WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Derlago dominates awards night

Published on March 19, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba - 20-year old Captain Mark Derlago stole the spotlight Sunday night as the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings hosted their annual Awards Banquet at the Royal Oak Inn and Suites.

One of five local products on this year's club, the former Manitoba AAA Midget League scoring champion took home five trophies including the Meighen Haddad & Co. Most Valuable Player of the Year trophy for the second straight year.

The 49th captain in franchise history, Derlago was also named winner of the Manitoba Hydro Turk Broda Memorial Trophy as Top Manitoba Born Player, the Koch Fertilizer John Scott Kent Trophy as Most Sportsmanlike Player, the Art Marshall Trophy as Top Graduating as well as The Capitol Theatre Most Popular Player Trophy.

The nephew of former Wheat King scoring great Bill Derlago, Mark finished his fourth and final WHL season with 81 points in 72 games including a league leading total of 46 goals. Bill Derlago led the WHL in goals with 96 during the 1976-77 season, finishing on top of the scoring race with 178 points in 72 games.

In 209 career WHL games, Mark scored 82 goals and 162 points.

Joining Derlago as the only other multiple award winner was 19-year old St. Louis Blues' draft choice Ryan Reaves. In addition to being chosen the first ever winner of the Precision Toyota Unsung Hero of the Year during Friday night's game against the visiting Regina Pats, the Winnipeg native took home the Tri-Star Screenprinting Hardest Working Player honour as well as the Coca Cola Bottling Ollie Stark Trophy for being chosen the club's Most Inspirational Player.

Other winners Sunday night included all star center Codey Burki (Brandon Sun Trophy) for leading the Wheat Kings in scoring for the second straight season with 36 goals and 85 points in 70 games and defenceman Dustin Kohn (Wheat Kings' Executive Trophy) as the club's Top Defenceman.

Rounding out the list of winners were defenceman Theran Yeo (McDonalds Frank King Most Community Minded), center Andrew Clark (Dennis Truscott UCT Most Improved Player), netminder Joe Caligiuri (CKX / Chum TV Rookie of the Year) and former WHL Rookie of the Year Tyler Plante (MTS Connect 3 Star Award). Earlier this month, Plante was named the Wheat Kings' Shoppers Mall Player of the Year, by western Manitoba hockey fans.

The Wheat Kings will now begin preparations for their best of seven opening round playoff series against the Prince Albert Raiders. The Keystone Centre will host games one and two this Friday and Saturday nights, March 23rd and 24th.

Tickets to the series first two games are on sale now at the Keystone Centre Box Office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2007


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