WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

2012 Awards Night

March 18, 2012 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba- CaptainMark Stonewas the big winner Saturday night as the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings handed out the hardware as part of the club's annualAwards Night at Westman Communications Group Place.

Stone, who led the team in scoring this season with 123 points including 41 goals, captured theBrandon Sun Scoring Title, theKeystone Centre's Most Sportsmanlike Player Award, theManitoba Hydro Turk Broda Memorial Trophy as well as theMeighen Haddad & Co. Trophy that goes to theWheat Kings' Most Valuable Player.

Stone also finished a close second to left-wingerMichael Ferland in theManitoba Blue Cross 3 Stars Program.Winning the 3 Stars Award was one of two captured by the 19-year old Calgary Flames' prospect on Saturday night. The local product also took home theShoppers Drug Mart Fans' Choice Award for the 2011-12 campaign.

Ferland was one three players to win multiple awards on Saturday, joining defencemenEric Roy andBrodie Melnychuk.

While Roy was named winner of theMaggie Janz Scholastic Player of the Year Awardas well as theDennis Truscott UCT Most Improved Player Trophy, Melnychuk was named winner of theRob Stouffer Most Inspirational Player Trophy as well as theArt Marshall Trophy that goes to the Wheat Kings'Top Graduating 20-year old player.

Rounding out the list of winners Saturday night were SlovakianBruno Mraz (Canad Inns Hardest Working Player), graduating centerPaul Ciarelli (McDonalds Most Community Minded Player),Brenden Walker (Precision Toyota Unsung Hero Award), Swiss left-wingerAlessio Bertaggia (MNP Rookie of the Year)and 17-year oldRyan Pulock (Brad McCrimmon Top Defenceman Trophy).

Pulock becomes the first ever winner of the Brad McCrimmon Top Defenceman Trophy, re-named after the former Brandon blueliner who was lost in a tragic plane crash in Russia last September.

McCrimmon was the only 3-time winner of the hockey club's Defenceman of the Year Award, capturing what had been called the Wheat Kings' Executive Trophy in 1977, 1978 and '79.

For third straight season, the Wheat Kings' annual Awards were given out during the club's final regular season game - a 7-2 victory over the visiting Regina Pats.

Brandon finished the season with a record of 39-28-1-4 and sixth place in the WHL's Eastern Conference. The Wheat Kings will now begin preparations for their best of seven opening round playoff series against the Calgary Hitmen, scheduled to begin on Thursday night.

Tickets to Brandon's first two playoff home games - to be played at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair - will go on sale Monday at all Ticketmaster locations, including Brandon's Keystone Centre.

After opening their first round series with games one and two on the road, the Wheat Kings will host the Hitmen for games three, four and five (if necessary), scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, March 25th, 27th and 29th.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2012


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