Uchacz named Central Division Player of the Year, finalist for league award
The Western Hockey League announced today the 2022-23 Division nominees for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the WHL Player of the Year presented by Kia Canada.
All individual WHL Division Award winners will be eligible for the overall WHL Awards, which will be announced from Tuesday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 10. The winner of the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy awarded to the WHL Player of the Year will be announced Wednesday, May 10.
WHL Player of the Year Nominees B.C. Division – Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C.) – Kamloops Blazers Central Division – Kai Uchacz (De Winton, Alta.) – Red Deer Rebels East Division – Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C.) – Regina Pats U.S. Division – Jackson Berezowski (Yorkton, Sask.) – Everett Silvertips
WHL Player of the Year Biographies
Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers): The reigning Four Broncos Memorial Trophy winner, Kamloops Blazers captain Logan Stankoven is the WHL B.C. Division Player of the Year. Stankoven led his hometown Blazers to the Club’s fourth consecutive B.C. Division title, finishing fourth in the League in scoring with 97 points (34G-63A) despite playing in only 48 of Kamloops’ 68 contests. The Dallas Stars prospect also helped Canada capture the gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January. The 20-year-old was one of only two WHL skaters to average two or more points per game, while also appearing in at least 40 regular season fixtures. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound forward was originally selected fifth-overall by Kamloops in the 2018 WHL Draft and has collected 260 points (115G-145A) over his 180 regular season appearances with the Blazers.
Kai Uchacz (Red Deer Rebels): Red Deer Rebels forward Kai Uchacz is the WHL Central Division Player of the Year. Uchacz, from De Winton, Alta., finished second among WHL skaters with 50 goals during the regular season, becoming the second Rebel in as many seasons to score 50 times during a single campaign. The 2023 NHL Draft prospect recorded 60 per cent of his goals at even strength. The 19-year-old, who checks in at 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds, has tallied 128 career points (67G-61A) over his 177 career regular season appearances since being selected 10th-overall in the 2018 WHL Draft.
Connor Bedard (Regina Pats):
Regina Pats captain and 2023 NHL Draft prospect Connor Bedard is the WHL East Division Player of the Year. Ranked as the top North American Skater by NHL Central Scouting, Bedard enjoyed a remarkable season that saw him lead the league in goals (71), assists (72) and points (143) while also becoming the first WHL player to record 140 or more points in a season since the 1995-96 campaign. Named as the WHL Player of the Month on four occasions during the 2022-23 season, the product of North Vancouver, B.C. also became Canada’s all-time leading scorer at the IIHF World Junior Championship while helping his country to a gold medal victory in January. Originally selected by the Pats with the first-overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Bedard holds career regular season totals of 134 goals and 271 points over 134 appearances with Regina.
Jackson Berezowski (Everett Silvertips): Everett Silvertips captain Jackson Berezowski is the WHL U.S. Division Player of the Year. The product of Yorkton, Sask. finished second among U.S. Division skaters with 81 points during the regular season, while his 48 goals during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season not only stands as a new Silvertips franchise record, but was also the third-highest total of any WHL skater. Berezowski, 21, also became Everett’s all-time leading goal-scorer earlier this year, concluding his WHL career with 130 regular season goals. The 5-foot-10, 191-pound forward was originally selected by the Silvertips in the second round of the 2017 WHL Draft and graduates from the WHL with career totals of 130 goals and 232 points over 273 regular season appearances, all with Everett.
WHL ANNOUNCES DIVISION NOMINEES FOR BILL HUNTER MEMORIAL TROPHY
Sedoff finalist for WHL Defenceman of the Year
The Western Hockey League announced today the 2022-23 Division nominees for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the WHL Defenceman of the Year presented by RE/MAX.
All individual WHL Division Award winners will be eligible for the overall WHL Awards, which will be announced from Tuesday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 10. The winner of the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy awarded to the WHL Defenceman of the Year will be announced Wednesday, May 10.
