Wheat Kings’ Schenn honoured by the Brandon Sun

Brandon, Manitoba — For the second straight year and the third time in the past four years, a current or former member of the Brandon Wheat Kings has been chosen winner of the H.L. (Krug) Crawford Memorial Medal, emblematic of athletic achievement in western Manitoba.

17-year old Brayden Schenn, who is currently in his second season with the Western Hockey League club, led all first year players throughout the league in 2007-08 and has shown no sign of slowing down since then.

A Saskatoon product, Schenn became the first 16-year old rookie since Ron Chipperfield in 1971 to lead the Wheat Kings in scoring last season, scoring 28 goals and 71 points in 66 games and went on to become the fifth player in franchise history to be named the WHL’s top rookie.

Entering this weekend’s home and home series with the Regina Pats, Schenn has sixteen goals and 41 points in 36 games.

In addition to his outstanding contributions to the Wheat Kings, Schenn found time to help his country claim gold at two major under 17 championships during the off-season. As well, he was instrumental in leading Team Western to a bronze medal finish at last December’s World Under 17 Challenge in London, Ontario.

In making the announcement in the Friday, January 2nd edition, the Brandon Sun confirmed that Schenn had beat out fifteen finalists including three runners-up – trapshooter Pat Lamont, Crocus Plains basketball and volleyball star Danielle DeGagne and Canadian senior raquetball team member Michael Burgess.

Since the award was first presented in 1958, a total of sixteen members of the Wheat Kings’ organization including last year’s recipient Mark Derlago have been honoured.
Other Wheat King players that have garnered this award over the years include the likes of Eric Fehr, Jordin Tootoo, Marty Murray, Cory Cyrenne, Trevor Kidd, Ray Ferarro, Glen Hanlon, Juha Widing and Chipperfield. As well, former coaches Ron Maxwell and Dunc McCallum and general managers Kelly McCrimmon, Jack Brockest and Jake Milford have been recognized.

Brandon closes out a stretch of three straight road games on Saturday night in Regina, before returning home to play host to the Pats on Sunday. Game time Sunday night is 6 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca