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Derlago Cracks Top 20 All Time

March 31, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

Calgary, AB - As part of the Western Hockey League's 50th Season celebrations, a panel of historians selected the top 125 players in WHL history this past September. From this list, WHL fans voted at Top50.whl.ca to select the Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time. This week, the fan and panel voting results revealed the following placements:

#20 - Trevor Linden (Medicine Hat Tigers)

#19 - Dale Derkatch (Regina Pats)

#18 - Bill Derlago (Brandon Wheat Kings)

#18 Bill Derlago (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1974-78)

Derlago topped the century mark in points during three of his four campaigns as a member of the Brandon Wheat Kings. In 1976-77, Derlago finished as the League's top scorer with 178 points in 72 regular season games. The sniper lit the lamp 96 times which ranks second all-time for most goals in a season. The WCHL First Team All-Star also recorded a League-best 30 playoff points (14g-16a) to lead Brandon to the League Final.

The Wheat Kings finished first in the regular season standings for the second year in a row in 1977-78. Derlago's line with Brian Propp and Ray Allison led the way offensively as they became the first team in WHL history to boast three 70-goal scorers. Derlago potted 89 markers in only 52 games to lead the League in goals for the second consecutive season that year and also became the fastest player in League history to score 50 goals as he hit the mark in just 27 games. Even though Derlago's 1977-78 campaign was abbreviated due to an injury, the WCHL Second Team All-Star still finished fifth in the scoring race with 152 points.

Over his regular season career, Derlago ranks third all-time with 234 goals and 16th all-time with 437 points in 209 games. In addition, Derlago notched 60 points (27g-33a) in 34 postseason outings. The Vancouver Canucks selected Derlago fourth overall in the 1978 NHL Draft.

The Birtle, MB native also went on to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques. When he hung up his skates, Derlago had accumulated 416 points (189g-227a) in 555 regular season games along with five playoff goals in 13 contests.

WHL Top 50 Players of All-Time (as of March 31st)

#18 - Bill Derlago (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1974-78)

#19 - Dale Derkatch (Regina Pats, 1981-85)

#20 - Trevor Linden (Medicine Hat Tigers, 1986-88)

#21 - Rob Brown (Kamloops Junior Oilers/Blazers, 1983-87)

#22 - Brad McCrimmon (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1976-79)

#23 - Mark Recchi (New Westminster Bruins and Kamloops Blazers, 1985-88)

#24 - Clark Gillies (Regina Pats, 1971-74)

#25 - Ryan Getzlaf (Calgary Hitmen, 2001-05)

#26 - Barry Beck (New Westminster Bruins, 1974-77)

#27 - Dan Hodgson (Prince Albert Raiders, 1982-85)

#28 - Ray Allison (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1975-79)

#29 - Reggie Leach (Flin Flon Bombers, 1967-70)

#30 - Doug Wickenheiser (Regina Pats, 1977-80)

#31 - Mike Vernon (Calgary Wranglers, 1980-83)

#32 - Dennis Sobchuk (Regina Pats, 1971-74)

#33 - Jamie Benn (Kelowna Rockets, 2007-09)

#34 - Patrick Marleau (Seattle Thunderbirds, 1995-97)

#35 - Ron Chipperfield (Brandon Wheat Kings, 1970-74)

#36 - Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver Giants, 2008-12)

#37 - Shane Doan (Kamloops Blazers, 1992-95)

#38 - Brad Moran (Calgary Hitmen, 1995-2000)

#39 - Tom Lysiak (Medicine Hat Tigers, 1970-73)

#40 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels, 2009-11)

#41 - Marian Hossa (Portland Winter Hawks, 1997-98)

#42 - John Davidson (Calgary Centennials, 1971-73)

#43 - Sam Reinhart (Kootenay ICE, 2011-15)

#44 - Brent Sutter (Lethbridge Broncos, 1980-82)

#45 - Pavel Brendl (Calgary Hitmen, 1998-2001)

#46 - Cliff Ronning (New Westminster Bruins, 1983-85)

#47 - Duncan Keith (Kelowna Rockets, 2002-03)

#48 - Darcy Tucker (Kamloops Blazers, 1991-95)

#49 - Ray Whitney (Spokane Chiefs, 1988-91)

#50 - Stu Barnes (New Westminster Bruins and Tri-City Americans, 1987-90)

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics

Western Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2016

WHL Disappointed with City Decision - Medicine Hat Tigers
Rebels, Hitmen to Make History - Red Deer Rebels
Silvertips Announce Second Round WHL Playoffs Schedule vs. Seattle Thunderbirds - Everett Silvertips
Rockets Alumni Jordon Cooke WHL Grad of Month - Kelowna Rockets
Huskies Netminder Cooke Earns WHL Grad of the Month - WHL
Derlago Cracks Top 20 All Time - Brandon Wheat Kings
Hitmen to Host Game 4 Friday at the Stampede Corral - Calgary Hitmen
Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time: Linden, Derkatch, Derlago Named to List by Fans - WHL
Year in Review: Part 2 - Big Games - Medicine Hat Tigers
T-Birds Release Second Round Playoff Schedule vs. Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
Wheat Kings Take Game 3 - Brandon Wheat Kings
Silvertips Sweep Portland - Everett Silvertips
Blazers Beat Rockets 5-1, Even Series at Two - Kamloops Blazers
Spokane Disappointed in Overtime in Game Four - Spokane Chiefs
Royals Down Chiefs in OT in Game 4 - Victoria Royals
T-Birds Sweep Cougars to Advance to Second Round of Playoffs - Seattle Thunderbirds
Series Tied 2-2: Blazers Beat Rockets 4-1 - Kelowna Rockets
Oil Kings Drop Game 3 to Brandon 3-1 - Edmonton Oil Kings
Pats Move within a Game of Advancing - Regina Pats
Winterhawks Fall 4-2 as Everett Advances to Second Round - Portland Winterhawks

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Derlago Cracks Top 20 All Time

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