McCrimmon Named Executive Of The Year

April 28, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

Edmonton, Alberta - Brandon Wheat Kings' owner, general manager and head coach Kelly McCrimmon has been chosen the 2009-10 winner of the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy that goes to the Western Hockey League's Executive of the Year.

A winner of both the WHL and Canadian Hockey League Executive Award in 1995, McCrimmon was instrumental in Brandon being awarded the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup, to be held May 14-23rd in the Keystone Centre.

A former Wheat King captain, McCrimmon became Brandon's general manager in 1989. In 2004, he assumed the head coaching duties and he finished the 2009-10 campaign as the second winningest coach in franchise history. Only Bob Lowes has won more games (363) behind the Brandon bench.

McCrimmon's clubs have won eight Eastern Division Pennants, including this year when the Wheat Kings finished on top with an impressive 50-18-1-3 mark, four Eastern Conference Championships, made four WHL Championship Final appearances and participated in two Memorial Cups. Next month's appearance will the club's third since 1995.

Since the 1992-93 season when the club set a Canadian Hockey League record for the biggest single season improvement of 62 points, the club has been one of the winningest teams in the Canadian Hockey League and has qualified for post-season play in seventeen of the last 18 years. As well, the Wheat Kings have reached the 40-win plateau on thirteen occasions during that time.

McCrimmon, who accepted the honour Wednesday in Edmonton, is a former member of the WHL Board of Governors Executive Committee and currently sits as Chairman of the WHL Competitions Committee.

Western Hockey League Stories from April 28, 2010

• Connauton Signs With Canucks; Bouma Joins Heat - Vancouver Giants
• McCrimmon Named Executive Of The Year - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Eberle Player Of The Year - Regina Pats
• Spurgeon Is WHL's Most Sportsmanlike Runner-Up - Spokane Chiefs
• Bast Most Sportsmanlike - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Americans Honored As WHL Scholastic Team Of The Year - Tri-City Americans
• Lowry Wins WHL Scholastic Player Of The Year - Swift Current Broncos
• Regina Pats Jordan Eberle Named WHL Player Of The Year - WHL
• WHL Announces 2009-10 Award Winners - WHL
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Wins WHL Rookie Of The Year - Red Deer Rebels
• Calgary Hitmen To Pick 22nd Overall In 2010 WHL Bantam Draft - Calgary Hitmen
• 3 Days Left To Beat The HST, Get Your Bruins Season Tickets Today - Chilliwack Bruins
• 2010 WHL Championship Series Live On SHAW - WHL

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