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Spokane Chiefs

Helewka and Yamamoto Earn League Honors

March 25, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Western Hockey League announced today the WHL Conference all-star teams and 2015 WHL Awards finalists, including recognition of Spokane Chiefs forwards Adam Helewka and Kailer Yamamoto. Helewka was named to the Western Conference Second All-Star Team while Yamamoto earned the Western Conference's nomination for WHL Rookie of the Year.

Helewka earned second-team all-star honors after a 44-goal, 87-point regular season campaign. He became just the eighth Chief since 1995-96 to hit the 40-goal milestone and 27th in franchise history. He led the team in goals scored (fifth in the WHL), points (tied for eighth), and power play goals (12; tied for sixth). Helewka was second on the Chiefs in assists (43), power play assists (20), game-winning goals (5) and plus/minus (+10). He tied a franchise record with a goal scored in nine consecutive games and finished the season with goals in 11 of his last 16 games.

Yamamoto, a Spokane native and Mead High School student, finished the season with 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points. Among WHL rookies, he ranked in the top five in total points, goals, assists, power play goals (6) and game-winning goals (6). Yamamoto was just the third 16-year-old in Chiefs history to score 20 or more goals (Pat Falloon, 22, 1988-89; Jason Podollan, 36, 1992-93) and fourth to score 50 or more points (Falloon, 78, 1988-89; Ray Whitney, 50, 1988-89; Podollan, 69, 1992-93). He scored three or more points in a game nine times.

The WHL Conference All-Star Teams are as follows:

WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Taran Kozun (Nipawin, SK), Seattle Thunderbirds

Defenceman - Shea Theodore (Aldergrove, BC), Seattle Thunderbirds

Defenceman - Madison Bowey (Winnipeg, MB), Kelowna Rockets

Forward - Oliver Bjorkstrand (Herning, Denmark), Portland Winterhawks *

Forward - Cole Ully (Calgary, AB), Kamloops Blazers

Forward - Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, SK), Kelowna Rockets

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Eric Comrie (Edmonton, AB), Tri-City Americans

Defenceman - Joe Hicketts (Kamloops, BC), Victoria Royals

Defenceman - Josh Morrissey (Calgary, AB), Kelowna Rockets

Forward - Nic Petan (Delta, BC), Portland Winterhawks

Forward - Nick Merkley (Calgary, AB), Kelowna Rockets

Forward - Adam Helewka (Burnaby, BC), Spokane Chiefs

* indicates unanimous selection

WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Tristan Jarry (Delta, BC), Edmonton Oil Kings

Defenceman - Ivan Provorov (Yaroslavl, Russia), Brandon Wheat Kings

Defenceman - Travis Sanheim (Elkhorn, MB), Calgary Hitmen

Forward - Trevor Cox (Surrey, BC), Medicine Hat Tigers

Forward - Tim McGauley (Wilcox, SK), Brandon Wheat Kings

Forward - Brayden Point (Calgary, AB), Moose Jaw Warriors

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Jordan Papirny (Edmonton, AB), Brandon Wheat Kings

Defenceman - Rinat Valiev (Nizhnekamsk, Russia), Kootenay ICE

Defenceman - Colby Williams (Regina, SK), Regina Pats

Forward - Cole Sanford (Vernon, BC), Medicine Hat Tigers

Forward - Sam Reinhart (Vancouver, BC), Kootenay ICE

Forward - Adam Tambellini (Edmonton, AB), Calgary Hitmen

The WHL announced 2015 WHL Awards finalists in the following categories:

WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Nolan Patrick (Winnipeg, MB), Brandon Wheat Kings

Western Conference - Kailer Yamamoto (Spokane, WA), Spokane Chiefs

WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy

Eastern Conference - Tristan Jarry (Delta, BC), Edmonton Oil Kings

Western Conference - Taran Kozun (Nipawin, SK), Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Ivan Provorov (Yaroslavl, Russia), Brandon Wheat Kings

Western Conference - Shea Theodore (Aldergrove, BC), Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Brad Hornung Trophy

Eastern Conference - Peter Quenneville (Edmonton, AB), Brandon Wheat Kings

Western Conference - Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, SK), Kelowna Rockets

WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Nick McBride (Maple Ridge, BC), Prince Albert Raiders

Western Conference - Joe Gatenby (Kelowna, BC), Kelowna Rockets

WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - John Paddock, Regina Pats

Western Conference - Dan Lambert, Kelowna Rockets

WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings

Western Conference - Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets

WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy

Brandon Wheat Kings: 72 GP - 53 W - 11 L - 4 OTL - 4 SL - 114 PTS

WHL Top Scorer (Bob Clarke Trophy) / Plus-Minus Award

Oliver Bjorkstrand (Herning, Denmark), Portland Winterhawks

59 GP - 63 G - 55 A - 118 PTS - +60 - 35 PIM

Nominees for the WHL's Player of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, Top Official and Marketing/Public Relations Award will be announced at a later date.

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