NPHL announces 2018-19 award winners
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
2018-19 NPHL Major Award Winners
Most Valuable Player – Braden Gamble, Manning Comets
Rookie-of-the-Year – Taylor Paulovich, Manning Comets
Coach-of-the-Year – Chris Stevens, Dawson Creek Canucks
Most Gentlemanly Player – Ty Wiebe, Grimshaw Huskies
Best Goaltender – Braden Gamble, Manning Comets
Best Defenceman – Reid Campbell, Fort St. John Flyers
Best Centre – Dennis Rix, Grande Prairie Athletics
Best Right Wing – Brett Norman, Dawson Creek Canucks
Best Left Wing – Rick Cleaver, Fort St. John Flyers
East Division All-Stars
xGoaltender – Braden Gamble, Manning Comets
Defence – Michael Gillen, Manning Comets
Defence – Darren Brochu, Falher Pirates
Centre- Brendan Hawryluk, Grimshaw Huskies
Right Wing – Pat Rowan, Falher Pirates
Left Wing – Darren Kramer, Falher Pirates
Goaltender – Kiefer Smiley, Grande Prairie Athletics
Defence – Reid Campbell, Fort St. John Flyers
Defence – Kevin Swales, Dawson Creek Canucks
xCentre – Dennis Rix, Grande Prairie Athletics
*Right Wing – Lien Miller-Jeannotte, Fort St. John Flyers
*Right Wing – Brett Norman, Dawson Creek Canucks
xBest Left Wing – Rick Cleaver, Fort St. John Flyers
[*] Tie vote.
[x] unanimous choice.
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Gamble win back-to-back MVP honours
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Braden Gamble has won his second straight NPHL MVP honour and fourth overall.
The Manning goaltender posted the sixth best goals against average [5.62] in the league this year, and a 10-14 record in leading the Comets to third place in the East Division.
But the GAA and record does not tell the entire story, and voters took notice. The Comets gave up a staggering league-worst 45.44 shots per game, and were outshot by 342 shots this season, or an average of 14.25 shots per game. If not for Gamble, who knows how many games the Comets would have won.
Gamble’s recent honour ties him with Grimshaw Huskies’ great Terry Houlder for most MVP honours in NPHL history with four. Gamble also becomes the first player in NPHL history to win back-to-back MVP honours twice. Gamble shared the honour last year with Rick Cleaver of Fort St. John, and won also won consecutive MVP awards in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
Gamble easily outdistanced Grimshaw’s Ty Wiebe in voting, receiving 26 points to Wiebe’s 16. Matt Schmermund of Dawson Creek was third with 13 points, goaltender Kiefer Smiley of Grande Prairie fourth with 12 points.
The last Comet to win the MVP award other than Gamble was Doug Jaeger in 1990-91.
Another Comet goaltending great, Eric Henitiuk, won three MVP awards in his career.
Comets’ Paulovich wins Rookie-of-the-Year
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
It isn’t often a rookie leads his team in scoring in the NPHL.
Although Taylor Paulovich tied Josh Rutherford this season with 25 points to lead the Manning Comets, and lost only on the goals scored tiebreaker, Paulovich takes home Rookie-of-the-Year honours for his efforts.
Paulovich [11-14-15 points] was one of the few offensive weapons the Comets possessed on the league’s worst offensive club.
Paulovich was 18th in league scoring this season and was only one of two Comets to post 10+ goals.
Paulovich becomes only the second Comet in 17 years to win Rookie honours. Chad Bruun won the award in 2001-02, the year before in 2000-01 Brett Sharp won the award.
Overall, seven Comets have now won the Rookie award.
Paulovich narrowly defeated San Boseck of Grande Prairie for the award 26-20 points. Paulovich received four first place votes and Boseck five, but Paulovich was the only player named on every ballot.
Stevens rewarded for leading DC to best record
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
This vote was not close.
Chris Stevens, a former MVP in the NPHL, won Coach-of-the-Year honours after receiving six first place votes and winning the vote by over 20 points.
Stevens guided the Canucks to the league’s best record [16-4] this season and the Lawrence Cup title. It was only the third Lawrence Cup title for the Canucks in their history, having won in 1998-99 with a 28-4 record, and in 2001-02 with a 24-4 record. All three years the Canucks won the Lawrence Cup they lost only four games.
Stevens was the only coach named on every ballot. He received six first place votes and 34 points.
Stevens is only the second Canuck to win the award. Clint Switzer won the award in 2001-02, the year the Canucks won their second Lawrence Cup title.
Second through fourth was a very tight race. Wayne Labrie of Grande Prairie placed second with 13 points, Shawn Gervais of Falher was third with 12 points, and Terry Whillans of Manning was fourth with 11 points.
Wiebe-threepeats as Most Gentleman Player
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Grimshaw’s Ty Wiebe is making the NPHL Most Gentlemanly Player Award his personal property.