Central Division – Christoffer Sedoff (Helsinki, Finland) – Red Deer Rebels
East Division – Stanislav Svozil (Prerov, Czechia) – Regina Pats
U.S. Division – Kevin Korchinski (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Seattle Thunderbirds
WHL Defenceman of the Year Biographies
Olen Zellweger (Kamloops Blazers): The reigning Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy winner, Kamloops Blazers defenceman Olen Zellweger is the WHL B.C. Division Defenceman of the Year. The Anaheim Ducks prospect was acquired by Kamloops from the Everett Silvertips January 8 and proceeded to score 22 goals and 52 points from the Blazers blueline in 32 regular season contests. Overall, the 19-year-old set new personal bests in goals (32) and points (80) which led all Western Conference defencemen. The product of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. also won a gold medal with Canada’s entry at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound rearguard has amassed 183 points (50G-133A) in 180 career WHL regular season games after he was originally selected by the Silvertips in the second round of the 2018 WHL Draft.
Christoffer Sedoff (Red Deer Rebels): Red Deer Rebels defenceman Christoffer Sedoff is the WHL Central Division Defenceman of the Year. Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Sedoff recorded five goals and 51 points from the Rebels blue line during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season and was named to the Central Division First All-Star Team. The 21-year-old, who finished second among Red Deer skaters with 46 assists, signed an entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights in March. In three WHL seasons with the Rebels, the 6-foot-2, 196-pound defender has totalled 131 points (17G-114A) in 185 regular season contests. He was originally selected by Red Deer in the first round of the 2019 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
Stanislav Svozil (Regina Pats): Regina Pats defenceman Stanislav Svozil is the WHL East Division Defenceman of the Year. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect finished third among League blueliners with 78 points (11G-67A) over his 56 regular season appearances; he also led all WHL defencemen with 39 power-play points. The 20-year-old, who hails from Prerov, Czechia, also captained his home nation to a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January. The 6-foot-1, 182-pound rearguard was originally selected by Regina in the first round of the 2020 CHL Import Draft and over his two seasons with the Pats has totalled 119 points (21G-98A) in 115 regular season appearances.
Kevin Korchinski (Seattle Thunderbirds): Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman Kevin Korchinski is the WHL U.S. Division Defenceman of the Year. The product of Saskatoon, Sask. led all Thunderbirds defencemen with a career-best 73 points (11G-62A) while accumulating a plus-minus rating of +50. His 62 assists led all Western Conference blueliners. Korchinski, the seventh-overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Draft, helped Canada capture a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January. The 18-year-old, who checks in at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, was originally selected by Seattle with the 10th-overall pick in the 2019 WHL Draft and has totalled 148 points (13G-135A) over his 145 appearances with the Thunderbirds.
WHL ANNOUNCES DIVISION NOMINEES FOR DEL WILSON MEMORIAL TROPHY
Stoesser finalist for WHL Goaltender of the Year
The Western Hockey League announced today the 2022-23 Division nominees for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the WHL Goaltender of the Year presented by Real Canadian Superstore.
All individual WHL Division Award winners will be eligible for the overall WHL Awards, which will be announced from Tuesday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 10. The winner of the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy awarded to the WHL Goaltender of the Year will be announced Tuesday, May 9.
WHL Goaltender of the Year Nominees
B.C. Division – Jesper Vikman (Stockholm, Sweden) – Vancouver Giants
Central Division – Rhett Stoesser (Carstairs, Alta.) – Red Deer Rebels
East Division – Daniel Hauser (Chestermere, Alta.) – Winnipeg ICE
U.S. Division – Thomas Milic (Coquitlam, B.C.) – Seattle Thunderbirds
WHL Goaltender of the Year Biographies
Jesper Vikman (Vancouver Giants): Vancouver Giants goaltender Jesper Vikman is the WHL B.C. Division Goaltender of the Year. The Vegas Golden Knights prospect helped the Giants reach the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, winning 19 games and posting a .903 save percentage along the way. Vikman, who hails from Stockholm, Sweden, made 38 or more saves in a game on seven separate occasions during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. The 21-year-old, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Golden Knights April 10, was originally selected by Vancouver with the 10th-overall pick in the 2021 CHL Import Draft. He concluded his WHL career with a 36-36-3-2 record, a 3.19 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and four shutouts over his 80 career regular season appearances.
