Cougars General Manager Lamb awarded Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as WHL Executive of the Year for 2023-24
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Prince George Cougars General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb is the winner of the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as the WHL Executive of the Year for 2023-24.
WHL Executive of the Year Nominees
Central Division – Chad Leslie- Swift Current Broncos
East Division – Jason Ripplinger, Moose Jaw Warriors
U.S. Division – Mike Johnston- Portland Winterhawks
Lamb guided his club to its second B.C. Division title and team-best record of 49-15-1-3 since moving to Prince George ahead of the 1994-95 season.
“I’m proud to receive the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy,” Lamb said. “There’s a lot of people that put in a lot of hard work to get this. When I look at all our scouts, led by Bob Simmonds, finding the players to put into our lineup. It’s been a few years of building this so the acknowledgement that I’m getting, I just want to pass it on to the scouts.
You don’t win this without good players. You don’t win this without good staff, and I really want to throw a shout-out to our ownership group who has went through some really lean years here and they never wavered once.”
Lamb is also the recipient of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year.
The sixth-year Cougars General Manager bolstered the team’s scoring depth by trading for forwards Borya Valis and Matteo Danis while bringing in veteran Chase Pauls to strengthen Prince George’s defensive depth.
The season also saw prior moves pay big dividends.
Zac Funk, whom Lamb acquired via trade in January of 2023, led the WHL with 67 goals and earned a contract with the Washington Capitals as an undrafted free agent.
Depth WHL draft pick Terik Parascak (2021, 76th overall) broke out as the WHL’s rookie scoring leader with 42 goals and 62 assists for 105 points. He’s now projected as a top pick ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
In April 2023, Lamb signed undrafted netminder Joshua Ravensbergen to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.
The 6-foot-4 netminder was among the best goaltenders in the league in his rookie season, posting a league-high six shutouts.
Lamb is the first General Manager in Cougars franchise history to win the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy.
The Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy is named in memory of Lloyd Saunders, a longtime supporter of junior hockey in Western Canada.
Dubbed the ‘Dean’ of sportscasters in Western Canada, Saunders covered major events such as the Olympics, the World Series, the Grey Cup, several Briers and six Memorial Cups.
Saunders was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.
The 2024 WHL Awards are voted upon by WHL General Managers and members of the media.
Winners of the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (since 2003)
| 2023-24 | Mark Lamb, Prince George Cougars |
| 2022-23 | Bil La Forge, Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 2021-22 | Matt Cockell, Winnipeg ICE |
| 2020-21 | Not presented due to COVID-19 |
| 2019-20 | Peter Anholt, Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| 2018-19 | Curtis Hunt, Prince Albert Raiders |
| 2017-18 | Garry Davidson, Everett Silvertips |
| 2016-17 | John Paddock, Regina Pats |
| 2015-16 | Peter Anholt, Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| 2014-15 | Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 2013-14 | Cam Hope, Victoria Royals |
| 2012-13 | Bob Green, Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 2011-12 | Bob Green, Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 2010-11 | Lorne Molleken, Saskatoon Blades |
| 2009-10 | Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 2008-09 | Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen |
| 2007-08 | Bob Tory, Tri-City Americans |
| 2006-07 | Bob Tory, Tri-City Americans |
| 2005-06 | Scott Bonner, Vancouver Giants |
| 2004-05 | Jeff Chynoweth, Kootenay ICE |
| 2003-04 | Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen |
| 2002-03 | Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets |
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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