WHL Announces Award Finalists and Conference All-Stars

The Western Hockey League announced today the Eastern and Western Conference all-star teams and 2015 WHL Awards finalists at a media conference in Calgary. The winners of these awards along with the WHL Player of the Year will be announced at the 2015 WHL Awards in Calgary on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.

The WHL Eastern and Western Conference All-Star Teams are as follows:

WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Tristan Jarry (Delta, BC), Edmonton Oil Kings
Defenceman – Ivan Provorov (Yaroslavl, Russia), Brandon Wheat Kings
Defenceman – Travis Sanheim (Elkhorn, MB), Calgary Hitmen
Forward – Trevor Cox (Surrey, BC), Medicine Hat Tigers
Forward – Tim McGauley (Wilcox, SK), Brandon Wheat Kings
Forward – Brayden Point (Calgary, AB), Moose Jaw Warriors

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Jordan Papirny (Edmonton, AB), Brandon Wheat Kings
Defenceman – Rinat Valiev (Nizhnekamsk, Russia), Kootenay ICE
Defenceman – Colby Williams (Regina, SK), Regina Pats
Forward – Cole Sanford (Vernon, BC), Medicine Hat Tigers 
Forward – Sam Reinhart (Vancouver, BC), Kootenay ICE
Forward – Adam Tambellini (Edmonton, AB), Calgary Hitmen


WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Taran Kozun (Nipawin, SK), Seattle Thunderbirds
Defenceman – Shea Theodore (Aldergrove, BC), Seattle Thunderbirds
Defenceman – Madison Bowey (Winnipeg, MB), Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Oliver Bjorkstrand (Herning, Denmark), Portland Winterhawks *
Forward – Cole Ully (Calgary, AB), Kamloops Blazers
Forward – Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, SK), Kelowna Rockets

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Eric Comrie (Edmonton, AB), Tri-City Americans
Defenceman – Joe Hicketts (Kamloops, BC), Victoria Royals
Defenceman – Josh Morrissey (Calgary, AB), Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Nic Petan (Delta, BC), Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Nick Merkley (Calgary, AB), Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Adam Helewka (Burnaby, BC), Spokane Chiefs
* indicates unanimous selection

The WHL announced 2015 WHL Awards finalists in the following categories:

WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Nolan Patrick (Winnipeg, MB), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Kailer Yamamoto (Spokane, WA), Spokane Chiefs

WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy
Eastern Conference – Tristan Jarry (Delta, BC), Edmonton Oil Kings
Western Conference – Taran Kozun (Nipawin, SK), Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Ivan Provorov (Yaroslavl, Russia), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Shea Theodore (Aldergrove, BC), Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Brad Hornung Trophy
Eastern Conference – Peter Quenneville (Edmonton, AB), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, SK), Kelowna Rockets

WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Nick McBride (Maple Ridge, BC), Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference – Joe Gatenby (Kelowna, BC), Kelowna Rockets

WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – John Paddock, Regina Pats
Western Conference – Dan Lambert, Kelowna Rockets

WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets

WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
Brandon Wheat Kings: 72 GP - 53 W – 11 L – 4 OTL – 4 SL – 114 PTS

WHL Top Scorer (Bob Clarke Trophy) / Plus-Minus Award 
Oliver Bjorkstrand (Herning, Denmark), Portland Winterhawks
59 GP – 63 G – 55 A – 118 PTS - +60 – 35 PIM