EVERETT – At the beginning of the season, Torrie Wheat was unexpectedly thrust into one of the most prominent roles on the team.
But Wheat accepted the challenge and delivered more than anyone could have imagined, and for his efforts he was voted the Everett Silvertips’ Most Valuable Player for the 2004-05 season.
The Silvertips announced their end-of-season award winners following Friday night’s game, with Wheat earning the top honor, which was voted on by the players.
Wheat moved from a checking right-wing role into the No. 1 center position after Riley Armstrong signed a professional contract in the preseason, and the 19-year-old responded by leading the team in scoring (56 points going into Friday night’s game) and goals (25). Wheat is also one of Everett’s most valuable penalty-killing forwards.
In other player-voted awards, Zach Hamill was named the Rookie of the Year and Karel Hromas was named the Unsung Hero. The 16-year-old Hamill leads the Western Hockey League in scoring among 16-year-olds with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists). The 18-year-old Hromas, a rookie from the Czech Republic, is second on the team in goals with 18.
Coaches and management determined three awards. Sixteen-year-old defenseman Taylor Ellington, who has gone from being a regular healthy scratch to skating a regular shift, was named the Most Improved Player; 19-year-old defenseman Ivan Baranka was given the Coaches Award; and 17-year-old forward Jeremy Creurer was named the Scholastic Player of the Year.
Four players received the Iron Man Award – 19-year-old defenseman Shaun Heshka and 19-year-old defenseman/center Ryan Blatchford have played in all 70 games so far this season, 16-year-old right wing Brady Calla has played is all 66 he was available for (he missed four playing at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge), and 19-year-old left wing Kyle Annesley has played in all 50 since arriving via trade in November.
Twenty-year-old defenseman Mitch Love and 19-year-old center Mark Kress were given the Community/Public Relations Award for their work off the ice.
Heshka received the Everett Silvertips Booster Club F.I.E.R.C.E. Predator Award.
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