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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Announce 2021-22 Team Award Winners

April 4, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings announced their 2021-22 Season Award Winners following their game Sunday afternoon against the Red Deer Rebels.

Most Valuable Player

Dylan Guenther (Edmonton, AB) is the Oil Kings Most Valuable Player for the 2021-22 season.

To date, the Arizona Coyotes first-rounder leads the Oil Kings in scoring this season with 83 points (42G, 41A) in 55 games played. He ranks in the top 10 in both goals and points across the Western Hockey League.

Guenther has been the most consistent contributor to the Oil Kings attack this season that has led to the club being the second highest scoring team in the WHL averaging 4.39 goals per game. Throughout the season, he has contributed 25 multi-point games and eight multi-goal games which includes three hat-tricks and one four-goal game.

The local product has not only been a force in the offensive zone but had shown his dedication to a two-way game as his +45 plus/minus rating ranks tops amongst all forwards in the WHL, while he has also chipped in three short-handed goals as apart of the Oil Kings league-leading penalty kill unit.

Past Recipients

2020-21: Sebastian Cossa

2019-20: Matthew Robertson

2018-19: Trey Fix-Wolansky

2017-18: Trey Fix-Wolansky

2016-17: Davis Koch

2015-16: Dysin Mayo

2014-15: Tristan Jarry

2013-14: Tristan Jarry

2012-13: Keegan Lowe

2011-12: Michael St. Croix

2010-11: Mark Pysyk

2009-10: Mark Pysyk

2008-09: Torrie Jung

Kristians Pelss Memorial Award

Carter Souch (Edmonton, AB) is the 2021-22 recipient of the Oil Kings Kristians Pelss Memorial Award.

This award is handed out to the player who best exemplifies the traits of late Oil Kings forward Kristians Pelss, a former WHL champion with the Oil Kings and Edmonton Oilers draft pick. He was known for his commitment to hard work on the ice, as well as his dedication to be a great teammate and member of our community off the ice.

Souch is the longest serving Oil King on this year's roster having been a part of the organization since he was 14 years-old after the team drafted the Edmonton product at the 2016 WHL Draft.

His 256 career games rank eighth most in franchise history while his 188 (58G, 130A) points ranks seventh.

This season, he sits third in team scoring with 68 points (20G, 48A) points as he has set new career highs in all major stat categories.

Not only has Carter been an incredible Oil King on the ice during his career, but he has been an exceptional Edmontonian off the ice, using his platform with the team to help make a difference in our community.

This season, he is the only player to suit up in every pre-season and regular-season game for the Oil Kings.

Past Recipients

2020-21: Jake Neighbours

2019-20: Ethan McIndoe

2018-19: Scott Atkinson

2017-18: Colton Kehler

2016-17: Davis Koch

2015-16: Aaron Irving

2014-15: Ben Carroll

2013-14: Curtis Lazar

Humanitarian of the Year

Josh Williams (Langley, BC) and Luke Prokop (Edmonton, AB) are the Oil Kings Humanitarian's of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

Williams has been working with the Edmonton school community all season long, hosting virtual reading sessions every week.

He has worked with grades 1-6, reminding them the importance of working hard and prioritizing their education. Since joining the Oil Kings four years ago, he has shown great enthusiasm for working in the community.

Prokop has been an incredible role model for the LGBTQ2S+ community, spending countless hours responding to people looking for support and advice.

He is an advocate for the Kids Help Phone, donating $10 for every shot he takes this season, ensuring their program can continue to support the LGBTQ2S+ youth in their time of need. To date, Luke is up to $1,250 donated.

Past Recipients

2020-21: Liam Keeler

2019-20: Ethan Cap

2018-19: Will Warm

2017-18: Conner McDonald

2016-17: Tyler Robertson

2015-16: Patrick Dea

2014-15: Travis Ewanyk

2013-14: Riley Keiser

2012-13: Travis Ewanyk

2011-12: Mark Pysyk

2010-11: Adrian Van de Mosselaer

2009-10: Rhett Rachinski

2008-09: Torrie Jung

Top Defenceman Award

Logan Dowhaniuk (Sherwood Park, AB) is the recipient of the Oil Kings Top Defenceman Award for the 2021-22 season.

The fourth-year rearguard has brought it at both ends of the ice this season for the Oil Kings having put up 33 points (8G, 25A), 69 penalty minutes and a +23 plus/minus rating in 58 games. His offensive numbers are new career highs.

In the defensive zone, he has been tasked all-season long with shutting down the top scorers from the opposition, heading up the Oil Kings top ranked penalty kill unit and has become one of the most punishing physical forces in the entire WHL.

