The biggest shoo-in for a W-H-L award has been confirmed as Regina forward Connor Bedard has been named winner of the Jim Piggott Memorial Award as Rookie-of-the-Year.
The 15-year-old Bedard set the Pats and the East Division Hub on its ear by notching 12 goals amongst 28 points in 15 games before leaving to join Canada at the World Under-18 Championship.
Meanwhile, for the second straight year, Dustin Wolf of Everett is the W-H-L’s Goaltender-of-the-Year for the 2021 development season. Saskatoon Blades’ netminder Nolan Maier was among the finalists as the East Division nominee. Prior to Wolf, Ian Scott of the Prince Albert Raiders won the top goaltender honour in 2019, with Everett’s Carter Hart claiming the award for three seasons before that. Following are the news releases from the W-H-L…..
PATS FORWARD BEDARD WINS JIM PIGGOTT MEMORIAL TROPHY AS 2020-21 WHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C.) has won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year presented by Wawanesa Insurance.
Bedard burst onto the scene after being selected first overall by the Pats in the 2020 WHL Draft, registering two goals in his WHL debut. In 15 games with Regina, the 15-year-old recorded 28 points (12G-16A) before joining Team Canada’s gold medal-winning entry at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Texas.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound forward led all WHL rookies in goals (12), points (28) and power-play assists (seven), finishing tied among first-year players in assists (16) and game-winning goals (two). Bedard also shared the Pats team lead in points.
Bedard amassed a total of 10 multi-point efforts in his 15 games played with Regina during the 2020-21 WHL season, including a pair of four-point games March 29 and April 6, 2021.
The product of North Vancouver, B.C. is the first WHL player to have been granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada and is eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft.
Bedard is the sixth member of the Regina Pats franchise to win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year and first since Jeff Friesen, who was awarded the trophy during the 1992-93 WHL season. He joins Friesen, Dale Derkatch (1981-82), Dave Michayluk (1980-81), Dennis Sobchuk (1971-72) and Ron Garwasiuk (1966-67) as Pats players to have been named WHL Rookie of the Year.
The Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the player whose performance in their first season is deemed to be the most outstanding among all rookies.
A former owner of the Saskatoon Blades, Jim Piggott played a direct role in the formation of the Western Canadian Hockey League, now known as the WHL. Along with Del Wilson, Piggott played a critical role in the unification of all three Major Junior leagues across Canada into what is now known as the Canadian Hockey League.
Winners of the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy / WHL Rookie of the Year (since 2001)
2020-21 Connor Bedard, Regina Pats
2019-20 Dylan Guenther, Edmonton Oil Kings
2018-19 Brayden Tracey, Moose Jaw Warriors
2017-18 Dylan Cozens, Lethbridge Hurricanes
2016-17 Aleksi Heponiemi, Swift Current Broncos
2015-16 Matthew Phillips, Victoria Royals
2014-15 Nolan Patrick, Brandon Wheat Kings
2013-14 Nick Merkley, Kelowna Rockets
2012-13 Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks
2011-12 Sam Reinhart, Kootenay ICE
2010-11 Mathew Dumba, Red Deer Rebels
2009-10 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels
2008-09 Brett Connolly, Prince George Cougars *
2007-08 Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings
2006-07 Kyle Beach, Everett Silvertips
2005-06 Peter Mueller, Everett Silvertips
2004-05 Tyler Plante, Brandon Wheat Kings
2003-04 Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants
2002-03 Matt Ellison, Red Deer Rebels *
2001-02 Braydon Coburn, Portland Winter Hawks
2000-01 Scottie Upshall, Kamloops Blazers *
* Denotes CHL Rookie of the Year
SILVERTIPS WOLF WINS SECOND DEL WILSON MEMORIAL TROPHY AS 2020-21 WHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Everett Silvertips goaltender Dustin Wolf (Gilroy, Calif.) has won his second Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year.