Rhett Stoesser (Red Deer Rebels): In his first full season in the WHL, Red Deer Rebels netminder Rhett Stoesser is the WHL Central Division Goaltender of the Year. The product of Carstairs, Alta. posted a 19-6-0-0 record for the Rebels before his season was cut short due to injury; the 18-year-old registered a 2.35 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and two shutouts over his 25 appearances. The 6-foot-2, 183-pound puck-stopper enjoyed an eight-game winning streak from November 26 through January 1. Stoesser was originally signed by the Red Deer Rebels in September of 2022.
Daniel Hauser (Winnipeg ICE): Winnipeg ICE netminder Daniel Hauser is the WHL East Division Goaltender of the Year after setting an ICE franchise record with 37 wins during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season. The product of Chestermere, Alta. finished second among WHL netminders in victories, while also concluding the regular season in the top five among League goaltenders in goals-against average (2.28) and save percentage (.917). The 19-year-old’s performance in goal helped spur Winnipeg to a Club-record 57 victories during the regular season, the most by any WHL team over a 68-game schedule. The 5-foot-11, 156-pound goaltender was originally selected by the ICE in the sixth round of the 2019 WHL Draft and owns a career 78-7-3-0 record, 2.23 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 10 shutouts over his 90 career WHL regular season outings.
Thomas Milic (Seattle Thunderbirds): A gold medalist with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, Seattle Thunderbirds netminder Thomas Milic is the WHL U.S. Division Goaltender of the Year. Milic, who hails from Coquitlam, B.C., led the League with a 2.08 goals-against average and .928 save percentage during the regular season, while his 27 wins also locked him into a third-place among WHL goaltenders. The 2023 NHL Draft prospect allowed one goal or fewer in six consecutive starts from November 9 through December 3, and finished the regular season with a 13-0-0-1 record from his last 14 outings. Milic, who turns 20 years of age April 14, holds a career 60-23-3-3 record to go along with a 2.35 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and eight shutouts from his 91 career WHL regular season games. He was originally selected by Seattle in the third round of the 2018 WHL Draft.
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ALBERTA HOCKEY HALL OF FAME CALLS THE CLASS OF 2024
Six individuals and one team set to enter the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.
RED DEER – Six individuals and a Memorial Cup championship team are being called to the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF) as the Class of 2024.
The members of this year’s class are:
BILLY DEA – 19-year pro hockey career, along with several years coaching in the NHL. He had two playing stints in the NHL, sandwiched around nine years in the American Hockey League with the Buffalo Bisons, where he set a longevity record by playing 596 straight games. He is a member of the AHL Hall of Fame.
JAROME IGINLA – 20 seasons in the National Hockey League, including 16 with the Calgary Flames. He is the all-time leader for the Calgary Flames in games played (1,219), goals (525) and points (1,095). He is also a multi-time gold medalist with Team Canada, a two-time Memorial Cup champion, and an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
DAVE KING – Coach and mentor for over 40 years and one of hockey’s finest tacticians and teachers of the game. He has coached at every level of hockey around the world, including major junior, Canadian university, Canada’s national team, the National Hockey League, and European and Russian pro leagues. He is a two-time medalist at the Winter Olympics.
KELLY KISIO – 761 games in the National Hockey League and captain of the New York Rangers for more than three years. He helped turn the Calgary Hitmen into one of the most successful franchises in the Western Hockey League (including two WHL championships), as coach and general manager. Currently a scout with the Vegas Golden Knights, 2023 Stanley Cup champions.
CRAIG MACTAVISH – Four-time Stanley Cup champion during a 17-year playing career in the National Hockey League. Craig also served as an executive, coach and assistant coach in the NHL, coached Team Canada internationally, and coached internationally n Russia and Switzerland. Craig was the last NHL player not to wear a helmet during games.
SHANNON SZABADOS – Trailblazer for female hockey players, one of Canada’s top goaltenders, and the IIHF’s Goaltender of the Decade (2010-20). She is the only goaltender in women’s hockey history to backstop her nation to two gold medals at the Winter Olympics; the first and only female to record a shutout in men’s pro hockey; and the first female to play in the WHL and the Southern Professional Hockey League.
RED DEER REBELS, 2000-01 – The 2001 Memorial Cup champions, defeating Val-d’Or in a come-from-behind overtime victory in Regina. The Rebels had a dominating season, leading the Canadian Hockey League with a 54-12-3-3 regular season. They advanced to the Memorial Cup by defeating Lethbridge, Calgary, Swift Current and Portland in the WHL playoffs.
Hockey Alberta hosted the announcement on Tuesday morning at the Gary W. Harris Centre at Red Deer Polytechnic. It was also announced that the AHHF Induction Gala is returning to Red Deer and is being hosted at the Gary W. Harris Centre on Saturday, July 20.
Tickets for the AHHF Induction Gala are available to purchase on ahhf.ca.
REBELS RECAP
The Rebels have kicked off a busy January that will see them play eight of their 11 games this month at home.
FRI. JAN. 5 – Jhett Larson netted his second career hat trick to lead the Rebels to a 5-3 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Carson Birnie scored twice for the Rebels. Talon Brigley had two assists while Ollie Josephson had one to run his point streak to five games. Rhett Stoesser earned his 10th win of the season. Red Deer outshot Medicine Hat 34-24 and was 1-for-1 on the power play while the Tigers were 1-for-3.
TUE. JAN. 2 – Medicine Hat scored with seven seconds left in overtime for a 3-2 win over the Rebels at Co-op Place. Matthew Gard and Hunter Mayo (power play) scored for Red Deer. Ollie Josephson had an assist to run his point streak to four games. Chase Wutzke was credited with 27 saves. Red Deer was 1-for-3 on the power play while Medicine Hat was 2-for-3.
UPCOMING GAMES
A pair of U.S. Division teams visit the Peavey Mart Centrium this week for the first time in nearly four years. Wednesday night (January 10) the Spokane Chiefs are in town followed by the Tri-City Americans on Friday (January 12). Then on Saturday, January 13, the Edmonton Oil Kings are back in town. Tickets for all Rebels home games are available through Tickets Alberta. All games this week start at 7 p.m. MT and are broadcast exclusively on 106.7 REWIND Radio and CHL TV.
CHASE-ING EXCELLENCE
Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke has been named WHL Goaltender of the Month for December and the Rebels Mitchell and Jewel Player of the Month Award for December. Wutzke, 17, went 5-0-0-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .941 save percentage, helping the Rebels win seven of 12 games and push their way up the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings during the month of December. A product of Debden, Sask., Wutzke was named WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Week on Monday, December 11, and is the third Rebels puck stopper earn the honour this season, joining Rhett Stoesser and Kyle Kelsey (now with Tri-City).
COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
Rookie forward Jeramiah Roberts has been a solid addition to the Rebels lineup since returning from a 22-game absence due to a concussion. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native scored a highlight reel goal for his first WHL tally Dec. 27 versus Medicine Hat. He picked up his first career assist versus the Tigers on January 2. Roberts, selected 14th overall by the Rebels in round one of the 2022 U.S. Priority Draft, won the Rebels TELUS Scholastic Player of the Month Award for the month of December.
UCHACZ A TOP 10 HIT
In his third season with the club, Kai Uchacz is now one of the top ten leading goal scorers in Rebels franchise history.
Player GP Goals Seasons
Arron Asham 266 131 1994-1998
Justin Mapletoft 281 115 1996-2001
B.J. Young 151 112 1994-1997
Brandon Hagel 259 103 2015-2019
Ben King 165 97 2019-2023
Greg Schmidt 194 94 1994-1997
Shawn McNeil 144 91 1997-1999
Jon Zukiwsky 301 87 1993-1998
Kai Uchacz 156 86 2021-2024
Craig Reichert 138 84 1992-1994
GERRY, GERRY, GERRY
Gerry Paquette was honoured prior to the January 5 Rebels game versus Medicine Hat for over 30 years of volunteering as on off-ice official. Gerry was presented with a custom Bulova watch courtesy of Mitchell and Jewell.
