Giants Leslie Named Finalist for WHL Defenceman of the Year

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Giants Leslie Named Finalist for WHL Defenceman of the Year

April 10, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today the finalists for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for WHL Defenceman of the Year, which includes Giants captain Mazden Leslie as a Western Conference finalist.

The 19-year-old product of Lloydminster, Alta. finished second in scoring among all WHL defencemen with 72 points (21G-51A) in 66 games this season. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Leslie established new career highs in goals, assists, points, and power-play goals (14) as the Giants leader on the backend.

His 21 goals were tied for second among all WHL defencemen, while his 14 power-play goals were best among WHL defencemen and tied for sixth among all WHL skaters.

Leslie made his way up the franchise leaderboard in multiple categories this season.

First, he became the Giants franchise leader for career goals by a defencemen with 57, which is now eight more than Jonathon Blum's previous benchmark of 49.

His 72 points this year also tied Kevin Connauton for the most in a single season by a Giants defenceman.

In his career, Leslie now ranks 10th all-time amongst all Giants skaters with 190 points (57G-133A). His 133 assists are the sixth-most amongst all skaters, while his 280 career games played are tied for sixth.

Originally selected by the Giants in the first round (10th overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Leslie was also named a First-Team WHL All-Star on April 1.

Finalists for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy are voted upon by WHL General Managers. The 2024-25 WHL Regular Season represents a return to the WHL's Conference Awards format for the first time since 2019-20.

Winners of 2025 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 22, through Wednesday, May 7.

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Images from this story

Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
(Rob Wilton)		 Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
(Rob Wilton)		 Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
(Rob Wilton)
Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
Vancouver Giants defenceman Mazden Leslie
(Rob Wilton)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2025


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