And why not? Wiebe combines a very high level of skill with hardly ever a visit to the sin bin.
This year, Wiebe won the NPHL scoring title with 25-31-56 points and spent only six minutes in the penalty box.
However, what is more remarkable is Wiebe’s career totals: 90 games played and only 22 minutes in penalties. His career totals now stand at 94-108-202 points.
In winning the award this year, Wiebe becomes the first player in NPHL history to win three straight Most Gentlemanly Player awards. The following eight players won the award two straight years but not a third:
– Jim McLean of High Prairie in 1968-69 and 1969-70;
– Pat Brennan of Manning in 1981-82 and 1982-83;
– Dennis Honing of Fairview in 1983-84 and 1984-85;
– Harold Bellerose of High Prairie in 1987-88 and 1988-89;
– Terry Houlder of Grimshaw in 1998-99 and 1999-2000;
– Craig Young of Dawson Creek in 2000-01 and 2001-02;
– Donny Lloyd of Spirit River in 2007-08 and 2008-09;
– Jordan Bombier of Grande Prarie in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Wiebe is the first Huskie to win the award since Terry Houlder in 2005-06.
Wiebe dominated voting with 29 points. Pat Rowan of Falher placed second with 15 points, Sam Brennan of Fort St. John was third with 11 points, and Hector Lamouche of High Prairie fourth with 10 points.
Gamble wins seventh straight Best Goaltender Award
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Manning’s Braden Gamble has won his seventh straight Best Goaltender Award, to go along with his MVP award.
And considering Gamble has played in the NPHL seven years, it more than speaks for itself.
Gamble posted the sixth best goals against average [5.62] in the league this year, and a 10-14 record in leading the Comets to third place in the East Division.
But the GAA and record does not tell the entire story, and voters took notice. The Comets gave up a staggering league-worst 45.44 shots per game, and were outshot by 342 shots this season, or an average of 14.25 shots per game. If not for Gamble, who knows how many games the Comets would have won.
Gamble, who has won six Best Goaltender awards with Manning and one with Grimshaw in 2016-17, trails only another Comet goaltending great, Eric Henitiuk, who won 10 Best Goaltender awards from from 1982-83 to 1996-97. [NOTE: No winner recorded in 1981-82]. Henitiuk won seven straight awards from 1982-83 to 1988-88 so Gamble can break Henitiuk’s record next season if he wins his eighth.
Gamble did not run away with the award this season He received 29 points and five of eight first place votes. Keifer Smiley of Grande Prairie was second with 21 points, and Kenton White of Dawson Creek third with 12 points, despite posting the best goals against average in the NPHL this season at 2.98.
Campbell wins Best Defenceman honours
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Fort St. John’s Reid Campbell has won his first NPHL Best Defenceman award, and becomes the third Flyer overall to win the award.
Campbell posted 10-22-32 points this season to place him second on the Flyers and 10th overall in the NPHL. But points were not his only forte, he combined strong defensive play in helping the Flyers to the third best defensive record in the NPHL.
Campbell received four first place votes and compiled 29 points. Dawson Creek’s Kevin Swales placed second in voting and received 21 points. Swales was named second best defenceman on five ballots but first on only one.
The Flyers have had two other players named Best Defenceman. Bryan Lewis was the first in 2005-06 before Kip Noble won back-to-back awards win 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Rix a near unanimous choice at centre
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Dennis Rix of Grande Prairie received seven of eight first place votes in running away with Best Centre honours in the NPHL this season.
Rix, who is playing in his fourth season with Grande Prairie, was eighth in NPHL scoring this season with 17-19-36 points. His career totals now stand at 37-40-77 points in only 31 games, more than two points per game.
The only other players to receive first place votes were Joey Massingham of Fort St. John [11th in NPHL scoring with 14-17-31 points], who placed second in voting with 14 points, and Brendan Hawryluk of Grimshaw [their leading scorer with 22-19-41 points], who placed fifth in voting with eight points. Dawson Creek’s second leading scorer, Matt Schmermund [14-15-29 points], placed third in voting with 11 points while Falher’s leading scorer, Dallas Brochu, [24-27-51 points to place second overall in league scoring] placed fourth with nine points.
Rix is the third Grande Prairie player to win the award. Both previous winners won it twice: Rob Bowers won the award in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and Kelly McLeod in 2008-09 and 2012-13.
Norman wins narrow vote at RW over Rowan
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
In one of the closest votes, Brett Norman of Dawson Creek is the Best Ring winger, narrowly defeating four-time winner Pat Rowan of the Falher Pirates.
Both players were named on seven of eight ballots, but Norman garnered five first place votes to Rowan’s three, while Rowan had three second place votes to Norman’s one.
