. The 18-year-old product of Edmonton, Alta. finished third among Oil Kings skaters in goals. The 6-foot-2, 181-pound forward sits #5 among North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft, and has amassed 87 points (41G-46A) in 78 WHL regular season games.
Forward Brett Kemp (Medicine Hat Tigers): Recording 31 points (12G-19A) in 23 games, Kemp paced the Tigers offence leading the club in scoring. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound product of Yorkton, Sask. enjoyed a stretch of five consecutive multi-point games in April. The 21-year-old centre graduates from the WHL having compiled 218 points (96G-122A) in 255 WHL regular season games.
Forward Jake Neighbours (Edmonton Oil Kings): With 33 points (9G-24A) in 19 games, Neighbours led the Central Division in scoring, finishing tied for third in the WHL in points. The 6-foot-0, 197-pound product of Airdrie, Alta. posted 11 multi-point efforts and finished second on the Oil Kings in power-play assists with eight. The prospect of the St. Louis Blues has put up a total of 131 points (43G-88A) in 141 WHL regular season games.
