Signed WHL prospects win awards in leagues across Western Canada
At the end of each hockey season comes the distribution of year-end awards which are presented to the best and brightest stars of the given league. This season, the Western Hockey League found itself thoroughly represented as several WHL prospects – across countless provinces – acquired hardware following their latest campaigns at the under-18 level.
As the next generation of names to make their junior hockey homes in the WHL, we are here to celebrate and highlight these hard-earned accomplishments.
CSSHL
U18 Division
Co-MVP / Top Freshman: Daxon Rudolph
Selected first overall by the Prince Albert Raiders at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Daxon Rudolph shares the CSSHL’s U18 MVP award with Kamloops Blazers prospect, Tommy Lafreniere. Rudolph recorded 59 points (22 goals–37 assists) in 28 games with the Northern Alberta Xtreme’s U18 Prep club. The 16-year-old was also presented with the CSSHL’s Top Freshman award as the League’s best first-year player in the U18 Division.
Co-MVP: Tommy Lafrenière
Selected in the eighth round (174th overall) at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft by the Kamloops Blazers, Tommy Lafrenière shares the CSSHL’s U18 MVP award with Prince Albert’s Daxon Rudolph. Lafrenière collected 58 points (27 goals–31 assists) in 30 games with Yale Hockey Academy’s U18 prep team. The product of Saint-Sauveur, Que., skated in nine games during the regular season with the Blazers, recording four points (two goals–two assists).
Top Goalie: Ryley Budd
Selected in the second round (42nd overall) by the Saskatoon Blades at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, netminder Ryley Budd was named the Top Goalie for the CSSHL’s U18 Division. Budd led all goaltenders in goals against average (1.77) and save percentage (0.936%) through 17 starts with Edge School’s U18 Prep club. The 15-year-old was also a member of Edge’s U18 Championship-winning team.
Most Sportsmanlike: Riley Boychuk
The second overall selection at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Riley Boychuk has been named the CSSHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player in the U18 Division. The Prince Albert Raiders prospect collected 62 points (16 goals–46 assists) in 27 regular season games with Northern Alberta Xtreme’s U18 prep team.
B.C./U.S. Division First Team All-Stars:
Tommy Lafrenière – Yale Hockey Academy / Kamloops Blazers
Markus Ruck – Okanagan Hockey Academy / Medicine Hat Tigers
Rowan Guest – Pacific Coast Hockey Academy / Kelowna Rockets
Ryan Lin – Delta Hockey Academy / Vancouver Giants
Ryan Tamelin – Okanagan Hockey Academy / Victoria Royals
Prairie Division First Team All-Stars:
Riley Boychuk – Northern Alberta Xtreme / Prince Albert Raiders
Jordan Duguay – Northern Alberta Xtreme / Portland Winterhawks
Cruz Pavao – Edge School / Tri-City Americans
Daxon Rudolph – Northern Alberta Xtreme / Prince Albert Raiders
Ryley Budd – Edge School / Saskatoon Blades
Presenting the 2024 @CSSHL U18 Award Winners and All-Stars!@PARaidersHockey | @blazershockey | @BladesHockey | #WHLDraft
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 3, 2024
U17 – Tier 1 Division
MVP / Most Sportsmanlike / Playoffs MVP: Brendan Rudolph
Seattle Thunderbirds prospect Brendan Rudolph triple-dipped CSSHL awards this season. The winner of the League’s MVP, Playoffs MVP, and Most Sportsmanlike Award, Rudolph had a career year with the Calgary IHA U17 Prep team. In 31 appearances, the forward collected 59 points (29 goals–30 assists) and won the U17 Championship with Calgary IHA.
Top Defenceman: Easton Laplante
Selected in the second round (33rd overall) to the Calgary Hitmen at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Laplante was named the top-ranked defenceman in the CSSHL’s U17 Tier 1 Division. Laplante recorded 34 points (eight goals–26 assists) in 22 games this season and made two appearances during the Hitmen’s regular season.
Top Goalie: Cole Prelusky
Calgary IHA U17 Prep made a clean sweep of their division’s yearly awards, as Cole Prelusky was named the Top Goalie for the 2023-24 season. Prelusky was drafted in the third round (62nd overall) by the Victoria Royals at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. In 22 starts, the netminder posted a goals-against average of 2.81 and a save percentage of 0.923%.
Tier 1 Division All-Stars:
Colton Gerrier – BWC Academy Gold / Seattle Thunderbirds
Brendan Rudolph – Calgary International Hockey Academy / Seattle Thunderbirds
Liam Eisnor – Northern Alberta Xtreme Blue / Saskatoon Blades
Easton Laplante – Calgary International Hockey Academy / Calgary Hitmen
U17 – Tier 2 Division
MVP / Top Defenceman: Carson Carels
It was a clean sweep of year-end awards for Carson Carels. With 50 points (18 goals–32 assists) in 27 games with Pilot Mound Academy U17 Prep, Carels was the MVP and Top Defenceman in the CSSHL’s U17 Tier 2 Division. Carels was selected 15th overall at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft by the Prince George Cougars.
Tier 2 Division All-Stars:
Carson Carels – Pilot Mound Hockey Academy / Prince George Cougars
Jett Deschamps – RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg / Regina Pats
Now taking the stage: The 2024 @CSSHL U17 Award Winners and All-Stars!@SeattleTbirds | @PGCougars | @victoriaroyals | @WHLHitmen | #WHLDraft
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 3, 2024
AEHL U18
MVP / Leading Scorer / Playoffs MVP: Caleb Matthews
Caleb Matthews was nothing short of dominant for the Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA team. Racking up 68 points (18 goals–50 assists) in 35 regular season games, the Victoria Royals prospect was the AEHL U18 leading scorer and was named the MVP and Playoffs MVP. A fifth-round (91st overall) pick at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Matthews won bronze with the Buffaloes at the 2024 TELUS Cup held in April.
Top Forward: Brett Olson
With 60 points (25 goals–35 assists) in 35 appearances with the St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA team, Brett Olson was the recipient of the AEHL’s Top Forward award. Olson was the eighth-overall selection at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft by the Vancouver Giants.
Top Goaltender: Josh Banini
Leading all AEHL netminders in save percentage (0.929%), Moose Jaw Warriors prospect Josh Banini was named the AEHL’s Top Goaltender for the 2023-24 season. Banini posted a record of 14-8-2 in 25 starts with the Edmonton Jr. Oilers U18 AAA team. The product of Edmonton, Alta. was selected in the eighth round (160th overall) by Moose Jaw at the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
First Team All-Stars:
Caleb Matthews – Calgary Buffaloes / Victoria Royals
Brett Olson – St. Albert Raiders / Vancouver Giants
Josh Banini – Edmonton Jr. Oilers / Moose Jaw Warriors
Second Team All-Stars:
Cooper Williams – Calgary Buffaloes / Saskatoon Blades
Caelan Joudrey – Airdrie Bisons / Wenatchee Wild
Gradey Hope – St. Albert Raiders / Brandon Wheat Kings
Madden Mulawka – Edmonton Jr. Oilers / Regina Pats
Three players are repping the Western League as @AEHL_HA Award Winners and First Team All-Stars!@victoriaroyals | @WHLGiants | @MJWARRIORS| #WHLDraft
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 3, 2024
SMAAAHL
Top Goalie: Taylor Tabashniuk
Boasting the best goals-against average (2.09) in the SMAAAHL, Taylor Tabashniuk is celebrating a season of success with the Regina Pat Canadians U18 AAA. Pairing his impressive 2.09 GAA with a save percentage of 0.919% and a record of 21-4-0, Tabashniuk was the clear favourite for the SMAAAHL’s Top Goalie award. Selected in the sixth round (127th overall) by the Red Deer Rebels at the 2022 WHL Draft, Tabashniuk made his Western League debut in the postseason. The netminder made two starts for the Rebels in Round Two of the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
Adam Herold Award (Top Defensive Defenseman): Carsen Adair
Playing the role of locked-down defence perfectly, Carsen Adair of the Warman Wildcats U18 AAA team was the recipient of the 2024 Adam Herold Memorial Award. Given to the Top Defensive Defenseman in the SMAAAHL, Adair recorded 20 points (six goals–14 assists) in 42 regular season games while providing constant elite-level defending for the Wildcats. Adair is a third-round (55th overall) selection of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Top Defenceman: Brayden Smith
Scoring 44 points (nine goals–35 assists) in 41 games for the Saskatoon Blazers, Brayden Smith is the winner of the SMAAAHL’s Top Defenceman award. Along with capturing the 2024 SMAAAHL Championship with the Blazers, Smith also led all League defencemen in points for the regular season. Smith was selected in the third round (53rd overall) by the Regina Pats at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
First Team All-Stars:
Steven Steranka – Regina Pat Canadians / Red Deer Rebels
Brayden Smith – Saskatoon Blazers / Regina Pats
Taylor Tabashniuk – Regina Pat Canadiens / Red Deer Rebels
Second Team All-Stars:
Kayd Ruedig – Swift Current Legionnaires / Portland Winterhawks
Presenting the WHL prospects who are recipients of the SMAAAHL's year-end awards and All-Star team listings!@hockeysask | @WHLPats | @WHLHurricanes | @Rebelshockey | #WHLDraft
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 3, 2024
MU18HL
MVP: Jaxon Jacobson
At only 15 years old Jaxon Jacobson led the entire MU18HL in scoring with 106 points (37 goals–69 assists) in 35 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA. Following his 100-plus point season the local Brandonite was named the MU18HL’s MVP, and in short order, was also crowned a league champion. Jacobson, a Brandon Wheat Kings prospect, also made his WHL debut this season. Already looking like a Western League regular, the fifth overall selection at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft collected six points (four goals–two assists) in seven games.
Top Defenceman: Kaeson Fisher
Leading all defencemen in points with 51 (seven goals–44 assists), Kaeson Fisher is the recipient of the MU18HL’s Top Defenceman award. The 2007-born Fisher was selected in the sixth round (124th overall) by the Everett Silvertips at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship: Brady Turko
What a season it’s been for Brandon Wheat Kings prospect, Brady Turko. Along with capturing the MU18HL title and a silver medal at the TELUS Cup with the Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA club, Turko found success following a season of personal bests. With 90 points (41 goals–49 assists) and 34 penalty minutes in 41 games, Turko was also presented with the Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship award through the MU18HL. Turko is a fifth round (97th overall) selection by the Wheat Kings
First Team All-Stars:
Jaxon Jacobson – Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA / Brandon Wheat Kings
Brady Turko – Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA / Brandon Wheat Kings
Kaeson Fisher – Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA / Everett Silvertips
Second Team All-Stars:
Colten Worthington – Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA / Saskatoon Blades
Fresh off their MU18HL Championship and second-place finish at the #TELUSCup, three WHL prospects and members of the @3Awheatkings have also closed out their season by earning year-end awards.@hockeymanitoba | @bdnwheatkings | @WHLsilvertips
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 3, 2024