Past Recipients

2020-21: Matthew Robertson

2019-20: Matthew Robertson

2018-19: Conner McDonald

2017-18: Conner McDonald

2016-17: Will Warm

2015-16: Dysin Mayo

2014-15: Dysin Mayo & Ashton Sautner

2013-14: Cody Corbett & Griffin Reinhart

2012-13: Keegan Lowe

2011-12: Mark Pysyk

2010-11: Mark Pysyk

2009-10: Mark Pysyk

2008-09: Mark Pysyk

Blue Willow Unsung Hero Award

Jalen Luypen (Kelowna, BC) is the 2021-22 recipient of the Vic Mah Trophy as this year's recipient of the Blue Willow Unsung Hero Award.

The Chicago Blackhawks prospect has continued his role as the emotional leader of the Oil Kings this season.

Of his 29 goals this season, nine have been a game opening goal, which is the second most amongst all skaters in the WHL. He has also chipped in two power-play markers, three shorthanded goals and one overtime winner. His high energy, dogged determination and exuberant goal celebrations has often instilled a high level of emotion in his team's game, while simultaneously firmly planting himself under the skin of the opposition.

With 64 points (29G, 35A) he ranks fourth on the team in scoring this year while also serving as the team's swiss army knife playing both center and wing on the team's top lines and checking lines at various times this year.

Past Recipients

2019-20: Sebastian Cossa

2018-19: Andrew Fyten

2017-18: Tomas Soustal

2016-17: Tyler Robertson

2015-16: Lane Bauer

2014-15: Luke Bertolucci

2013-14: Ashton Sautner

2012-13: Cody Corbett

2011-12:

2010-11: Travis Ewanyk

2009-10: Braeden Laroque

2008-09: Henrik Tervonen

Rookie of the Year

Jakub Demek (Kosice, Slovakia) is the Oil Kings Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

The Vegas Golden Knights prospect has made an immediate impact in his first season in North America having tallied 53 points (20G, 33A) in 51 games. He sits just six points back of the Oil Kings all-time single-season rookie scoring record, currently held by Dylan Guenther.

In his first game with the Oil Kings, he recorded three assists in the team's 4-1 opening night win over the Red Deer Rebels. He scored his first career goal a night later down the road in Red Deer.

Earlier this season, he carved out an 18-game point streak from November 2 to January 29 in which he put up 12 goals and 17 assists. To date, it's the third longest point streak of any player in the WHL this season, while it is also the longest point streak ever recorded by a Slovakian-born player in the entire Canadian Hockey League.

Past Recipients

2020-21: Carson Latimer

2019-20: Dylan Guenther

2018-19: Vladimir Alistrov

2017-18: Matthew Robertson

2016-17: Trey Fix-Wolansky

2015-16: Brayden Gorda

2014-15: Andrew Koep

2013-14: Aaron Irving

2012-13: Edgars Kulda

2011-12: Curtis Lazar & Martin Gernat

2010-11: Griffin Reinhart

2009-10: Michael St. Croix

2008-09: Mark Pysyk

Most Improved Player

Ethan Peters (Moose Jaw, SK) is the Oil Kings Most Improved Player for the 2021-22 season.

The second-year defenceman has continued to build off his sensational rookie season in-which the undrafted Peters forced his way into the Oil Kings d-core.

Prior to his sophomore campaign with the Oil Kings, Peters earned a spot at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp as a free agent invite.

This season, he has continued to hone his stout defending abilities and has put up 15 points (2G, 13A), 18 penalty minutes and a +27 plus/minus rating in 53 games.

Past Recipients

2020-21: Jalen Luypen

2019-20: Jake Neighbours

2018-19: Carter Souch

2017-18: David Kope

Ethan Peters and Edmonton Oil Kings Director of Scouting Michael Chan

Scholastic Award

Braeden Wynne (Coquitlam, BC) is the recipient of the Oil Kings Scholastic Award for the 2021-22 season.

The Oil Kings rookie defenceman has excelled both on the ice and in the classroom this year.

In 40 games so far this season, he has registered eight assists, 16 penalty minutes and a +15 plus/minus rating.

Away from the rink, he has maintained Honours Standing for his grade 12 year while attending Salisbury Composite High School and working through the BC Online Learning Platform.

"Braeden is a dedicated student-athlete," said Oil Kings Educational Advisor Sharon Sereda. "He works extremely hard to be successful in his courses, and does an excellent job balancing academics and his hockey commitments."

Past Recipients

2020-21: Ethan Peters

2019-20: Jake Neighbours

2018-19: Jake Neighbours

2017-18: Ethan Cap

2016-17: Ethan Cap

2015-16: Kyle Yewchuck

2014-15: Patrick Dea

2013-14: Dysin Mayo

2012-13: Cole Benson

2011-12: Rhett Rachinski

2010-11: Ryan Dech

2009-10: Mark Pysyk

2008-09: Rhett Rachinski

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