The stream of W-H-L award winner announcements continued Tuesday.
Prince Albert product Braden Schneider is the loop’s winner of the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as Defenceman-of-the-Year. Between being a first round pick of the Rangers in the 2020 N-H-L Draft and winning a gold medal with Canada at the just-completed Double-I-H-F World Championship in Latvia, the 19-year-old Brandon captain posted five goals amongst 27 points in 23 games during the Regina “Dubble.”
Meanwhile, Edmonton rookie defenceman Ethan Peters is the W-H-L’s Scholastic Player-of-the-Year. The 18-year-old Moose Jaw product achieved a 94.67 per cent average is his completed Grade 12 courses while being enrolled at Vanier Collegiate in Moose Jaw and the Regina Catholic Learning Online Program. On the ice, Peters posted a goal, among five points, in 23 games for Edmonton. Following are the news releases from the W-H-L…..
WHEAT KINGS CAPTAIN SCHNEIDER WINS BILL HUNTER MEMORIAL TROPHY AS WHL DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Brandon Wheat Kings captain Braden Schneider (Prince Albert, Sask.) has won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenceman of the Year presented by RE/MAX of Western Canada.
Schneider, a first-round selection of the New York Rangers in the 2020 NHL Draft, led the Wheat Kings to the East Division championship, posting 27 points (5G-22A) during the 2020-21 WHL season. His point total was third-best among WHL blueliners, and the product of Prince Albert, Sask. finished second among WHL defencemen in assists and game-winning goals (two). Schneider’s 15 power-play helpers were second-most among all WHL skaters.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound rearguard enjoyed a pair of four-game point streaks from March 12 to March 18, and April 13 to April 18, 2021. He also recorded a four-point game (0G-4A) in Brandon’s penultimate outing of the 2020-21 season on March 25, 2021.
Schneider was also part of the Team Canada squad that captured the gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia. He recorded one assist in nine appearances at the event.
“On behalf of all the REALTORS of RE/MAX of Western Canada, we congratulate Braden Schneider of the Brandon Wheat Kings on this tremendous achievement,” said Elaine Langhout, Director of Regional Advertising for RE/MAX of Western Canada. “We know that your hometown of Prince Albert must be super proud as well and we wish you well on your future hockey journey and wherever life takes you. Our sincere congrats Braden!”
Schneider was originally selected by the Wheat Kings in the first round, 12th overall, in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. He has amassed 115 points (21G-94A) in 207 career WHL regular season games, adding seven more assists in 14 career WHL playoff games. The New York Rangers took the Brandon defenceman with the 19th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft.
The 19-year-old becomes the third member of the Brandon Wheat Kings franchise to win the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, and first since Ivan Provorov during the 2015-16 WHL season. Brad McCrimmon was also named WHL Defenceman of the Year during the 1977-78 WHL campaign. Schneider becomes the fifth first-round NHL Draft selection in the past eight WHL seasons to win the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy.
The Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy recognizes a WHL defenceman who has demonstrated the best all-around ability at his position during the WHL Regular Season.
Born in Saskatoon, Sask., Hunter is honoured for his role in the establishment and sustained success of the WHL. Dedicated and enthusiastic to growing Major Junior hockey, Hunter served as the Owner, General Manager, and Coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings in addition to being a co-founder of the league.
Along with long-time friend, the late Scotty Munro, the pair helped to lead the league’s growth through its formative years.
Winners of the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy / WHL Defenceman of the Year (since 2001)
2020-21 Braden Schneider, Brandon Wheat Kings
2019-20 Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs
2018-19 Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs *
2017-18 Kale Clague, Moose Jaw Warriors
2016-17 Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds
2015-16 Ivan Provorov, Brandon Wheat Kings *
2014-15 Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds
2013-14 Derrick Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks
2012-13 Brenden Kichton, Spokane Chiefs
2011-12 Alex Petrovic, Red Deer Rebels
2010-11 Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon Blades
2009-10 Tyson Barrie, Kelowna Rockets
2008-09 Jonathon Blum, Vancouver Giants *
2007-08 Karl Alzner, Calgary Hitmen *
2006-07 Kris Russell, Medicine Hat Tigers *
2005-06 Kris Russell, Medicine Hat Tigers
2004-05 Dion Phaneuf, Red Deer Rebels
2003-04 Dion Phaneuf, Red Deer Rebels
2002-03 Jeff Woywitka, Red Deer Rebels
2001-02 Dan Hamhuis, Prince George Cougars *
2000-01 Christian Chartier, Prince George Cougars
* Denotes CHL Defenceman of the Year
OIL KINGS DEFENCEMAN PETERS AWARDED DARYL K. (DOC) SEAMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY AS 2020-21 WHL SCHOLASTIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Ethan Peters (Moose Jaw, Sask.) has won the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy as WHL Scholastic Player of the Year presented by CIBC.
