CHL Central Hockey League

Odessa's Don McKee To Receive Commissioner's Trophy

March 18, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Voted Central Hockey League Coach of the Year by Peers

Clear some more space in the Odessa Jackalopes' trophy case. The Jackalopes, already winners of three major Central Hockey League awards this season, have today claimed the Commissioner's Trophy, presented to Odessa Coach Don McKee as the CHL's Coach of the Year for the 2001-2002 season. The award is "presented annually to the CHL coach adjudged to have contributed most to his team's success," and is determined based on voting from all 16 team Head Coaches, who ranked their top three selections. McKee dominated balloting, and was named on 12 of 15 ballots, including seven first place votes, three second place votes and two third place votes. No other CHL Coach received more than two first place votes for the Commissioner's Trophy.

McKee wins Coach of the Year honors for a second consecutive season, also claiming the Western Professional Hockey League award in the 2000-2001 season. This year, McKee has led the Jackalopes to numerous regular season accomplishments, and Odessa enters the post-season as the number one overall seed. Under McKee, Odessa captured the Southwest Division title and the Governors' Cup, awarded to the CHL's regular season champion. With a record of 47-11-6, the Jackalopes were the only team in the CHL this season to reach the 100-point plateau, and since January 11th, Odessa has posted a record of 25-2-1, earning a remarkable 51 of 56 possible points in the 28 game stretch.

McKee's Jackalopes play a defense-oriented system, and the results have been impressive, breaking two significant Central Hockey League records. Odessa's .781 winning percentage tops all CHL and WPHL history, eclipsing the previous record of .773 posted by the 1996-1997 Oklahoma City Blazers, while the Jackalopes' season goals against average of 2.29 replaces the 2.42 mark set by last year's Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

"We congratulate Coach Don McKee and the Jackalopes on an outstanding regular season," said CHL Commissioner N. Thomas Berry, Jr. "Coach McKee has clearly earned the respect of his fellow CHL coaches, who overwhelmingly selected him as our most outstanding coach this season."

Tuesday, the CHL Advantage-Rent-A-Car Most Valuable Player will be announced. Candidates to receive the MVP honor include El Paso left winger Van Burgess, Oklahoma City right winger Joe Burton, Odessa Goaltender Mike Gorman, Memphis left winger Don Parsons and Austin right winger Dan Price. Price captured the CHL scoring title this weekend, finishing with 97 points in the 64 game regular season to edge teammate Brett Seguin (96 points) and Parsons (95 points). Parsons does earn the CHL goal scoring crown with 54 goals on the season, while Seguin ends the year with a CHL-high 71 assists.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central