CHL End of Year Awards Handed Out
By Max Marko
The Canadian Hockey League distributed their end of year awards to the best major junior players in North America Saturday evening. Most award winners were a given due to some spectacular seasons from guys like Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, and Dylan Strome. Here was each award handed out on the day.
Jack Links Top Prospect of the Year: Connor McDavid, Erie Otters (OHL)
Connor McDavid remains the #1 draft prospect according to Central Scouting Services
Photo By: Bill Wippert/Getty Images
McDavid is the consensus 1st overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft in June, for those that have come out from under their rocks. He is ranked as the #1 draft prospect for Central Scouting Services and many other scouting services. McDavid beat out Ivan Provorov of the WHL, and Timo Meier of the QMJHL for the award.
Sherwin-Williams Top Scorers: Conor Garland, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), Dylan Strome, Erie Otters (OHL)
Dylan Strome. (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)
Both Dylan Strome and Conor Garland had 129 points for their respective teams this year. Strome has been ranked at #3 on some mock drafts and with others he could be out of the top 5 picks. Strome is a great playmaker which certainly doesn’t hurt reaching 129 points when he is dishing out 82 assists. Conor Garland led the QMJHL in scoring while playing for the Moncton Wildcats. Garland, though scoring many points, is not viewed as highly of a draft prospect as Dylan Strome. Garland is ranked 86th by Central Scouting Services in their final draft rankings.
CCM Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year: Rourke Chartier, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Rourke Chartier #14 of the Kelowna Rockets skates against the Tri-City Americans on March 8, 2014 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
March 7, 2014 – Source: Marissa Baecker/Getty Images North America
Rourke is in the middle of a race to the Memorial Cup against the Oshawa Generals, whom he and the Rockets will face in the finals. Chartier recorded 18 penalty minutes in 58 games played this regular season. Chartier is a former 5th round selection of the San Jose Sharks. Chartier somewhat surprised people with his season this year. He finished 14th in scoring in the WHL where he scored 48 goals and 34 assists in 58 games. That came after a season where he scored 58 points in 72 games. Chartier won the award instead of Dylan Strome or Kyle Farrell of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
TVA Sports Humanitarian of the Year: Danick Martel, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Danick Martel #62 of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada celebrates his goal during the QMJHL game against the Victoriaville Tigres at the Centre Excellence Rousseau on February 8, 2015 in Blainville-Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada.
Feb. 7, 2015 – Source: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images North America
The Humanitarian of the Year is given to the player who offers the most to his community and to the environment around him. Martel has been active all year as a community leader and a team leader as well. Martel went undrafted 2013 but was signed to an entry-level deal by the Philadelphia Flyers. Martel scored 48 goals and 54 assists this year in 64 games with the Armada.
SUBWAY Scholastic Player of the Year: Connor McDavid, Erie Otters (OHL)
Keep in mind that even though these young prospects play hockey almost 24/7, they are still going to a learning center or an equivalent option provided by the league. Not only does Connor McDavid have a sense of hockey smarts but he also has some book smarts as well. McDavid had an “A” average this year. McDavid attended McDowell Secondary School. McDavid told the press that getting good marks “is something important to [him]”. He said he doesn’t want to b a “jock stereotype”.
MasterCard Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year: Sheldon Keefe, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
The Greyhounds were one of the most dominant teams in all of the CHL this year. After acquiring many top players during the trade deadline, such as Anthony DeAngelo and Justin Bailey, Keefe showed a great determination and belief in his team by being able to bring together a group of new faces to his team and build their chemistry so they could efficiently play a team game together. The Greyhounds finished 54-12-0-2 on the year.
BMO Rookie of the Year: Alex DeBrincat, Erie Otters (OHL)
Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Erie Otters battles for the puck against Daniil Vertiy #89 of the Windsor Spitfires on September 26, 2014 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Sept. 25, 2014 – Source: Dennis Pajot/Getty Images North America
The Otters take home another trophy as their exciting youngster Alex DeBrincat wins Rookie of the Year. DeBrincat created his own offense and offense for others this year. He is eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft, but there is till much to be worked on before he can think about going among the top picks. DeBrincat scored 51 goals and 53 assists in 69 games with the Otters this year. DeBrincat was chosen ahead of Dmytro Timashov of the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL and Nolan Patrick of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings.
Vaughn Goalie of the Year: Phillippe Desrosiers, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Philippe Desrosiers, drafted #54 overall by the Dallas Stars, receives his new team hat and jersey after he was drafted in the second round during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey.
(June 29, 2013 – Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)
Desrosiers had a great year with the Oceanic this year. His 2.50 GAA led the league and his .901 save percentage was good enough to put him 3rd in the Q’. Desrosiers also added 5 shutouts to his 29-9-1-2 record. The Dallas Stars drafted Desrosiers in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft. The way that both Jack Campbell and Phillippe Desrosiers are playing, Desrosiers could become the #1 guy sooner rather than later.
Liftmaster Defenseman of the Year: Anthony DeAngelo, SSM Greyhounds (OHL)
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Anthony Deangelo smiles while greeting team officials after being selected as the number nineteen overall pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
This outcome was a lock after the playoffs that Tampa Bay Lighting 1st round pick Anthony DeAngelo had this year. DeAngelo had 16 assists in 13 games, and not just any assists, DeAngelo had key assists at key times. Add his playoff performance to his 88-point season as a defenseman this year. Why would you not give him Defenseman of the Year?
Sportsnet Player of the Year: Connor McDavid, Erie Otters (OHL)
What more is there to say about Connor McDavid that hasn’t been said? He had 120 points in 44 games. A player of his caliber would’ve played 68 games at least, if it were not for his wrist injury. So add his points per game to his potential games played. McDavid could’ve had 154 points this season. McDavid easily beat out Conor Garland and Oliver Bjorkstrand for the honor.