The Tri-City Herald released the 22nd annual Best of the West poll over the weekend, with the Everett Silvertips’ Shane Harper receiving his share of recognition.

Harper, Everett’s leading scorer, was the winner in two of the 20 categories, which were voted on by the players, management and broadcasters of the 10 teams in the Western Conference. Harper, Everett’s leading scorer, was voted first in the Best Overage Player and Most Underrated Player categories.

Harper was also named among the top six in three other categories. He finished third in Most Accurate Shot, fifth in Most Valuable to Team, and sixth in Best Skater.

Everett’s other win was in the Best Fans category, which Everett has won five straight years.

Tips defenseman Radko Gudas and forward Zack Dailey were both mentioned in three categories. Gudas was voted third in both Best Stay-At-Home Defenseman and Hardest Shot, and sixth in Top Rookie. Dailey was second in Top Faceoff Man, fourth in Top Defensive Forward and fifth in Most Irritating Player.

Defenseman Ryan Murray was voted second for Best 16-Year-Old and fifth for Top Rookie. Goaltenders Kent Simpson and Thomas Heemskerk finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Best Goaltender category.

Craig Hartsburg finished fifth in the Top Coach category and Doug Soetaert finished fifth in the Top Executive category.

The other category winners were Portland’s Nino Niederreiter for Top Rookie and Best Pro Prospect; Seattle’s Calvin Pickard for Most Valuable to Team and Best Goaltender; Spokane’s Tyler Johnson for Top Faceoff Man and Top Defensive Forward; Vancouver’s Don Hay for Top Coach; Vancouver’s Scott Bonner for Top Executive; Spokane’s Jared Cowen for Best Stay-At-Home Defenseman; Vancouver’s Kevin Connauton for Hardest Shot; Chilliwack’s Ryan Howse for Most Accurate Shot; Portland’s Tayler Jordan for Toughest Player; Tri-City’s Brendan Shinnimin for Most Improved Player; Kelowna’s Shane McColgan for Best 16-Year-Old; Seattle’s Prab Rai for Best Skater; and Spokane’s Kyle Beach for Most Irritating Player.

Andy Thiessen was voted the Top Referee.

Around the WHL

The commissioners of the three major-junior hockey leagues met in Brandon last week to check on preparations for this year’s Memorial Cup, which is being hosted by the Wheat Kings. The WHL’s Ron Robison, the OHL’s David Branch and the QMJHL’s Gilles Courteau gave the thumbs-up to the progress. … Seattle announced it is hosting its annual Hockey Challenge on Feb. 27 at ShoWare Center in Kent. Proceeds from the event benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington and Alaska. … Edmonton defenseman Mark Pysyk is done for the season. Pysyk, expected to be a first-round pick in this year’s NHL draft, suffered a broken bone in his foot. … Calgary’s Brandon Kozun was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 19-year-old forward had six goals and two assists as Calgary went 4-0.

League leaders

(Through Sunday)

Points — Craig Cunningham (Vancouver), Brandon Kozun (Calgary) 83; goals — Cody Eakin (Swift Current) 41; assists — Kozun, Jordan Weal (Regina) 54; penalty minutes — Brad Ross (Portland) 166; wins — Drew Owsley (Tri-City) 32; goals against average — Thomas Heemskerk (Everett) 2.41; save percentage — Heemskerk .923.

Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog