Raiders Earn WHL Conference Awards, All-Star Team Spots
Prince Albert, SK – Five members of the Prince Albert Raiders earned recognition from the WHL on Wednesday afternoon as the league announced its Conference Award winners and Conference All-Star Teams.
Head Coach Marc Habscheid was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Year. Habscheid guided the Raiders to 54-10-2-2 record, which secured the team its second Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy in franchise history. During the season, Habscheid also won his 500th career WHL game and coached in his 1,000th game in the league.
General Manager Curtis Hunt earned the Eastern Conference Executive of the Year. Hunt assembled the roster that gave the Raiders one of the best seasons in team history.
Maple Leafs prospect Ian Scott won the Eastern Conference Goaltender of the Year Award. Scott led the conference in wins (38), goals-against average (1.83), and save percentage (0.932). He also led the WHL in shutouts with eight. Scott was named the WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week four times and the WHL Vaughn Goaltender of the Month twice. Additionally, Scott picked up a win for Team WHL at the CIBC Canada Russia Series and was named to Team Canada for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
All of the WHL Conference Awards were voted upon by WHL General Managers and Head Coaches. Habscheid, Hunt, and Scott will be the Eastern Conference nominees at the 2019 WHL Awards luncheon in Red Deer on May 1.
Additionally, three Raiders earned spots on the Eastern Conference All-Star Teams.
Joining Scott on the Eastern Conference First All-Star Team is winger Brett Leason. The 2019 NHL Draft prospect led the Raiders with 89 points (36 goals, 53 assists). He also started the season on a 30-game point streak, earning himself a spot on Team WHL for the CIBC Canada Russia Series and Team Canada for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
Captain Brayden Pachal was named to the Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team. Pachal led the Raiders in defensive scoring with 15 goals and 36 assists, finishing nineth among WHL defenceman. He also led the WHL in plus-minus with a staggering +76, setting a new franchise record in the process.
The Raiders return to the ice for Game 1 of their Round 1 series against the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at raiderhockey.com and the Raider Office.
Here is a complete list of Conference Award Winners:
2018-19 WHL Conference Award Winners
WHL Player of the Year (Four Broncos Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Player of the Year – Trey Fix-Wolansky (Edmonton, Alta.) – Edmonton Oil Kings
Western Conference Player of the Year – Joachim Blichfeld (Frederikshavn, Denmark) – Portland Winterhawks
WHL Top Goaltender (Del Wilson Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Top Goaltender – Ian Scott (Calgary Alta.) – Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference Top Goaltender – Dustin Wolf (Tustin, Calif.) – Everett Silvertips
WHL Top Defenceman (Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Top Defenceman – Josh Brook (Roblin, Man.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Top Defenceman – Ty Smith (Lloydminster, Alta.) – Spokane Chiefs
WHL Rookie of the Year (Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year – Brayden Tracey (Calgary, Alta.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Rookie of the Year – Lassi Thomson (Tempere, Finland) – Kelowna Rockets
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year (Brad Hornung Trophy)
Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player – Justin Almeida (Kitimat, B.C.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player – Cody Glass (Winnipeg, Man.) – Portland Winterhawks
WHL Executive of the Year (Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Executive of the Year – Curtis Hunt – Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference Executive of the Year – Garry Davidson – Everett Silvertips
WHL Coach of the Year (Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Coach of the Year – Marc Habscheid – Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference Coach of the Year – Michael Dyck – Vancouver Giants
The following individual and team awards were won during the 2018-19 WHL Regular Season:
WHL Regular Season Champions (Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy)
Prince Albert Raiders: 68 GP – 54 W – 10 L – 2 OTL – 2 SOL – 112 PTS
WHL Top Scorer (Bob Clarke Trophy)
Joachim Blichfeld (Frederikshavn, Denmark) – Portland Winterhawks
68 GP – 53 G – 61 A – 114 PTS – +16 – 70 PIM
WHL Top Plus-Minus
Brayden Pachal (Estevan, Sask.) – Prince Albert Raiders
66 GP – 15 G – 36 A – 51 PTS – +76 – 113 PIM
WHL Conference Awards for WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, WHL Humanitarian of the Year, and the WHL Business Award will be announced at a later date.
WHL Eastern Conference All-Star Teams
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Ian Scott (Calgary, Alta.) – Prince Albert Raiders
Defenceman – Josh Brook (Roblin, Man.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Defenceman – Dawson Davidson (Moosomin, Sask.) – Saskatoon Blades
Forward – Trey Fix-Wolansky (Edmonton, Alta.) – Edmonton Oil Kings
Forward – Tristin Langan (Swan River, Man. – Moose Jaw Warriors
Forward – Brett Leason (Calgary, Alta.) – Prince Albert Raiders
SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Mads Sogaard (Aalborg, Denmark) – Medicine Hat Tigers
Defenceman – Jett Woo (Winnipeg, Man.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Defenceman – Brayden Pachal (Estevan, Sask.) – Prince Albert Raiders
Forward – Brandon Hagel (Morinville, Alta.) – Red Deer Rebels
Forward – Stelio Mattheos (Winnipeg, Man.) – Brandon Wheat Kings
Forward – Mark Kastelic (Phoenix, Ariz.) – Calgary Hitmen
WHL Western Conference All-Star Teams
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Dustin Wolf (Tustin, Calif.) – Everett Silvertips
Defenceman – Ty Smith (Lloydminster, Alta..) – Spokane Chiefs
Defenceman – Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, B.C.) – Vancouver Giants
Forward – Joachim Blichfeld (Frederikshavn, Denmark) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Cody Glass (Winnipeg, Man.) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Connor Dewar (The Pas, Man.) – Everett Silvertips
SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Beck Warm (Whistler, B.C.) – Tri-City Americans
Defenceman – Lassi Thomson (Tampere, Finland) – Kelowna Rockets
Defenceman – Scott Walford (Coquitlam, B.C.) – Victoria Royals
Forward – Parker AuCoin (St. Albert, Alta.) – Tri-City Americans
Forward – Matthew Wedman (Edmonton, Alta.) – Seattle Thunderbirds
Forward – Riley Woods (Regina, Sask.) – Spokane Chiefs