dagley
04-30-2008, 04:11 PM
Brandon, Manitoba -- Brandon Wheat Kings' center Brayden Schenn has joined select company in being chosen the 2007-2008 Western Hockey League Rookie of the Year at Wednesday's Awards Luncheon, held at the Round Up Centre in Calgary.
In winning the prestigious Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, Schenn becomes the ffith Wheat King to capture Rookie of the Year honours since the club joined the Western Canada Hockey League in the fall of 1967. Former Wheat King recipients include former Vancouver Canuck Rick Blight (1972-73), ex-Philadelphia Flyer Brian Propp (1976-77), defenceman Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators (1993-94) and goalkeeper Tyler Plante (2004-05), who was chosen by the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The 16-year old Saskatoon product capped off an outstanding freshman season that saw the former first round bantam draft choice (9th overall, 2006) lead Brandon in scoring, capture the club's Rookie of the Year and MTS Connect 3 Star awards and was chosen the WHL's Boston Pizza Fans Choice for Player of the Year.
As well, he helped Team Western capture a bronze medal at this year's World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in London, Ontario and last week, he was one of two Wheat Kings to capture a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Under 18 Hockey Championships in Kazan, Russia.
Schenn, who was up against Vancouver's Evander Kane for the League Rookie of the Year honours, scored 28 goals and 71 points in 66 games for the Wheat Kings this past season to lead all first year players in the WHL. In six playoff games against Lethbridge, the former Saskatoon AAA Contact had two goals and three points.
This year's Awards Luncheon is being held on the eve of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. Barring any last minute moves, the Wheat Kings, who finished second in the Eastern Division this past season with a 42-24-3-3 record, will have the thirteenth overall selection in Thursday's draft.
The WHL Rookie of the Year trophy is named in honour of former Saskatoon Blades' owner Jim Piggott. An original founding member of the league, he also owned teams in the old professional Western Hockey League in such places as Los Angeles, Saskatoon, Regina and Minneapolis as well as Brandon's Regals in the 1950's. Piggott served as Chairman of the Board and along with Del Wilson was one of the driving forces to bring the three Major Junior Leagues in Canada together under one roof.
In winning the prestigious Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, Schenn becomes the ffith Wheat King to capture Rookie of the Year honours since the club joined the Western Canada Hockey League in the fall of 1967. Former Wheat King recipients include former Vancouver Canuck Rick Blight (1972-73), ex-Philadelphia Flyer Brian Propp (1976-77), defenceman Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators (1993-94) and goalkeeper Tyler Plante (2004-05), who was chosen by the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The 16-year old Saskatoon product capped off an outstanding freshman season that saw the former first round bantam draft choice (9th overall, 2006) lead Brandon in scoring, capture the club's Rookie of the Year and MTS Connect 3 Star awards and was chosen the WHL's Boston Pizza Fans Choice for Player of the Year.
As well, he helped Team Western capture a bronze medal at this year's World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in London, Ontario and last week, he was one of two Wheat Kings to capture a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Under 18 Hockey Championships in Kazan, Russia.
Schenn, who was up against Vancouver's Evander Kane for the League Rookie of the Year honours, scored 28 goals and 71 points in 66 games for the Wheat Kings this past season to lead all first year players in the WHL. In six playoff games against Lethbridge, the former Saskatoon AAA Contact had two goals and three points.
This year's Awards Luncheon is being held on the eve of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. Barring any last minute moves, the Wheat Kings, who finished second in the Eastern Division this past season with a 42-24-3-3 record, will have the thirteenth overall selection in Thursday's draft.
The WHL Rookie of the Year trophy is named in honour of former Saskatoon Blades' owner Jim Piggott. An original founding member of the league, he also owned teams in the old professional Western Hockey League in such places as Los Angeles, Saskatoon, Regina and Minneapolis as well as Brandon's Regals in the 1950's. Piggott served as Chairman of the Board and along with Del Wilson was one of the driving forces to bring the three Major Junior Leagues in Canada together under one roof.