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WHL Announces Division Nominees for Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy

April 3, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League has announced the 2023-24 Division nominees for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy.

The trophy is awarded annually to the WHL Coach of the Year.

All WHL Division Award winners are eligible for the overall WHL Awards, which will be announced from Wednesday, May 1 through Thursday, May 9.

The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy winner will be revealed on Wednesday, May 1.

WHL Coach of the Year Nominees

B.C. Division - Mark Lamb - Prince George Cougars

Central Division - Willie Desjardins - Medicine Hat Tigers

East Division - Brennan Sonne - Saskatoon Blades

U.S. Division - Mike Johnston - Portland Winterhawks

WHL Coach of the Year Biographies

Mark Lamb (Prince George Cougars)

Mark Lamb is the WHL B.C. Division Coach of the Year for a second-straight season.

The Prince George Cougars General Manager and Head Coach steered the Cougars to the team's best regular season since moving to the Northern Capital for the 1994-95 season.

The Cougars put up a 49-15-1-3 record to clinch the team's second-ever B.C. Division title and first top placement in the Western Conference.

Under Lamb, Prince George was the second-highest scoring team in the league (316) while allowing the second-fewest goals against (187). The team's powerplay (30.1 percent) and penalty kill (84.3 percent) both ranked second in the WHL.

Three Cougars players, Zac Funk (Washington Capitals), Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild) and rookie Terik Parascak (2024 NHL Draft-eligible) surpassed the 100-point mark, with Funk leading all WHL skaters with 67 goals and a +56 rating.

Prince George was also the league's strongest road team, amassing a 24-8-0-2 record in enemy territory.

In five seasons as the Cougars' Head Coach, Lamb holds a regular season record of 139-122-17-10.

Lamb is also the WHL B.C. Division Executive of the Year.

Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat Tigers)

2006 Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy winner Willie Desjardins is the WHL Central Division Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season.

The Medicine Hat Tigers General Manager and Head Coach led the Tigers to a second-straight 30-plus win season with a 37-23-6-2 record and second-place finish in the Central Division.

Medicine Hat saw tremendous scoring success with the emergence of young stars like rookie Gavin McKenna, who led the team with 34 goals and 63 assists for 97 points.

Desjardins also guided 2024 NHL draft-eligible threats Cayden Lindstrom (ranked third among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting), Andrew Basha (18th among North American skaters) and Tomas Mrsic (90th among North American skaters) to career-best seasons.

The Tigers ranked sixth in the WHL in goals for (280) and ninth in goals against (231), with seven players surpassing the 20-goal plateau. The team's powerplay (28.7 percent) and penalty kill (80.7 percent) also ranked in the top five in the WHL.

Medicine Hat led the Central Division for much of the season despite numerous injuries to standout players like Lindstrom.

In 13 seasons behind the Tigers bench, Desjardins sports a 466-314-50-36 regular season record.

Brennan Sonne (Saskatoon Blades)

Reigning Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy Winner Brennan Sonne is the WHL East Division Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.

Sonne's Blades put together a tremendous season, going 50-13-2-3 in the regular season to capture the franchise's fifth Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular season champions.

It also marks the third time in team history and the first time since 2011 that the Blades earned 50 wins, achieving the milestone in four fewer games.

The Blades allowed the fewest goals in the WHL (163) and boasted the league's best penalty kill (86.1 percent).

Saskatoon was at its best on home ice, where they put up a formidable, league-best 29-4-1-0 record.

Captain Trevor Wong led the team with a career-high 101 points, while Anaheim Ducks prospect Egor Sidorov sniped 50 goals. Toronto Maple Leafs prospects Fraser Minten and Brandon Lisowsky and veteran Easton Armstrong also surpassed 20 goals in the campaign.

The team also tied a franchise record with a 14-0-2-2 points streak that stretched from November 24, 2023, to January 17, 2024.

Sonne owns a 136-54-9-5 regular season record behind the Saskatoon bench.

Mike Johnston (Portland Winterhawks)

Mike Johnston has been named the WHL U.S. Division Coach of the Year.

The longtime Winterhawks bench boss was also named the 2017 WHL Western Conference Coach of the Year.

Johnston's Winterhawks flew to a third-straight 40-plus win season, clinching the franchise's 15th division title with a 48-15-4-1 record.

Portland has made the playoffs every year since 2009-10 under Johnston's guidance.

The Winterhawks dominated in nearly every statistical category in 2023-24, claiming the second-best home and road records (27-6-1-0, 21-9-3-1) while scoring the most goals (330) and allowing the third-fewest goals against (204).

On special teams, Portland's powerplay ranked fourth (26.9 percent) and penalty kill ranked sixth (78.7 percent).

Captain Gabe Klassen and Edmonton Oilers prospect James Stefan eclipsed 100 points on the season, while the duo were also among the eight Winterhawks players to pass 20 goals. Stefan led the team with a career-best 50 lamp-lighters.

With a 4-1 win over Everett on October 6, 2023, Johnston became the 11th coach in WHL history to earn 500 wins.

He now holds a 545-249-33-31 record with Portland.

Johnston is also the WHL U.S. Division Executive of the Year.

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