Karl Alzner named WHL Eastern Conference Player of the Year
April 16, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League today announced the WHL Eastern Conference finalist for the 2007-08 WHL Player of the Year. The two finalists for WHL Player of the Year are determined through voting by General Managers, coaches, broadcast and media representatives of all WHL Member Clubs.
In the WHL Eastern Conference, which includes the East and Central Divisions, the Player of the Year nominee is defenceman Karl Alzner of the Calgary Hitmen.
Alzner enjoyed an outstanding 2007-08 regular season with the Calgary Hitmen. The 19-year-old product of Burnaby, B.C., tallied seven goals and 29 assists for 36 points to go with a solid +26 rating in 60 regular-season games for the Hitmen. His efforts helped lead the Hitmen to a 47-20-1-4 record for 99 points as the team captured their first Central Division and Eastern Conference regular-season banners since the 1999-00 season.
Alzner was the anchor for a very deep Calgary defense corps that allowed an Eastern Conference-low 166 goals during the regular season. The 6' 2", 209-lb Hitmen team captain also drew only five minor penalties and 15 total penalty minutes in 60 games, despite logging large amounts of ice time in all situations.
Alzner, who is in his fourth season with the Hitmen, was drafted 5th overall by the Washington Capitals at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. The captain of Canada's Gold medal-winning World Junior team in December and January, Alzner is also the Eastern Conference nominee for WHL Defenceman of the Year, and was selected to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star team.
The WHL also announced today the WHL Eastern Conference finalist for the WHL Humanitarian Award and the WHL Marketing and Communications Award.
The WHL's Eastern Conference finalist for the WHL Humanitarian of the Year award is Ashton Hewson of the Prince Albert Raiders and the WHL's Eastern Conference finalist for the WHL Marketing and Communications award is Kip Reghenas of the Calgary Hitmen.
The recipients of all WHL individual awards will be announced at the WHL 2008 Awards Luncheon, which will be held in Calgary, Alberta, at the Round-Up Centre on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008.
WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference - Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon, SK), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference - Evander Kane (Vancouver, BC), Vancouver Giants
WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy
Eastern Conference - Linden Rowat (Cochrane, AB), Regina Pats
Western Conference - Chet Pickard (Winnipeg, MB), Tri-City Americans
WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference - Karl Alzner (Burnaby, BC), Calgary Hitmen
Western Conference - T.J. Fast (Calgary, AB) Tri-City Americans
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Brad Hornung Trophy
Eastern Conference - Tyler Ennis (Edmonton, AB) Medicine Hat Tigers
Western Conference - Colin Long (Santa Ana, CA), Kelowna Rockets
WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy
Eastern Conference - Jordan Eberle (Regina, SK) Regina Pats
Western Conference - Jared Cowen (Allan, SK) Spokane Chiefs
WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference - Michael Dyck, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Western Conference - Don Nachbaur, Tri-City Americans
WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference - Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen
Western Conference - Bob Tory, Tri-City Americans
WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
Tri-City Americans
GP - 72 W - 52 L - 16 OTL - 2 SL - 2 Pts - 108
WHL Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy
Mark Santorelli - (Burnaby, BC) Chilliwack Bruins
GP - 72 G - 27 A - 74 Pts - 101 PIM - 40
Western Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2008
- Giants Forward Off To AHL - Vancouver Giants
- Giants Captain Off To AHL - Vancouver Giants
- Karl Alzner named WHL Eastern Conference Player of the Year - WHL
- Russians Double Canada 4-2 - Brandon Wheat Kings
- 2008 WHL Playoffs Third Round Preview and Schedule - WHL
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