EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips’ season ended nearly a month ago, but the accolades continue to pour in for goaltender Carter Hart.
The Sherwood Park, Alberta, native became the first Everett Silvertip goalie to win the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as the Western Hockey League’s top goaltender at the annual WHL awards luncheon in Calgary, Alberta.
“I’m blessed to be around a great coaching staff and great teammates, and without them I wouldn’t be here today,” Hart said on stage after accepting the award on a live stream from the WHL website. “I just want to thank my parents and my family. Playing away from home is hard and being able to talk to them every day makes it a lot easier, so I’m grateful for them.”
Hart finished the year with a league-best 35 wins, was second in goals-against average (2.14), games played (63) and minutes played (3,693), tied for second in shutouts (six) and fifth in save percentage (.918). He is ranked second among North American goaltenders eligible for this year’s NHL draft according to NHL Central Scouting.
“I just came into the season, to be honest, with no expectations,” Hart said. “I just worked on the mental side, the physical side and the technical side. I made sure that (I) worked to get better every day and if you approach it with that mindset then the goals that you have for yourself will take care of themselves.”
Hart was named the WHL Goaltender of the Week four times, the WHL Goaltender of the Month in November and the CHL Goaltender of the Week in December. Hart also participated at January’s CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, B.C. He was also named the Silvertips’ team MVP as Everett allowed the second-fewest goals in the league.
Hart became the first Silvertip to win a WHL award since Kyle Beach won the Jim Piggott Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2007. Kevin Constantine won the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year in 2004.
Silvertips defenseman Tristen Pfeifer was the Western Conference nominee for the Doc Seaman Trophy that is awarded to the Scholastic Player of the Year. Tanner Kaspick of the Brandon Wheat Kings topped Pfeifer for the award.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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