WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Krug Crawford Award Finalists Announced

December 28, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba - A star-studded cast of local athletes and coaches including a former member of the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings have been nominated for the Brandon Sun's 50th Annual Krug Crawford Memorial Award.

The Award is presented annually to the western Manitoban who best exemplifies sporting excellence throughout the year. The winner will be announced in the Wednesday, January 2nd edition of the Brandon Sun.

Among the fifteen finalists is ex-Wheat King left-winger Mark Derlago. A 21-year old local product, Derlago capped his solid WHL career by leading the league in goals (46) and finishing tenth overall in points (81) as captain of the Wheat Kings. During the summer, the former Manitoba AAA Midget League scoring champion who was named the Meighen Haddad & Co. Most Valuable Player last season, signed with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors. Entering the Christmas break this season, Derlago had six goals and 13 points.

Derlago is one of only two hockey players to be nominated this season. The other is 18-year old Brad McConnell, who was instrumental in leading the AAA Midget Wheat Kings to last year's Provincial title. McConnell is currently skating with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL and has sixteen goals and 40 points in 35 games.

Joining Derlago and McConnell as finalists for 2007 include wide receiver Chris Bauman of the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger Cats, golfers Matt Burman and Kaitlin Troop, former Brandon University mens basketball coach Barnaby Craddock, 14-year old Virden figure skater Kaleigh Hole, Manitoba Bison volleyball star Toon Van Lankvelt of Rivers, former Crocus Plain volleyballer Kayla-Dawn Grantham, curlers Rob Fowler and Jill Officer, 16-year old Vincent Massey track and field star Delohnni Nicol-Samuel as well as baseball's Tanner Jago of Brandon and Wawanesa's Curtis Seafoot.

The last member of the Wheat Kings to be awarded the Krug Crawford Memorial Award was former WHL scoring champion Eric Fehr of Winkler.

As for the current Wheat Kings, they begin a 3-game Alberta road trip Sunday afternoon at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary against the Hitmen. Brandon is coming off Thursday night's 2-1 loss to the Regina Pats as the curtain went up on the second half of the Wheat Kings' 2007-08 WHL regular season.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2007


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