Friday, April 27, 2012

2012 WHL AWARDS AND DRAFT NEXT WEEK

Press Release

Calgary, AB -- The 2012 WHL Awards Luncheon is just one week away, as the WHL prepares to honor the best of the 2011-12 regular season. The 2012 WHL Bantam Draft is also scheduled for next week as WHL Clubs replenish their systems with graduating Bantam-aged players. Both of the WHL annually events will be available, free of charge, via LIVE webcast available at http://www.whl.ca/ .

2011-12 WHL AWARDS LUNCHEON

The event, held annually to recognize the WHL’s best performers, will be held in Calgary, AB, in the Sundance Room at the Deerfoot Inn on Wednesday, May 2nd.

The list of nominees for the 2012 WHL Awards includes many worthy candidates who enjoyed memorable performances throughout the 2011-12 WHL regular season.

The WHL’s most coveted award is the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL Player of the Year. This year’s finalists for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy are forward Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers, representing the Eastern Conference, and forward Brendan Shinnimin of the Tri-City Americans, representing the Western Conference.

The Tigers’ Etem enjoyed an outstanding 2011-12 season, leading the WHL with a whopping 61 goals while finishing seventh among all WHL players with 107 points. A 19-year-old from Long Beach, CA, Etem became the first WHL player to score 50 goals in 50 or fewer games and to score 60 or more goals since the 2000-01 season. The Anaheim Ducks prospect was a unanimous selection to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star team.

A native of Winnipeg, MB, Brendan Shinnimin’s season for the Tri-City Americans was an incredible one as he led the entire WHL in scoring with 134 points for the highest point total in the WHL since the 1998-99 season, earning him the Bob Clarke trophy. Shinnimin, who is in his fourth and final season with the Americans, finished second among all WHL players with 58 goals and second with 76 assists. A unanimous selection to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star team, the Phoenix Coyotes prospect was named the Husky WHL Player of the Month after putting up an astounding 23 goals and 43 points in just 14 games. He ended the regular season on a 23-game point streak.

Among other 2012 WHL Awards nominees are the two finalists for the WHL Rookie of the Year. One of 16-year-old Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice, the Eastern Conference’s finalist, and 17-year-old Swiss forward Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers, the Western Conference’s finalist, will go home with the Jim Piggott Memorial trophy.

The 2012 WHL Awards Luncheon will also see the presentation of the Bill Hunter Memorial trophy for the WHL Defenceman of the Year, the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial trophy for WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, the Brad Hornung trophy for WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player, the Del Wilson trophy for WHL Goaltender of the Year, the Dunc McCallum Memorial trophy for WHL Coach of the Year, the Lloyd Saunders Memorial trophy for WHL Executive of the Year, the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial trophy for WHL Humanitarian of the Year, the Allen Paradice Memorial trophy for WHL Top Official, and the award for WHL Marketing.

Over the years, the WHL has presented awards to many players who have gone on to stardom in the NHL and in international play.

Past winners of the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy include current NHL stars Cam Ward (Red Deer Rebels, 2003-04), Jordan Eberle (Regina Pats, 2009-10) and Jarome Iginla (Kamloops Blazers, 1995-96), and NHL legends such as Joe Sakic (Swift Current Broncos, 1986-87 & 1987-88), Mike Vernon (Calgary Wranglers, 1981-82 & 1982-83), Bryan Trottier (Lethbridge Broncos, 1974-75) and Bobby Clarke (Flin Flon Bombers, 1968-69). Last year’s winner was goaltender Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels.

2012 WHL BANTAM DRAFT ON THURSDAY

The Western Hockey League will conduct its annual Bantam Draft on Thursday, May 3rd, at the Deerfoot Inn in Calgary, AB.

The WHL Bantam Draft is the first opportunity for WHL Clubs to replenish their systems with graduating Bantam-aged players. The order of selection for the first round of the draft is determined through a weighted lottery consisting of the six non-playoff teams. The draft order is based on the inverse overall standings from the regular season.

The 2012 WHL Bantam Draft will see the Seattle Thunderbirds select first overall. It marks the first time in franchise history that the Thunderbirds will have the first overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft.

WHL fans can watch the first round of the 2011-12 WHL Bantam Draft live online via Webcast. The Draft begins at 8:30AM MST.

Players eligible for the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft will be 1997-born players who reside in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

1st ROUND ORDER OF SELECTION

Following is the order of selection for the 1st round of the WHL Bantam Draft:

1). Seattle Thunderbirds
2). Prince Albert Raiders
3). Prince George Cougars
4). Lethbridge Hurricanes
5). Swift Current Broncos
6). Red Deer Rebels
7). Everett Silvertips
8). Victoria Royals
9). Kelowna Rockets
10). Kootenay Ice
11). Regina Pats
12). Brandon Wheat Kings
13). Saskatoon Blades
14). Spokane Chiefs
15). Vancouver Giants
16). Medicine Hat Tigers
17). Calgary Hitmen
18). Moose Jaw Warriors
19). Kamloops Blazers
20). Portland Winterhawks
21). Tri-City Americans
22). Edmonton Oil Kings

2nd ROUND AND ALL SUBSEQUENT ROUNDS
ORDER OF SELECTION

Following is the order of selection for the 2nd and all subsequent rounds of the WHL Bantam Draft:

1) Prince Albert Raiders
2) Prince George Cougars
3) Seattle Thunderbirds
4) Everett Silvertips
5) Victoria Royals
6) Lethbridge Hurricanes
7) Swift Current Broncos
8) Red Deer Rebels
9). Kelowna Rockets
10). Kootenay Ice
11). Regina Pats
12). Brandon Wheat Kings
13). Saskatoon Blades
14). Spokane Chiefs
15). Vancouver Giants
16). Medicine Hat Tigers
17). Calgary Hitmen
18). Moose Jaw Warriors
19). Kamloops Blazers
20). Portland Winterhawks
21). Tri-City Americans
22). Edmonton Oil Kings

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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