WHL Spokane Chiefs

Bowman Recalled by Carolina Hurricanes

Published on April 17, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


RALEIGH, NC-Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that forward Drayson Bowman has been recalled from Spokane of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and will be joining the team for the duration of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Bowman, 20, finished the season ranked fourth in the WHL in goals with 47 this season, and led all Chiefs skaters with 83 points (47g, 36a) in 62 games played. Carolina's third-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Bowman also led all Chiefs in goals (8) and points (13) during the WHL playoffs, as Spokane knocked off Seattle before falling to Vancouver in seven games in the WHL's Western Conference Semifinals. Born in Grand Rapids, MI, and raised in Littleton, CO, Bowman skated for the United States at the 2009 World Junior Championships, notching three goals and one assist (4 points) in six games for the Americans.

Bowman will skate and travel with the Hurricanes throughout the post-season, joining forwards Zach Boychuk, Patrick Dwyer and Brandon Sutter, defensemen Brett Carson and Bryan Rodney, and goaltender Justin Peters, who were recalled from Albany last weekend. The group of extra players the team carries in the postseason is affectionately known as the "Black Aces." Though their names do not appear on the team's regular roster, the players gain valuable postseason experience by practicing and traveling with the team, and they are available to be added to the team's roster if necessary.

WHL ANNOUNCES AWARD FINALISTS

SPOKANE'S RIDDLE NAMED WESTERN CONFERENCE MARKETING NOMINEE

CALGARY, AB - The Western Hockey League today announced the WHL Eastern and Western Conference finalists for numerous awards, including the 2008-09 WHL Player of the Year as well as the Marketing and Communications awards.

The Spokane Chiefs Vice President of Sponsorships, Grant Riddle, has been named the Western Conference's finalist for the WHL award. The Medicine Hat Tigers Mike Bortolussi is the Eastern Conference finalist.

Riddle, a Shadle Park High School and Eastern Washington University graduate, just finished his seventh season with the Chiefs and 12th with Brett Sports & Entertainment. Through Riddle's tenure, the Chiefs have enjoyed an increase in ticket and sponsorship sales as well as greater awareness in the community.

The two finalists for WHL Player of the Year were determined through voting by General Managers, coaches, broadcast and media representatives of all WHL Member Clubs.

In the WHL's Western Conference, which includes the B.C. and U.S. Divisions, the Player of the Year Nominee is forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel of the Vancouver Giants.

Pierro-Zabotel enjoyed a tremendous season with the Giants, leading them to a fourth straight B.C. Division title on the back of their best regular-season record in franchise history. The 20-year-old from Kamloops, B.C., scored 36 goals and added 79 assists for 115 points in 72 games, winning the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's top regular-season scorer. Additionally, Pierro-Zabotel posted an outstanding +62 rating along with 52 penalty minutes.

Pierro-Zabotel's 79 assists led all WHL players and marked the highest assist total by a WHL players since the 1996-97 season while his 115 points were the most by a WHL player since the 2000-01 campaign. The 6'2", 210-lb center led all WHL players with 40 power play assists while his +62 rating led all WHL forwards in that category.

Having joined the Giants from the BCHL in November 2007, Pierro-Zabotel has racked up 55 goals and 163 points in 121 career WHL regular-season contests. Pierro-Zabotel, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, was named to the 2009 WHL Western Conference First All Star Team.

In the WHL's Eastern Conference, which includes the East and Central Divisions, the Player of the Year Nominee is forward Brett Sonne of the Calgary Hitmen.

Sonne enjoyed an outstanding 2008-09 WHL season, helping the Hitmen capture the Scotty Munro trophy after posting second-best regular-season record in WHL history. The 19-year-old from Maple Ridge, B.C., scored 48 goals and added 52 assists for 100 points in 62 games for the Hitmen, easily surpassing his previous career-best totals. In addition, Sonne posted a +39 rating to go with 58 penalty minutes.

Sonne's 48 goals tied him for second among all WHL players while his 100 points placed him third in the WHL scoring race. On top of that, Sonne led all WHL players with 11 game-winning goals and finished fifth among WHL players with 16 power play goals. The 6'0", 184-lb center also proved to be one of the most consistent offensive forces in the WHL, having been held off the score sheet in just 14 of his 62 games.

Sonne was the Hitmen's 1st round pick, 11th overall, at the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft, and has played 232 career regular-season games over four seasons in Calgary. The St. Louis Blues prospect was named to the 2009 WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team.

The WHL also announced today the WHL Eastern and Western Conference finalists for the WHL Humanitarian of the Year award.

The WHL's Eastern Conference finalist for the WHL Humanitarian of the Year award is Ian Barteaux of the Kootenay Ice. The WHL's Western Conference finalist for the award is Taylor Procyshen of the Tri-City Americans.

The recipients of all WHL individual awards will be announced at the 2009 WHL Awards Luncheon, which will be held in Edmonton, Alberta, at Northlands Agricom Hall A on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009. For ticketing information please visit the Edmonton Oil Kings website, www.oilkings.ca .

WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Jordan Weal (North Vancouver, BC), Regina Pats

Western Conference - Brett Connolly (Prince George, BC), Prince George Cougars

WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy

Eastern Conference - Braden Holtby (Marshall, SK), Saskatoon Blades

Western Conference - Chet Pickard (Winnipeg, MB), Tri-City Americans

WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Paul Postma (Red Deer, AB), Calgary Hitmen

Western Conference - Jonathon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) Vancouver, BC

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 - Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver, BC) Saskatoon Blades

Western Conference - Tyler Maxwell (Manhattan Beach, CA) Everett Silvertips

WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Lorne Molleken, Saskatoon Blades

Western Conference - Don Hay, Vancouver Giants

WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference - Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen

Western Conference - Scott Bonner, Vancouver Giants

WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy

Calgary Hitmen: GP - 72 W - 59 L - 9 OTL - 3 SL - 1 Pts - 122

WHL Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy

Casey Pierro-Zabotel - (Kamloops, BC) Vancouver Giants

GP - 72 G - 36 A - 79 Pts - 115 PIM - 52

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2009


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