Mateychuk earns George Parsons Trophy as Most Sportsmanlike Player for 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow

Saginaw, Mich. – Moose Jaw Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk has been announced as the winner of the George Parson Trophy as Most Sportsmanlike Player for the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow. The CHL announced the 2024 Memorial Cup award winners during Sunday’s Memorial Cup championship game between the OHL’s London Knights and Saginaw Spirit.

Mateychuk, who hails from Dominion City, Man., led the 2024 Memorial Cup in scoring, registering seven points (3G-4A) in four games. The prospect of the Columbus Blue Jackets battled hard all tournament long, facing the toughest of competition from his opponents, and skated by without incurring a single penalty.

Mateychuk’s productivity started from the drop of the first, as he tallied three points (1G-2A) in a nail-biting 5-4 loss to the host Spirit back on Friday, May 24. He followed up on Monday, May 27, with his second goal of the tournament in another heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the OHL champion London Knights. Mateychuk concluded the round-robin with another three-point effort (1G-2A), boosting the Warriors to the franchise’s first ever victory at the Memorial Cup – a 5-3 triumph over the QMJHL champion Drummondville Voltigeurs.

This marks the second consecutive year a WHL player has been honoured with the George Parsons Trophy. Kamloops Blazers captain Logan Stankoven was named the Most Sportsmanlike Player of the 2023 Memorial Cup in Kamloops, B.C.

Mateychuk represents the 10th WHL player to win the George Parsons Trophy, following in the footsteps of Stankoven (2023), Curtis Lazar (Edmonton Oil Kings, 2014), Toni Rajala (Brandon Wheat Kings, 2010), Josh Gorges (Kelowna Rockets, 2004), Tomas Plihal (Kootenay ICE, 2002), Jarome Iginla (Kamloops Blazers, 1995), Ray Whitney (Spokane Chiefs, 1991), Tony Grenier (Prince Albert Raiders, 1985), and Mark Morrison (Victoria Cougars, 1981).

The winner of the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL’s Defenceman of the Year, Mateychuk is the first blueliner to win the George Parsons Trophy since Adam Holwell was named Most Sportsmanlike Player during the 100th edition of the Memorial Cup, hosted in Regina, Sask., in 2018. Mateychuk is the seventh defenceman ever to be named winner of the George Parsons Trophy.

First presented in 1974, the trophy is named after George Parsons, a former Ontario Hockey Association player whose career ended prematurely in 1939 due to an eye injury suffered during an NHL game. Parsons had previously competed in two Memorial Cup tournaments – 1933 with the West Toronto Nationals and 1934 with the Toronto Young Rangers. Parsons went on to help develop protective hockey equipment as a member of CCM hockey.

The 2024 Memorial Cup Award winners were selected by members of TSN – the official broadcast partner of the CHL and the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow.