WCHL Announces All-WCHL Team

April 1, 2003 - West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) News Release

2002-03 WCHL All-WCHL Team

Goaltender Kevin St. Pierre Bakersfield Condors 36-11-7, 2.10gaa, .930spct
Defenseman Scott Swanson Idaho Steelheads 66gp, 9g, 60a, 69pts, +20
Defenseman Cory Murphy Fresno Falcons 68gp, 15g, 36a, 51pts, +5
Forward Mark Pederson San Diego Gulls 60gp, 39g, 33a, 72pts, +20
Forward Jason Weaver Fresno Falcons 53gp, 22g, 43a, 65pts, +29
Forward Paul Willett Bakersfield Condors 66gp, 23g, 56a, 79pts, +11

Kevin St. Pierre, Goaltender (Bakersfield Condors): Playing his first season in the WCHL, Kevin St. Pierre has been a dominating force in net. The 27-year-old leads the league in save percentage (.930), wins (36), goals against average (2.10), minutes (3,256) and saves (1,518) while ranking second in shutouts with four. On the season the 6-3 and 220-pound St. Pierre is currently 36-11-7 and has earned WCHL Goaltender of the Week honors seven times. He has broken single season team records for wins and minutes, and will also establish new marks for games played, GAA and save percentage when the season concludes. The Sherbrooke, Quebec native was named the Western Professional Hockey League's Outstanding Goaltender in 1997-98, while winning a WPHL Championship the following year.

Scott Swanson, Defenseman (Idaho Steelheads): Ranked number one in the WCHL in assists with 60, Scott Swanson is only four shy of tying the WCHL record for single-season assists by a defenseman. Swanson's 69 points are best among all defensemen, second-best on the Idaho roster, and rank seventh in the league standings. The 28-year-old from Cottage Grove, MN has potted six power play goals and amassed a +20 plus/minus rating in 66 games played. Selected by the Washington Capitals in the ninth round (225th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Swanson chose instead to play four years at Colorado College before turning pro in 1999-2000 with the Houston Aeros of the International Hockey League.

Cory Murphy, Defenseman (Fresno Falcons): The top goal-scorer among defensemen, Cory Murphy has lit the lamp 15 times this season and assisted on 36 others. Murphy, 26, ranks second among WCHL defensemen with 51 points and has fired more shots, 207, than any other defensive player. Murphy, 6-3 and 209 pounds, was named to the All-WCHL 2nd Team in 2001-02. Hailing from Perth, Ontario, Murphy was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (160th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Mark Pederson, Forward (San Diego Gulls): In his first season with the San Diego, Mark Pederson has tallied 72 points, best on the team and fifth-best in the WCHL. He also ranks second in the league with 39 goals and 16 power play goals. A native of Prelate, Saskatchewan, the 6-2 and 196-pound forward leads the WCHL in hat tricks (4), game-winning goals (8) and is tied for the best shooting percentage with 22.7%. He was twice named WCHL Player of the Week. Pederson played four seasons in the NHL after being signed by the Montreal Canadiens as the 15th pick in the first round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to joining the San Diego Gulls, the 35-year-old played seven seasons in Europe.

Jason Weaver, Forward (Fresno Falcons): Twice named the WCHL Player of the Week, Jason Weaver has the third-best plus/minus rating in the WCHL with +29. The 30-year-old has picked up 65 points (22g, 43a) in 53 games played and leads the Fresno Falcons in assists and power play goals (11). The 6-2 and 220-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario spent three seasons in the British Superleague before joining the Falcons in 2001-02. Weaver a member of the Canadian National Team in 1997.

Paul Willett, Forward (Bakersfield Condors): A leading offensive producer, Paul Willett ranks third in the WCHL in points with 79 and is tied for second-most assists with 56. The New Richmond, Quebec native has played has fired 213 shots and potted eight power play goals and three game-winning goals in 66 games played. In his fourth season with Bakersfield, the 33-year-old has been named to an All-WCHL team three times, and also garnered the WCHL's Most Valuable Player Award in 1999-2000. Willett scored his 1,000th professional point on March 4th and was named the WCHL Player of the Week on November 11, 2002.

The WCHL will announce the 2002-03 WCHL Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, April 2, 2003.

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