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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Schneider, Patera Finalists for H.L. Crawford Award

December 28, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba - Former Brandon Wheat Kings' All Star netminder Jiri Patera and defenceman Braden Schneider are two of eleven finalists for the Brandon Sun's Krug Crawford Memorial Award for 2020.

The award is presented annually to the western Manitoba athlete, who best exemplifies sporting excellence throughout the year.

A Prince Albert, Saskatchewan product, Schneider enjoyed a banner year for the Wheat Kings in 2019-20, scoring a career high 42 points, including seven goals in sixty games.

In addition to being chosen the 2020 winner of the Brad McCrimmon Memorial Awards as the Western Hockey League club's Top Defenceman, he was chosen by the New York Rangers in the opening round of the 2020 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Schneider received the nomination while in Edmonton, where he is playing for the defending champion Canadian club at the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Patera, who signed his first NHL Contract with the Vegas Golden Knights this past fall before returning to his native Czech Republic, was outstanding during his final year in Brandon.

Besides capturing four of the club's season ending awards, including Most Valuable, Top Graduating and Fans Choice as the team's Most Popular Player, Patera was named the Eastern Conference's Goaltender of the Year after appearing in 41 games and compiling a 2.55 goals against average and a save percentage of .921.

While the "second wave" of COVID-19 has deprived many western Manitoba athletes with the opportunity to showcase their talents, this year's list of finalists certainly features some truly unique and impressive acommplishments.

Joining Patera and Schneider form the world of hockey is local product Tristen Robins of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades.

Robins, who is son of former Brandon goaltending great Trevor, scored 33 goals and 73 points last season and was chosen by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of October's NHL Draft.

Robins wasn't the only finalist with Wheat King roots however. Golfer Bobbi Uhl of Erickson is the granddaughter of former club owner Bob Cornell and is coming off an NCAA Division 1 season at Longwood University. A winner of the Hannah Diamond women's match play title at St. Charles Country Club last June, she was named Manitoba's female player of the year for 2020.

Rounding out the list of finalists for the prestigious annual award are Elliott Viles and Reece Dixon of the Brandon University men's volleyball Bobcats, golfers Austin Dobrescu and Dustin Dyck of Brandon, Neepawa track star Daxx Turner as well as two local curlers - Derek Samagalski and Brayden Payette.

Payette was a member of the World Junior Champion Jacques Gauthier foursome while Samagalski made it back to the Tim Hortons Brier in Kingston, playing second for Mike McEwen.

The winner will be announced in the Saturday, January 2nd edition of the Brandon Sun.

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