Wolf, a prospect of the Calgary Flames, helped the Silvertips claim the U.S. Division championship as he recorded a league-best 18 wins during the 2020-21 WHL season. The product of Gilroy, Calif. finished with a share of the WHL shutout lead with four while holding a 1.80 goals-against average and 0.940 save percentage, both of which were second among WHL netminders during the 2020-21 season.
The 6-foot-0, 168-pound puckstopper set a Silvertips franchise record shutout minutes streak, going 216 minutes and 27 seconds without surrendering a goal from March 20 to March 26, 2021. He also enjoyed four separate winning streaks of four games or longer, including a stretch of six straight appearances with a victory from April 16 to April 28, 2021.
The Californian netminder was originally selected by the Silvertips in the fifth round, 104th overall, in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. He holds a career record of 106-34-4-2, with a 1.84 GAA and 0.935 SV% in 149 career WHL regular season games. Only two goaltenders in WHL history have amassed more than the 24 regular season shutouts Wolf has totalled during his WHL career. Wolf was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round, 214th overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Wolf won the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy during the 2019-20 WHL season, posting a record of 34-10-2-0 with a 1.88 GAA, 0.935 SV% and nine shutouts. He was also named the 2019-10 CHL Goaltender of the Year.
The 20-year-old becomes the second Everett Silvertips goaltender to win the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, joining Carter Hart who was named WHL Goaltender of the Year on three consecutive occasions from the 2015-16 through 2017-18 WHL seasons. Overall, Everett goaltenders have had their names inscribed on the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy for five of the past six WHL campaigns.
The Del Wilson Memorial Trophy honours a WHL goaltender deemed to be the most outstanding during the WHL Regular Season.
A goaltender himself, Delbert “Del” Wilson played for the Regina Abbotts and Regina Pats in the 1940s. Following the conclusion of his playing career, Wilson found success in the coaching ranks, winning 35 provincial hockey championships in Saskatchewan.
A co-founder of the WHL and long-time General Manager of the Regina Pats, Wilson played a direct role in the League’s formation. Along with Jim Piggott, Wilson helped lead the unification of all three Major Junior leagues across Canada into what is now known as the Canadian Hockey League.
Leading a group of investors, Wilson brought the Pats back into the WHL for the 1970-71 WHL Regular Season and oversaw their WHL Championship and Memorial Cup victories in 1974 as President and General Manager. Wilson maintained ownership of the Pats until 1980.
Serving as a scout in Western Canada for the Montreal Canadiens until 1995, Wilson was presented with three Stanley Cup rings throughout his 47 years of service to the NHL club.
Among Wilson’s many contributions to the WHL, he served as referee-in-chief from 1978 to 1980. In 2005, Wilson was named as one of four inaugural recipients of the WHL Governors Award, presented to individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the WHL.
Winners of the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy / WHL Goaltender of the Year (since 2001)
2020-21 Dustin Wolf, Everett Silvertips
2019-20 Dustin Wolf, Everett Silvertips *
2018-19 Ian Scott, Prince Albert Raiders *
2017-18 Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips *
2016-17 Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips *
2015-16 Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips *
2014-15 Taran Kozun, Seattle Thunderbirds
2013-14 Jordan Cooke, Kelowna Rockets
2012-13 Patrik Bartosak, Red Deer Rebels *
2011-12 Tyler Bunz, Medicine Hat Tigers
2010-11 Darcy Kuemper, Red Deer Rebels *
2009-10 Martin Jones, Calgary Hitmen
2008-09 Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans
2007-08 Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans *
2006-07 Carey Price, Tri-City Americans *
2005-06 Justin Pogge, Calgary Hitmen *
2004-05 Jeff Glass, Kootenay ICE
2003-04 Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels *
2002-03 Josh Harding, Regina Pats
2001-02 Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels
2000-01 Dan Blackburn, Kootenay ICE
* Also selected as CHL Goaltender of the Year