Norman led the Canucks in scoring this season with 14-24-38 points which also placed him sixth overall in NPHL scoring. He was an integral part in the Canucks placing first overall in the standings with a 16-4 record.
Norman received 29 points in voting to Rowan’s 25. Bond Hawryluk of Grimshaw was a distant third with 11 points.
Norman becomes the third Canuck to win the award. Ken Casault was the first to win it in 1998-99 while Norman’s coach, Chris Stevens, won the award in 2015-16.
Cleaver wins 3rd Best Left Winger Award
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
For the third time in four seasons, Fort St. John’s Rick Cleaver is the NPHL’s Best Left Winger.
Cleaver received six of eight first place votes in addition to one second and one third for 34 points. Daren Kramer of Falher received 23 points while Ty Wiebe of Grimshaw was a distant third with 11 points.
Cleaver’s 17-20-37 points were seventh best in the NPHL this season, and led the Flyers.
In winning the award, Cleaver becomes only the fifth player in NPHL history to be named Best Left Winger at least three times. Mike Lefley of Spirit River leads with four, while Aaron Parenteau of Grimshaw and Peace River, Ralph Paul of Peace River, and Chris Stevens of Dawson Creek all won three times.
Cleaver is only the second Flayer to win the award. The first was Ian Munro in 2005-06.
Gamble named to 7th NPHL East All-Star Team
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Three Falher Pirates lead a list of players named to the NPHL’s East Division All-Star Team.
Right Wingers Pat Rowan and left winger Darren Kramer, along with defenceman Darren Brochu, were chosen.
Between Kramer and Roman at centre is Grimshaw’s Brendan Hawryluk, while Manning’s Michael Gillen joins Brochu on defence.
Manning goaltender Braden Gamble is the goaltender. It is the seventh straight year he has been selected to the team; Gamble has played in the league seven years – six with Manning and one with Grimshaw. Gamble easily defeated Dyson Loewen of Falher 25-13 points in voting and was a unanimous choice.
Defence certainly has a new look this season. Brochu and Gillen are each making their first all-star team appearance.
Gillen led voting with 19 points while Brochu had 16 points. Brochu’s teammate, Kevin Monfette, palced third with 12 points.
Rowan was selected to his fourth all-star team. He was first selected in 2013-14, then 2015-16 and 2017-18. It’s the first time Rowan has been named to consecutive teams. Rowan won the vote with 21 points compared to Bond Hawryluk of Grimshaw, who received 15 points.
For Hawryluk, it is his second selection. He was first named to the team in 2016-17. In a very close vote, he received 21 points compared to Dallas Brochu of Falher’s 19 points.
Kramer makes his first appearance, being in the NPHL only one season. Similar to the centre vote, it was very close. Kramer received 23 points while Ty Wiebe of Grimshaw was second with 19 points.
3 Flyers names to West Division All-Star Team
Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Three Fort St. John Flyers lead a list of players named to the NPHL’s East Division All-Star Team.
Defenceman Reid Campbell, along with Rick Cleaver on left wing, and Lien Miller-Jeannotte on right wing, were selected.
Two Grande Prairie Athletics and two Dawson Creek Canucks also join the team. Athletics’ goaltender Kiefer Smiley and centre Dennis Rix were chosen, as was Canucks’ defenceman Kevin Swales and right winger Brett Norman, who tied with Miller-Jeannotte in voting.
Cleaver makes his fourth straight all-star team, the longest such steak in the NPHL except for Manning’s Braden Gamble. Cleaver received 20 points – a unanimous choice – while Dawson Creek’s Dolan Bjornson was second with 14 points.
Joining Cleaver on the forward line are Rix and Norman, who both make their first all—star team. Like Cleaver, Rix was a unanimous choice receiving 20 points. Fort St. John’s Joey Massingham was second with 11 points.
Miller-Jeannotte and Norman each received two first place votes and two second place votes in the only tie in awards voting.
Smiley also makes his first all-star team; he made his debut in the NPHL this season. He easily won the vote by receiving 18 points to the eight points received by both Travis McLean of Fort St. John and Josh Round of Dawson Creek.
For Campbell and Swales on defence, it marks the second straight year both have been selected. It’s also the second selection overall for both players. Campbell received 16 points, Swales 14 points and Tyrell Mason of Grande Prairie nine points to place third.
How the vote occurred
Each team was allowed one ballot, but could not vote for a player and/or coach on their team. NPHL president Jack McAvoy and NPHL statistician Chris Clegg were also allotted a ballot, making in total nine ballots.
Teams voted for all major awards; teams however, only voted for all-star teams inside their division. McAvoy and Clegg voted for all awards and all-star teams.
Votes were tallied as follows: five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.
Questions:
Jack McAvoy – [780] 836-3628 [home] or [780] 836-3624 [work].
Chris Clegg – [780] 523-4494 [work].