WHL Prince George Cougars

Mark Lamb Named WHL's Executive of the Year

Published on May 1, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


PORTLAND, OR - The Western Hockey League announced today, May 1st, that Prince George Cougars General Manager & Head Coach Mark Lamb has won the 2023-2024 Lloyd Saunders Trophy, given annually to the WHL Executive of the Year.

This is the first time Lamb has been awarded the Lloyd Saunders Trophy. Lamb is the first Prince George Cougar Executive in team history to win this award.

In his sixth season as the Cougars' general manager, Lamb's Prince George Cougars posted 102 points in the 2023-24 regular season with a record of 49-15-1-3, their highest point total and win total in the Cats' 30-year history. This historic regular season resulted in the Cougars' second BC Division crown in team history and the best record in the Western Conference, also the first time in team history.

Lamb and his staff have shaped the Cougars significantly through the WHL Prospect's Draft and has made some key acquisitions via trade and free-agent signings. Of the 25 players who appeared in at least one game for Prince George during the 2023-24 campaign, 17 were drafted by the Cougars under Lamb's leadership. Riley Heidt, selected by the Cougars in the first round (2nd Overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospect's Draft, recently became the team's all-time leader in points (280) and assists (195). Heidt was selected 64th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2023 NHL Draft and signed an NHL-Entry Level Contract this spring with the Wild. Terik Parascak, a fourth-round selection (76th overall), put together the best rookie-season in team history with 43 goals and 102 points. Parascak was named the BC Division nominee for the WHL Rookie of the Year. Joshua Ravensbergen, who was undrafted and signed by Prince George in the Spring of 2023, put together stupendous numbers in the regular season, owning a 26-4-1-1 record, along with 2.46 goals against average which led all WHL rookie netminders. Defenceman and captain Hudson Thornton, who was a second-round pick in 2018, has become the Cougars' leader among defenceman in goals (56), assists (140), points (196), and power-play goals (24).

Over the last two seasons, Lamb made key acquisitions and made them all without moving a first-round selection. One example is Zac Funk, who was acquired by Lamb and the Cougars in January of 2023. In 2023-2024, Funk put together the best single season in Prince George Cougars' history scoring an incredible 67 goals (67-56-123), which ultimately earned him a three-year entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals. Borya Valis was acquired by Prince George in late December and has been an important piece to the Cougars' success, owning 37 points (13-24-27) in 32 games as a Cougar.

These weren't the only key moves Lamb has made. Dating back to the 2022-23 season, the 1990 Stanley Cup Champion acquired Chase Wheatcroft, who potted 49 goals, earned an NHL contract with the Dallas Stars, and scored one of the biggest goals in team history against the Tri-City Americans in Game 6 of the opening round of the 2023 WHL Playoffs. Jaxsen Wiebe was acquired in late November of 2022, who also earned an NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

Lamb and the Cougars gear up for Game 4 tonight of the WHL's Western Conference Championship against the Portland Winterhawks. The Winterhawks lead the series 2-1 and puck drop is at 7:00 pm from the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

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Western Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2024


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