Blazers centre Colin Smith was picked a Western first team all-star. (Getty Images.)
The WHL continued handing outs it year-end hardware and all-star teams on Thursday.
There weren’t many surprises. Travis Green, who took over the helm of the Portland Winterhawks from Mike Johnston when they were dinged for improper player benefits, probably deserved the nod in the West for coach of the year, but you had to know that wasn’t going to happen.
Here’s a copy of the press release the league sent out.
Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League announced today the Eastern and Western Conference 2013 WHL Award Finalists. The WHL Player of the Year finalists will be named on Thursday, April 18th, 2013. The winners of these awards along with the WHL Player of the Year will be announced at the 2013 WHL Awards Luncheon in Calgary, Alberta on Wednesday, May 1st, 2013.
The WHL Eastern and Western Conference All-Star Teams are as follows:
WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Patrik Bartosak (Koprivnice, CZR), Red Deer Rebels
Defenceman – Morgan Rielly (Vancouver, BC), Moose Jaw Warriors
Defenceman – Darren Dietz (Medicine Hat, AB) Saskatoon Blades
Forward – Adam Lowry (Calgary, AB), Swift Current Broncos*
Forward – Michael St. Croix (Winnipeg, MB), Edmonton Oil Kings
Forward – Curtis Valk (Medicine Hat), Medicine Hat Tigers
SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Laurent Brossoit (Surrey, BC), Edmonton Oil Kings
Defenceman – Alex Roach (Quensel, B.C), Calgary Hitmen
Defenceman – Keegan Lowe (Edmonton, AB), Edmonton Oil Kings
Forward – Sam Reinhart (Vancouver, BC),Kootenay Ice
Forward – Cody Sylvester (Vernon, BC), Calgary Hitmen
Forward – Hunter Shinkaruk (Calgary, AB), Medicine Hat Tigers
WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Mac Carruth (Shorewood, MN),Portland Winterhawks
Defenceman – Brenden Kichton (Spruce Grove, AB), Spokane Chiefs
Defenceman – Seth Jones (Plano, TX), Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Colin Smith (Edmonton, AB), Kamloops Blazers
Forward – Justin Feser (Red Deer, AB), Tri-City Americans
Forward – Nicolas Petan (Delta, BC), Portland Winterhawks
SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Jordon Cooke (Leduc, AB), Kelowna Rockets
Defenceman – Troy Rutkowski (Edmonton, AB),Portland Winterhawks
Defenceman – Tyler Wotherspoon (Surrey, BC), Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Brendan Leipsic (Winnipeg, MB), Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Ty Rattie (Airdrie, AB), Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Myles Bell (Calgary, AB), Kelowna Rockets
* indicates unanimous selection
The WHL announced the Finalists in the following categories.
WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Leon Draisaitl (Cologne, Germany), Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference – Seth Jones (Plano, TX), Portland Winterhawks
WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy
Eastern Conference – Patrik Bartosak (Koprivnice, CZR), Red Deer Rebels
Western Conference – Mac Carruth (Shorewood, MN), Portland Winterhawks
WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Morgan Rielly (Vancouver, BC), Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference – Brenden Kichton (Spruce Grove, AB), Spokane Chiefs
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Brad Hornung Trophy
Eastern Conference – Dylan Wruck (Saskatoon, SK), Edmonton Oil Kings
Western Conference – Zach Franko (Winnipeg, MB), Kelowna Rockets
WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Josh Morrissey (Calgary, AB), Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference – Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, SK), Kelowna Rockets
WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Ryan McGill, Kootenay Ice
Western Conference – Ryan Huska, Kelowna Rockets
WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Bob Green, Edmonton Oil Kings
Western Conference – Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets
WHL Humanitarian of the Year, Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Cody Sylvester (Vernon , BC), Calgary Hitmen
Western Conference – Mitch Topping (Red Deer, AB), Tri City Americans
WHL Marketing / Business Award
Eastern Conference – Saskatoon Blades
Western Conference – Kamloops Blazers
WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
Portland Winterhawks: GP – 72 W – 57 L – 12 OTL – 1 SL – 2 Pts – 117
WHL Top Scorer – Bob Clarke Trophy
Brendan Leipsic– (Winnipeg, MB) Portland Winterhawks
GP – 68 G – 49 A – 71 Pts – 120 PIM – 103
Nicolas Petan – (Delta, BC) Portland Winterhawks
GP – 71 G – 46 A – 74 Pts – 120 PIM – 43
