WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Unveil 2010 Awards

Published on March 14, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba - 20-year old local product Matt Calvert took home four trophies and shared another Saturday night as the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings brought the curtain down on their 2009-10 regular season with a 3-1 victory over the Regina Pats before over 6,000 fans at Westman Place.

In addition to being billed Fan Appreciation night, the Wheat Kings used this game to unveil their 2010 Award winners and Calvert, who turned down a professional contract with the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets last October in order to return to the Wheat Kings for his final year of major junior hockey, was the big winner.

In addition to being chosen by the fans as the Shoppers Drug Mart Player of the Year, the former AAA Midget Wheat King was named winner of the Tri Star Screenprinting Hardest Working Player Trophy, the Art Marshall Memorial Trophy that goes to the club's Top Graduating 20-year old as well as the prestigious Manitoba Hydro Turk Broda Award that goes to the Top Manitoba Born Player.

As well, he shared the Brandon Sun Scoring Title with 18-year old center Brayden Schenn. Calvert had an assist on Travis Hamonic's first period goal Saturday, giving him 99 points including 47 goals. Schenn meanwhile finished the year with 34 goals and 99 points.

In addition to sharing the Scoring Title, Schenn, who recently signed an Entry Level Contract with the Los Angeles Kings, was named winner of the Meighen Haddad & Co. Award that goes to the Wheat Kings' Most Valuable Player. He also captured the MTS Connect 3 Star Award for finishing the year with 60 points, edging out Calvert and Aaron Lewadniuk.

Schenn and Calvert were two of three Wheat Kings to win more than one award on Saturday night. Gilbert Plains product Colby Robak was chosen winner of the Wheat Kings' Executive Trophy as the club's Top Defenceman as well as the Maple Leaf John Scott Kent Memorial Award for being chosen Most Sportsmanlike Player. A second round draft choice of the NHL's Florida Panthers, Robak finished the year as the third highest scoring defencemen in the WHL as well as leading the league with an impressive +56 plus / minus ranking.

Other winners Saturday night included Mark Stone (Maggie Janz Scholastic Player of the Year), defenceman Mark Schneider (McDonalds Frank King Memorial Trophy), Brenden Walker (UCT Dennis Truscott Most Improved Player), Finnish right-winger Toni Rajala (Meyers Norris Penny Rookie of the Year), 20-year old veteran Jay Fehr (Precision Toyota Unsung Hero of the Year Award) and two of Brandon's hard hitting blueliners - Ryley Miller and Darren Bestland - shared the Rob Stouffer Coca Cola Most Inspirational Player Award.

Saturday night's crowd of 6,042 established a new franchise record for Single Game Attendance, breaking the old record that lasted three days. 6,022 turned out to watch Brandon beat the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday night.

The Wheat Kings, who captured the WHL's Eastern Division pennant for the first time in three years with an impressive 50-18-1-3 record, will now begin preparations on their best of seven opening round playoff series, scheduled to get underway Friday, March 19th at Westman Place.

Brandon will play the winner of Sunday night's regular season finale between the Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors. The loser will face off against the Calgary Hitmen in round one.

Tickets to Brandon's first two playoff home games are on sale now at the Keystone box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2010


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