Karl Alzner and Chet Pickard recipients at 2008 CHL Awards

KITCHENER, ON – Two Western Hockey League players were honoured today during the Canadian Hockey League Awards Ceremony, which was held at the Centre in the Square Amphitheatre in downtown Kitchener. The award-winners were selected by a CHL-mandated committee, which includes several National Hockey League scouts.
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rKarl Alzner of the Calgary Hitmen was presented with the Molson Canadian CHL Defencman of the Year award.
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rAlzner has been the rock anchoring a very strong Calgary blue line during the 2007-08 season, helping the Hitmen win the Central Division and Eastern Conference regular-season crowns for the first time since the 1999-00 season. The 19-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., recorded seven goals and 36 points with a +26 rating in 60 games as the Hitmen allowed the fewest goals of any team in the Eastern Conference. Even more impressive is the fact that Alzner only accumulated 15 penalty minutes during the regular season despite logging a ton of ice time. The 6′ 2”, 210-lb Washington Capitals draft pick also captained Canada’s National Junior team to a fourth consecutive World Junior Gold medal in December and January.
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rChet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans was named the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Year.
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rPickard enjoyed a tremendous 2007-08 campaign in his first season as the starting goalie for Tri-Cities, leading the Americans to their best regular-season record ever and their first Scotty Munro Trophy. The 18-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, posted an incredible 46 victories, including two shutouts, to become only the sixth goalie in WHL history to more than 45 wins in a single season. He also finished eighth among WHL netminders with a 2.32 goals-against average and fourth with a solid .918 save percentage. Pickard, who spent two seasons as backup for former Ams’ and current Montreal Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price, earned ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week in March, and was also selected to the Western Conference First All-Star team.
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rFull list of 2008 CHL Award winners:
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rCCM Player of the Year — Justin Azevedo, Kitchener Rangers
rNAPA Auto Parts Top Draft Prospect — Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting
rMosaik MasterCard Rookie of the Year — Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
rHome Hardware Humanitarian of the Year — Chris Morehouse, Moncton Wildcats
rMolson Canadian Defenceman of the Year — Karl Alzner, Calgary Hitmen
rProspects Hockey Sportsman of the Year — Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll, Shawinigan Cataractes
rBoston Pizza Top Scorer — Justin Azevedo, Kitchener Rangers
rSubway Scholastic Player of the Year — Robert Slaney, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
rADT Goaltender of the Year — Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans
rGo RVing Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year — Bob Boughner, Windsor Spitfires
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