Steven DaSilva named Canada West – Husky WHL Graduate of the Month

November 13, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release

The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and the Western Hockey League are pleased to announce that forward STEVEN DaSILVA of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies has been named the Canada West Hockey - HUSKY WHL Graduate of the Month for October 2008.

DaSILVA, a 21-year-old freshman forward from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, becomes the first winner of the award in 2008-09. The former member of the Kootenay Ice made quite an impression in his first month of play in Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey, scoring at more than a point-per-game pace with 6-14-20 in 11 games. DaSILVA's offensive production helped the Huskies to a 6-4-1 record and a number three ranking in the CIS Top Ten.

DaSILVA finished first in the balloting conducted by the seven Canada West Hockey coaches (NOTE: A coach cannot vote for the player from his own team.) The 6'0", 189 pound Arts & Science student received 29 points and first five place votes to finish eight points in front of Dustin Moore of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.

It marks the second consecutive season that a freshman has won the award in the first month of the season as DaSILVA matches the feat of Eric Hunter of the University of Alberta Golden Bears who won the award in October, 2007. DaSILVA's selection marks the 100th monthly award and the 22nd time that a member of the Huskies has won the award since it was first established in the 1989-90 season.

Now in its 20th season, the Canada West Hockey's HUSKY WHL Graduate of the Month Award is presented monthly to a graduate of the Western Hockey League who is playing on one of the seven teams in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. Each monthly winner, between October and March, receives a cheque for $500.00 from the WHL to go towards the cost of his education and a gift from HUSKY.

Canadian intercollegiate hockey is a quality option for players who wish to combine both hockey and education. A total of 105 WHL grads are members of Canada West Hockey's seven teams in 2008-09. CIS hockey in general, and Canada West Hockey in particular, has allowed these players to further their hockey careers as well as their education at some of Canada's finest academic institutions.

DaSILVA scored points in seven of Saskatchewan's 11 games in September-October to average 1.81 points-per-game. Held without a point in his first career Canada West Hockey game on September 26th, DaSILVA then scored a goal and an assist in a 7-0 win over the University of Manitoba Bisons on September 27th for his first career collegiate points. It would be the first of seven multiple-point games for DaSILVA as the first-year centre scored 1-4-5 in a 7-6 shootout loss at Manitoba on October 10th and 2-2-4 in a 7-6 loss versus the University of Alberta on October 24th.

With his 20 points, DaSILVA moved to the top of the Canada West Hockey scoring list and he leads the conference in both goals and assists.

DaSILVA played four seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Kootenay Ice from 2004-05 to 2007-08.

Other nominees for the Canada West Hockey - HUSKY WHL Graduate of the Month award for October were forwards Ian McDonald of the University of Alberta Golden Bears (Tri-City Americans), Jeff Lynch of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (Spokane Flyers), Torrie Wheat of the University of Calgary Dinos (Everett Silvertips), Dustin Moore of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (Red Deer Rebels) and Mike Hellyer of the University of Manitoba Bisons (Prince Albert Raiders).

"HUSKY, proud sponsor of the WHL Education Program and the Canada West Hockey - WHL Graduate of the Month."

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