The Canadian Hockey League was very well represented at the National Hockey League Awards held Thursday night in Las Vegas with several graduates claiming end of the year honours.
Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets is the most recent graduate of the league and took home the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. Mason backstopped the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers over three years (2005-08) and won an OHL Championship with the Rangers last season. The 21-year-old was also a candidate for the Vezina Trophy awarded to the league’s top goaltender after posting a 33-20-7 record with a 2.29 goals-against-average with a league-best 10 shutouts.
"You look around and see all the players and what they have accomplished, it's pretty amazing," Mason told NHL.com. "It's almost surreal."
Mason edged out fellow CHL grads Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks and Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks to win the award. Ryan played with the Owen Sound Attack from 2003-06 while Versteeg split time with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Kamloops Blazers, and Red Deer Rebels from 2002-06.
Other CHL Alumni NHL Award Recipients:
Claude Julien, Oshawa/Windsor (1977-81) and Hull (Head Coach in 1996-97) won the Jack Adams Trophy as Coach of the Year with the Boston Bruins. Todd McLellan, Saskatoon (1983-87) and Swift Current (Head Coach in 1994-00) was nominated from the San Jose Sharks.
Zdeno Chara, Prince George (1996-97) won the James Norris Trophy as Best Defenceman with the Boston Bruins. Mike Green, Saskatoon (2000-05) was nominated from the Washington Capitals.
Steve Sullivan, Sault Ste. Marie (1992-94) won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication with the Nashville Predators. Richard Zednik, Portland (1994-96) was nominated from the Florida Panthers.
Ethan Moreau, Niagara Falls/Sudbury (1991-95) won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership qualities on and off the ice as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.
Manny Fernandez, Laval (1991-94) shared the William Jennings Trophy with Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins for posting the fewest goals against in the league.
Rick Nash, London (2000-02) won the NHL Foundation Player of the Year with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dustin Brown, Guelph (2000-03) of the Los Angeles Kings was nominated.
Jarome Iginla, Kamloops (1993-96) won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award as a member of the Calgary Flames.
Roberto Luongo, Val d’Or/Acadie-Bathurst (1995-99) won the first ever Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Award as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
CHL Alumni NHL All-Stars:
First Team All-Stars:
Mike Green, Saskatoon (2000-05) Defenceman on the Washington Capitals
Zdeno Chara, Prince George (1996-97) Defenceman on the Boston Bruins
Jarome Iginla, Kamloops (1993-96) RW on the Calgary Flames
Second Team All-Stars:
Steve Mason, London/Kitchener (2005-08) Goaltender on the Columbus Blue Jackets
Marian Hossa, Portland (1997-98) RW on the Detroit Red Wings
All-Rookie Team:
Steve Mason, London/Kitchener (2005-08) Goaltender on the Columbus Blue Jackets
Drew Doughty, Guelph (2005-08) Defenceman on the Los Angeles Kings
Luke Schenn, Kelowna (2005-08) Defenceman on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Bobby Ryan, Owen Sound (2003-06) Forward on the Anaheim Ducks
Kris Versteeg, Lethbridge/Kamloops/Red Deer (2002-06) Forward with the Chicago Blackhawks
Mike Richards, Kitchener (2001-05) of the Philadelphia Flyers was nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward losing to Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.
The CHL wishes to congratulate all alumni on their achievements this season!
Photo and files courtesy of www.nhl.com
