Cockell Nominated for WHL Executive of the Year
April 5, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Winnipeg Ice News Release
The Western Hockey League announced today the 2022-23 Division nominees for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the WHL Executive of the Year.
All individual WHL Division Award winners will be eligible for the overall WHL Awards, which will be announced from Tuesday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 10. The winner of the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy awarded to the WHL Executive of the Year will be announced Wednesday, May 3.
WHL Executive of the Year Nominees
B.C. Division - Shaun Clouston - Kamloops Blazers
Central Division - Willie Desjardins - Medicine Hat Tigers
East Division - Matt Cockell - Winnipeg ICE
U.S. Division - Bil La Forge - Seattle Thunderbirds
WHL Executive of the Year Biographies
Matt Cockell (Winnipeg ICE): The reigning Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy winner, Winnipeg ICE general manager Matt Cockell is the East Division WHL Executive of the Year. Winnipeg set franchise records in wins (57) and points (115) for the second season running while also capturing the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL Regular Season Champions for the second consecutive campaign after completing the regular season with a 57-10-1 record. Cockell added numerous NHL prospects to his roster over the course of the 2022-23 season via trade, including Ottawa Senators draftees Zack Ostapchuk and Carson Latimer as well as Nashville Predators defensive prospect Graham Sward.
Shaun Clouston (Kamloops Blazers): The head coach and general manager of the Memorial Cup host Kamloops Blazers, Shaun Clouston is the B.C. Division WHL Executive of the Year after helping guide the Blazers to the Club's fourth consecutive B.C. Division title. Clouston engineered one of the largest trades in recent WHL memory in January, acquiring NHL prospects Olen Zellweger (Anaheim Ducks) and Ryan Hofer (Washington Capitals) from the Everett Silvertips to add to an already talented roster. Zellweger, the reigning Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy winner as WHL Defenceman of the Year, scored 22 goals in his 32 regular season games as a Blazer in 2022-23 while Hofer finished the season with a team-best 40 goals. Clouston also added NHL prospects Kyle Masters (Minnesota Wild) and Jakub Demek (Vegas Golden Knights) via trade; Demek was a member of the WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings a season ago.
Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat Tigers): In addition to being the Central Division WHL Coach of the Year, Medicine Hat Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins is the Central Division WHL Executive of the Year. Desjardins helped the Tigers improve by 43 points in the standings over 2021-22, as the Club posted a 30-29-8-1 record and qualified for the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien. Desjardins has stockpiled young talent, including 16-year-old forward Cayden Lindstrom and 2022 WHL Prospects Draft first-overall selection Gavin McKenna, while adding veteran leadership this season in the form of forward Dallon Melin and defenceman Kurtis Smythe.
Bil La Forge (Seattle Thunderbirds): After building a roster that captured the Western Conference Championship in 2022, Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Bil LaForge is the U.S. Division WHL Executive of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2023. La Forge's Thunderbirds set a franchise record with 54 wins during the regular season, winning the U.S. Division title for the first time in six years while also entering the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien as the top seed in the Western Conference. La Forge made several high-profile moves during the season including trading for Canadian World Juniors gold-medalists Nolan Allan and Colton Dach, while also adding WHL Champions Dylan Guenther and Luke Prokop to his roster.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2023
- Blades Clutch Up Again in OT, Tie Series Heading Home - Saskatoon Blades
- Warriors Sweep Hurricanes; Advance to Second Round - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Winnipeg Wins Best of 7 Series 4-0 - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Beat Pats 4-3 in Overtime for Second Straight Game - Regina Pats
- Tigers Fall 3-2 to Ice in Game 4 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rebels Down Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Hawks' Hot Start Fueled by Balanced Contributions - Portland Winterhawks
- Cockell Nominated for WHL Executive of the Year - Winnipeg Ice
- Americans Head Coach Stu Barnes Named U.S. Division Coach of the Year - Tri-City Americans
- Mark Lamb Named BC Division Coach of the Year ; Nominated for WHL Coach of the Year - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview Game 4 Eastern Conference Quarter Final Vs Winnipeg - Medicine Hat Tigers
- WHL Announces Division Nominees for Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy - WHL
- Preview: Americans Host Cougars for Game 4 - Tri-City Americans
- Preview: Warriors Go for Sweep in Game 4 Against Lethbridge - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Americans Head Coach Stu Barnes Named U.S. Division Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Finalist - Tri-City Americans
- WHL Announces Division Nominees for Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pats Host Blades for Game Four, Seeking Redemption - Regina Pats
- Game #4 - ICE at Medicine Hat (Winnipeg Leads Best of 7 Series 3-0) - Winnipeg Ice
- T-Birds Ignite in the Third against Rockets - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Saskatoon Blades Come Back From Two-Goal Deficit, Win 4-3 In Overtime - Saskatoon Blades
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