It’s not often a player who scores just 36 points is named the most valuable player of the Western Hockey League.
That speaks to just how good Karl Alzner was in his own end of the rink this season.
The Calgary Hitmen defenseman was the big winner at the WHL awards luncheon Wednesday, coming away with two trophies, including the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the league’s player of the year.
On the surface Alzner’s achievements seem modest: seven goals and 29 assists in 60 games. However, Alzner was unquestionably the WHL’s best shutdown defenseman this season. Perhaps the most remarkable statistic concerning Alzner is that as a defenseman he took just five minor penalties all season.
Alzner, the Eastern Conference nominee, beat out Tri-City left wing Colton Yellow Horn, the league’s leading goal scorer, for the award.
Alzner was also named the league’s defenseman of the year, repeating the double accomplished by Medicine Hat’s Kris Russell last year.
In other player awards, Tri-City’s Chet Pickard was named the goaltender of the year, Brandon’s Brayden Schenn was named the rookie of the year, Medicine Hat’s Tyler Ennis was named the sportsmanlike player of the year, Regina’s Jordan Eberle was named the scholastic player of the year, and Prince Albert’s Ashton Hewson was named the humanitarian of the year.
In non-player awards, Tri-City’s Don Nachbaur was named the coach of the year and Tri-City’s Bob Tory was named the executive of the year.
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