The 2021 NHL Draft prospect totalled five points (1G-4A) in 23 games played during the 2020-21 WHL season. The 18-year-old made his WHL debut February 26, 2021 and registered his first WHL point in his second career game one day later. Peters scored his first career WHL goal April 2, 2021. He was signed to a WHL standard player agreement by Edmonton January 4, 2021 after being added to the Oil Kings protected list in September of 2018.
Peters has been enrolled both at Moose Jaw’s Vanier Collegiate and the Regina Catholic Learning Online Program through a partnership between the two school divisions. He achieved a core average of 94.67% in his completed Grade 12 courses, including a 98% grade in Math 30 Pre Calculus and 97% in English 30 B.
“It is truly remarkable for a student to achieve such high grades this year with no in-class instruction,” said Sharon Sereda, Education Advisor for the Oil Kings. “The discipline and motivation he has exhibited is outstanding.”
“Ethan’s tremendous academic habits have proven to translate directly to his on-ice performance, as we as a staff see tremendous potential for Ethan moving forward,” added Oil Kings assistant coach Luke Pierce. “Ethan led all first-year players in time on ice. His immediate impact in such a competitive environment can be strongly attributed to his capacity for learning and his desire to grow as a player and person.”
The 6-foot-2, 165-pound blueliner is the first member of the Oil Kings franchise to win the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy, and the first defenceman to be named WHL Scholastic Player of the Year since Spokane Chiefs blueliner Ty Smith won the award during the 2017-18 WHL season. Peters is also the first Central Division player to earn WHL Scholastic Player of the Year honours since Chris Nielsen of the Calgary Hitmen won the award for the second consecutive year during the 1999-2000 WHL season.
Committed to recognizing academic excellence, the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy for WHL Scholastic Player of the Year is presented annually to the WHL player who has excelled both in the classroom and on the ice during the WHL Regular Season.
One of Canada’s leading hockey philanthropists, the trophy is named in memory of Mr. Doc Seaman, who played a vital role in establishing the WHL’s Education Program. The program ensures players in the WHL can develop their skills on the ice at the highest level without compromising their academic goals. Since 1993, the WHL Scholarship program has awarded over 6,700 scholarships to graduate players, representing an investment in excess of $31 million by WHL Club Ownership. This season, WHL Clubs will contribute in excess of $2.6 million to 373 WHL graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship.
First awarded for the 1983-84 WHL season, the Scholastic Player of the Year Trophy was named in honour of Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman in 1996.
The WHL remains committed to recognizing academic excellence. All WHL players are encouraged to enroll in post-secondary courses, with these courses fully-funded by WHL Clubs.
Upon graduating from the WHL, every player who plays in the WHL is eligible to receive the WHL Scholarship. Every player who plays in the WHL is eligible to receive the WHL Scholarship. For every season a player plays in the WHL, they receive a guaranteed, full-year WHL Scholarship including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees to a post-secondary institution of their choice. The WHL Scholarship is a fully-guaranteed academic scholarship with no requirement to play university hockey to qualify. The WHL graduate can apply the funding to any post-secondary or career-enhancing program of his choice, including trades schools or professional career training programs.
Winners of the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy / WHL Scholastic Player of the Year (since 2001)
2020-21 Ethan Peters, Edmonton Oil Kings
2019-20 Dylan Garand, Kamloops Blazers
2018-19 Dustin Wolf, Everett Silvertips *
2017-18 Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs
2016-17 Brian King, Everett Silvertips
2015-16 Tanner Kaspick, Brandon Wheat Kings
2014-15 Nick McBride, Prince Albert Raiders
2013-14 Nelson Nogier, Saskatoon Blades
2012-13 Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders *
2011-12 Reid Gow, Spokane Chiefs
2010-11 Colin Smith, Kamloops Blazers
2009-10 Adam Lowry, Swift Current Broncos
2008-09 Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon Blades
2007-08 Jordan Eberle, Regina Pats
2006-07 Keith Aulie, Brandon Wheat Kings
2005-06 Brennan Wray, Moose Jaw Warriors
2004-05 Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants *
2003-04 Devan Dubnyk, Kamloops Blazers *
2002-03 Brett Dickie, Brandon Wheat Kings
2001-02 Tyler Metcalfe, Seattle Thunderbirds
2000-01 Dan Hulak, Portland Winter Hawks *
* Denotes CHL Scholastic Player of the Year recipient
