Eastern Conference MVP: Trey Fix-Wolansky (Edmonton Oil Kings)
-Fix-Wolansky may not have led the Eastern Conference in scoring but his 102 points were 40 more than anyone else on his team had. It’s hard to find someone out there on a division-leader to lead their team by quite so much. In fact the scoring gaps from the team-leader to the next highest scorer for the other four division winners were one, seven and eight points respectively. The Columbus Blue Jackets signed winger came flying out of the gate with three, three point games among his first four played. He then paced the Oil Kings, who had the worst record in the WHL last season, to an incredible run to the Central Division title. Nobody gave them a chance to contend with the likes of the Lethbridge Hurricanes to start the season on paper, but there they were securing the top seed in the division. It’s hard to imagine where they would be without the small but spirited forward.
Others receiving consideration: Tristin Langan (Moose Jaw Warriors), Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders).
Western Conference MVP: Joachim Blichfeld (Portland Winterhawks)
-Out west the MVP vote was not a close one. Most voters went with the WHL leader in points and a guy who led his conference by an incredible 33 points. He also had 11 more goals then the next guy in his conference. In a season where Cody Glass missed so much time due to an injury and the World Juniors, Blichfeld carried the offensive load for the Winterhawks. He had 45 more points than anyone else wearing the red, black and white.
Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year: Brayden Tracey (Moose Jaw Warriors)
-The Warriors decided to have their first round pick in the 2016 Bantam Draft not play his 16-year-old season last year in the WHL and instead played another season in Midget. It certainly seems like that was the right decision as he put up 36 goals and 45 assists for 81 points in his 17-year-old season. His 12 power-play goals were a key reason the Warriors had the third-best power play in the league. He had 19 more points than any other rookie in the WHL and almost double that of any in the Eastern Conference. Safe to say, Tracey had this locked up at about the trade deadline.
Others receiving consideration: none.
Western Conference Rookie of the Year: Adam Beckman (Spokane Chiefs)
-While this was also not close, it was not unanimous like the vote for Tracey was. Beckman himself was a fifth round Bantam Draft pick in 2016 and so his playing his 16-year-old season in the WHL was not as expected. He came out flying in the preseason though, putting up seven points in six games and looked dangerous on every shift. He made the Chiefs quite easily and never looked back. His 62 points led all Western Conference rookies and he provided Spokane with some solid secondary scoring when the likes of Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Ty Smith missed games. He overcame an incredible 16-year-old season by Vancouver’s Justin Sourdif to take home this award.
Others receiving consideration: Justin Sourdif (Vancouver Giants).
Eastern Conference Goalie of the Year: Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders)
-This was another slam dunk for our voters as the Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick led all Eastern Conference goalies with a 1.83 GAA, a 0.932 save percentage and a 38-8-1-2 record. The Raiders just did not lose many games that Scott played in.
Western Conference Goalie of the Year: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
-Wolf won by just as wide a margin in the Western Conference. He made sure that this was the third straight season that DUBNetwork named a goalie from the Silvertips the top goalie in the Western Conference.
Eastern Conference Defenseman of the Year: Josh Brook (Moose Jaw)
-Just another lopsided vote as Brook outpaced Saskatoon Blades d-man Dawson Davidson for the most votes among all Eastern Conference blue liners. Brook went well over a point a game with 75 points in only 59 games played.
Western Conference Defenseman of the Year: Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
-Finally a really tight race. Spokane Chiefs blue liner Ty Smith was just barely edged out by the young Byram for best defenseman in the Western Conference. Despite being in just his 16-year-old season, DUBNewtork’s 2018 Western Conference Rookie of the Year won another honor with a WHL-record six overtime winners and a team-record 26 goals. While Smith was a mainstay for the Chiefs and was an assist machine, Byram caught the eyes of our voters more and just squeaked out the most votes.
