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Odessa's Sebastien Thinel Named CHL's Most Valuable Player

March 23, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Sebastien Thinel of the Odessa Jackalopes has been named the recipient of the 2008-09 Central Hockey League's Most Valuable Player award. The honor is 'presented annually to the Central Hockey League player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team' and is determined through balloting of CHL coaches, communications staff members and selected media members in each market.

In addition, Thinel captures the 2008-09 CHL Joe Burton Scoring Championship given each year to the player who leads the league in scoring during the regular season (named after the league's all-time leading scorer and former Oklahoma City Blazer forward). Thinel finished with 97 points finishing 12 better than any other CHL player. He also finished tied for the league lead in goals with 38.

The St. Jerome, Quebec native was remarkably consistent leading the Jackalopes to the Southwest Division title. He never finished a month with fewer than 12 points and hit the high-water mark during the month of February when he won the Sher-Wood/CHL Player of the Month with six goals and 14 assists. During 20 games this season, Thinel was named a 'star of the game' easily winning the Oakley Three Star Player of the Year honor.

Thinel won in a close vote narrowly edging out Colorado's Riley Nelson who finished second in the voting. Thinel earned 16 votes and Nelson finished with 13. Also appearing on the MVP ballot as finalists were Texas' Scott Sheppard, Mississippi's Kevin Beech (named CHL's Most Outstanding Goaltender last week) and Corpus Christi's Chris Richards.

The 2009 Ray Miron President's Cup playoffs begin tonight with games scheduled in the Broomfield Event Center (Bossier-Shreveport vs. Rocky Mountain) and in the Dodge Arena (Corpus Christi vs. Rio Grande Valley).

2008-2009 Central Hockey League Award Recipients

Most Valuable Player
Sebastien Thinel, Odessa Jackalopes

Most Outstanding Goaltender
Kevin Beech, Mississippi RiverKings

Most Outstanding Defenseman
Aaron Schneekloth, Colorado Eagles

CHL Rookie of the Year
Darryl Smith, Laredo Bucks

Joe Burton Scoring Champion
Sebastien Thinel, Odessa Jackalopes

Coach of the Year
Kevin Kaminski, Mississippi RiverKings

CHL Man of the Year
Austin Sutter, Amarillo Gorillas

Rick Kozuback Award
Jeff Lund, Tulsa Oilers

Athletic Trainer of the Year
Osama Kassab, Rocky Mountain Rage

Equipment Manager of the Year
Shawn "Stixy" Smith, Rapid City Rush

All-CHL Team
F: Riley Nelson, Colorado Eagles
F: Kevin Ulanski, Colorado Eagles
F: Sebastien Thinel, Odessa Jackalopes
D: Dale Lupul, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
D: Aaron Schneekloth, Colorado Eagles
G: Kevin Beech, Mississippi RiverKings

All-Rookie Team
F: Darryl Smith, Laredo Bucks
F: Jeff Pierce, Odessa Jackalopes
F: Adam Perry, Arizona Sundogs
D: Nicolas Dumoulin, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
D: Dane Marshall, Mississippi RiverKings
G: Juha Toivonen, Odessa Jackalopes

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2009


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