University of Alberta’s Chad Klassen named January Canada West – Husky WHL Grad of the Month
The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and the Western Hockey League are pleased to announce that forward CHAD KLASSEN of the University of Alberta Golden Bears has been named the Canada West Hockey – HUSKY WHL Graduate of the Month for January 2009.
KLASSEN, a 23-year-old junior right winger from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, becomes the third winner of the award in 2008-09 joining freshman forward Steven DaSilva of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, who won the award in October, and November’s winner – sophomore goaltender Scott Bowles of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
KLASSEN topped the monthly balloting of the seven Canada West Hockey coaches with 15 points, including four first place votes, to finish three points in front of Darrell May of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and Dillon Johnstone of the University of Regina Cougars. It marks the 30th time that a member of the Golden Bears has won the award since it was inaugurated in 1989-90.
Now in its 20th season, the Canada West Hockey’s HUSKY WHL Graduate of the Month Award is presented monthly to a graduate of the Western Hockey League who is playing on one of the seven teams in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. Each monthly winner, between October and March, receives a cheque for $500.00 from the WHL to go towards the cost of his education and a gift from HUSKY.
Canadian intercollegiate hockey is a quality option for players who wish to combine both hockey and education. A total of 105 WHL grads are members of Canada West Hockey’s seven teams in 2008-09. CIS hockey in general, and Canada West Hockey in particular, has allowed these players to further their hockey careers as well as their education at some of Canada’s finest academic institutions.
The former Spokane Chief scored points in eight of Alberta’s 10 games in January, finishing the month with 4-13-17. The 17 points paced all scorers during the month and helped the Golden Bears register a 9-0-1 record and clinch first place in the conference standings for the ninth consecutive season.
Fourteen of KLASSEN’s points came in Canada West Hockey conference play as he netted 4-10-14 in eight games. The Golden Bears right winger scored points in the first six games of the month on the way to extending his scoring streak to nine games. During the streak, he scored 3-14-17 from November 15th to January 17th, with 11 (2-9-11) of the points coming in the first six games of the month (Jan. 2-17).
He registered six multiple point games during the month, including a four-point game that saw him score a season-high two goals and two assists at Regina on January 31st and a three-point (1-2-3) outing at Calgary on January 11th. KLASSEN’s 14 points moved the third-year forward into second place in the Canada West Hockey scoring race with 11-21-32 in 22 games. His 21 assists are second in the conference, while he is tied for third in goals. Overall, through the end of January, he scored 11-25-36 in 28 games.
KLASSEN is one of seven Golden Bears that will represent Canada at the upcoming 24th FISU Winter Universiade in Harbin, China from February 18th to 28th as members of the Canada West Hockey all-stars.
KLASSEN played three seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Spokane Chiefs from 2001-02 to 2004-05.
Other nominees for the Canada West Hockey – HUSKY WHL Graduate of the Month award for January were forwards Darrell May of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (Portland Winter Hawks) and Dillon Johnstone of the University of Regina Cougars (Tri-City Americans).
“HUSKY, proud sponsor of the WHL Education Program and the Canada West Hockey – WHL Graduate of the Month.”
CHAD KLASSEN IN JANUARY
DATE OPPONENT RESULT G-A-P PEN-PIM NOTES
January 2 Regina W. 6-5 OTS 0-2-2 0-0
January 3 at SAIT W. 4-3 0-1-1 0-0 GWA
January 10 vs Calgary* W. 4-2 0-1-1 1-2
January 11 at Calgary* W. 4-2 1-2-3 0-0 2 PPA
January 16 vs UBC* W. 6-1 0-2-2 1-2 PPA
January 17 vs UBC* W. 5-0 1-1-2 0-0 PPG, PPA
January 23 vs Saskatchewan* W. 5-2 0-0-0 0-0
January 24 vs Saskatchewan* W. 5-4 OT 0-2-2 0-0 OT GWA
January 30 at Regina* L. 2-3 OTS 0-0-0 0-0
January 31 at Regina* W. 7-2 2-2-4 0-0 PPG, SHG, GWG
JANUARY TOTALS 10 Games 4-13-17 2-4 2 PPG, 1 SHG, 1 GWG
CANADA WEST HOCKEY TOTALS 8 Games 4-10-14 2-4 2 PPG, 1 SHG, 1 GWG
NON-CONFERENCE 2 Games 0-3-3 0-0 GWA
* Canada West Hockey conference game
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS
CANADA WEST HOCKEY – WHL GRADUATES OF THE MONTH
ALBERTA (30) NO MONTHS
Kevin Marsh (F) 4 Mar. 00, Mar. 01, Jan. 02
& Mar. 01
Adam Morrison (F) 3 Oct. 89, Mar. 91, Nov. 91
Russ Hewson (F) 3 Nov. 98, Nov. 99, Nov. 00
Mike Jickling (F) 2 Dec. 96, Jan. 98
Clayton Pool (G) 2 Jan. 00, Jan. 01
Steve Shrum (F) 2 Mar. 02, Jan. 03
Ryan Wade (F) 2 Oct. 01,Feb. 04
Garth Premak (F) 1 Mar. 92
Dale Masson (G) 1 Jan. 96
Francesco Esposito (F) 1 Mar. 97
Cam Danyluk (F) 1 Mar. 99
Kris Knoblauch (F) 1 Oct. 00
Jeff Zorn (D) 1 Mar. 03
Dustin Schwartz (G) 1 Nov. 04
Ben Thomson (F) 1 Jan. 06
Dylan Stanley (F) 1 Mar. 06
Eric Hunter (F) 1 Oct. 07
Ian McDonald (F) 1 Mar. 08
Chad Klassen (F) 1 Jan. 09