Triton
03-12-2005, 10:46 AM
Brandon right-winger Eric Fehr has been chosen winner of the SHOPPERS MALL WHEAT KING PLAYER OF THE YEAR for the 2004-2005 Western Hockey League season.
A first round draft choice of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, this four-year Western Hockey League veteran entered this weekend leading the Western Hockey League in scoring with 56 goals and 103 points in 67 games. Fehr is poised to become the first Wheat King in twenty-one years to capture the league scoring crown. No Brandon player has led the WHL since Ray Ferraro did it during the 1983-84 campaign.
As well, by eclipsing the 50-goal plateau this year the 19-year old Winkler product became the first Wheat King in over twenty years to score back to back 50-goal seasons. He’s also moved to within striking distance of becoming the first Wheat King since Darren Ritchie in 1994-95 to score sixty goals. Ritchie scored 62 goals for Brandon ten years ago.
In 275 career WHL games, the two-time WHL all star has scored 143 goals and 269 points. In fact, the former Pembina Valley AAA Hawk recently surpassed former Vancouver Canuck Rick Blight and moved into tenth place on the club’s all time list for goals. With four games remaining in the 2004-05 regular season, Fehr is one goal shy of Byron Lomow and nine behind Ritchie.
This year’s winner was again determined by votes cast by western Manitoba hockey fans during an eight week period that concluded Monday night. Fans were encouraged to cast their votes by visiting the Wheat Kings’ official web site, by visiting Shoppers Mall Brandon or by stopping by Fan Services at one of the hockey club’s home games. Others that garnered a great deal of support in this year’s fan voting included veteran center Ryan Stone, defenceman Steven Later and rookie goalkeeper Tyler Plante.
Fehr will now go up against nominees from the other ten Eastern Conference teams for the right to meet the Western Conference winner in the final Player of the Year balloting.
A plaque presentation Fehr was made during the first intermission of Friday’s WHL game between the Wheat Kings and Prince Albert Raiders. Representing the Shoppers Mall during the proceedings was Mall marketing assistant Kellie McCallum.
This marks the second straight season that Fehr has captured this award. Other recent winners have included the likes of Jordin Tootoo, Ryan Craig, Cory Cyrenne and ’97 award winner Peter Schaefer, who holds the distinction of being one of four Wheat Kings to win the league’s Player of the Year award, joining the likes of Marty Murray, Ray Ferraro and Brian Propp.
A first round draft choice of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, this four-year Western Hockey League veteran entered this weekend leading the Western Hockey League in scoring with 56 goals and 103 points in 67 games. Fehr is poised to become the first Wheat King in twenty-one years to capture the league scoring crown. No Brandon player has led the WHL since Ray Ferraro did it during the 1983-84 campaign.
As well, by eclipsing the 50-goal plateau this year the 19-year old Winkler product became the first Wheat King in over twenty years to score back to back 50-goal seasons. He’s also moved to within striking distance of becoming the first Wheat King since Darren Ritchie in 1994-95 to score sixty goals. Ritchie scored 62 goals for Brandon ten years ago.
In 275 career WHL games, the two-time WHL all star has scored 143 goals and 269 points. In fact, the former Pembina Valley AAA Hawk recently surpassed former Vancouver Canuck Rick Blight and moved into tenth place on the club’s all time list for goals. With four games remaining in the 2004-05 regular season, Fehr is one goal shy of Byron Lomow and nine behind Ritchie.
This year’s winner was again determined by votes cast by western Manitoba hockey fans during an eight week period that concluded Monday night. Fans were encouraged to cast their votes by visiting the Wheat Kings’ official web site, by visiting Shoppers Mall Brandon or by stopping by Fan Services at one of the hockey club’s home games. Others that garnered a great deal of support in this year’s fan voting included veteran center Ryan Stone, defenceman Steven Later and rookie goalkeeper Tyler Plante.
Fehr will now go up against nominees from the other ten Eastern Conference teams for the right to meet the Western Conference winner in the final Player of the Year balloting.
A plaque presentation Fehr was made during the first intermission of Friday’s WHL game between the Wheat Kings and Prince Albert Raiders. Representing the Shoppers Mall during the proceedings was Mall marketing assistant Kellie McCallum.
This marks the second straight season that Fehr has captured this award. Other recent winners have included the likes of Jordin Tootoo, Ryan Craig, Cory Cyrenne and ’97 award winner Peter Schaefer, who holds the distinction of being one of four Wheat Kings to win the league’s Player of the Year award, joining the likes of Marty Murray, Ray Ferraro and Brian Propp.