SJHL Major Awards Finalists!

* Courtesy of SJHL.ca

Monday, February 11, 20008
SJHL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES

Dean Brockman, Humboldt Broncos

Brockman is the 2006-07 winner of this award and is completing his fourth season as Head Coach of the defending Credential Cup champions. While last season’s 41-14-0-and-3 record is hard to top, it appears as though Brockman’s 2007-08 team is going to do exactly that (44-9-0-and-1). This season, the Broncos will finish first overall in the SJHL for the second year in a row despite losing their two top scoring forwards (Brady Heintz and Tyler Feakes), MVP netminder (Nathan Heinen), and top defenseman (Blair Wourms) from a year ago. The Broncos have also had to find a way to replace their heart and soul player from last season (Colin Wilson). This year’s version of the Broncos has been unstoppable since Brockman identified areas of need on December 1st and added defenseman Tanner Vandesype and forward Ed Gale from the Notre Dame Hounds as well as getting 1989 born forward Shawn Hunter in a steal from Alberta a few days later. Humboldt has had an SJHL season long winning streak of 16 games earlier in the year and just like last season, Brockman has managed to integrate a significant amount of youth into the program, hopefully ensuring a competitive club for years to come (goalie Andrew Bodnarchuk, defensemen Mitchell Peeke and Mitchell Stretch, forwards Hunter, Dane Lindskog, and Taylor Pillar to name a few). While votes for SJHL Coach Of The Year tend to be based on where a team finishes when compared to what the expectation level is at the beginning of the hockey season, consider that while the Broncos were expected to contend for the SJHL championship, they were hardly a shoe-in to run away with the Itech Conference and possibly approach 50 wins. In a league dominated by parity, the 2007-08 Humboldt Broncos are a special group. Brockman’s career coaching record in Humboldt is 128-73-5-and-13.


Dwight McMillan, Weyburn Red Wings

Dwight McMillan once joked the big difference between he and fellow coaching legends Scotty Bowman and Brian Kilrea is that Bowman and Kilrea likely have no idea who he is. That is not likely the case if either of the other two long-time winning coaches have ever checked to see if there is a long serving bench boss who may eclipse (and then some) their winning standards. This past season, McMillan won his 1000th career regular season game and while that accomplishment alone may have gotten him a boat load of consideration for SJHL Coach Of The Year, there are plenty of other reasons to look at the modest McMillan for this honor in 2007-08 even if you were to, somehow, disregard his monumental milestone accomplishment. In McMillan’s 35+ years with the Red Wings, the team has never gone to war for a full season with a rookie netminder getting the lion’s share of the work. That changed this year when AJ Whiffen was handed the reins early on. The Wings, who usually load up with 20-year-olds in a contending year, have only five in the 2007-08 season that has seen them own first place in the Sherwood Conference for most of the year. Up until a couple of weeks ago, the Wings also iced a line-up that was failing to produce a player had a point per game clip. Last year, the Wings were within one point of missing the playoffs entirely. This year, they have jumped all the way to first while employing a great deal of players who were also on last year’s struggling club. Some of McMillan’s past accomplishments include SJHL Coach Of The Year Awards in 1984-85, 1989-90, and 1996-97. His teams have won six SJHL championships, five ANAVET Cups, two national championships, and he’s served as an Assistant Coach in each of the last two years for the two-time gold medal winning Canada West team from the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge.


Darrell Mann, Melfort Mustangs

43-year-old Darrell Mann is finishing his fourth season with the Mustangs, having taken the mantle in late October 2004. At the time, the Mustangs were 1-and-10, but went 17-21-2-and-4 the rest of the way under Mann’s guidance. In each season with Mann behind the bench, the Mustangs have improved as they went from 5th in 2004-05, to 4th in 2005-06, to 3rd in 2006-07 and into 2nd in 2007-08. Not coincidentally, the win totals have also gotten better with each passing year, going from 18 to 30 to 37 and this season they have 36 wins with two games remaining. Mann previously spent 10 years in the Saskatchewan Midget ‘AAA’ Hockey League with his hometown Tisdale Trojans. They won four provincial titles in those ten years and during the last four years when Mann was the Head Coach, the club won two provincial crowns and one national championship. An intense bench boss, Mann is often very animated when performing his craft and he also likes to use players who are most familiar with him. In the past, he has consummated trades that landed him the likes of Brady Gordon, Matt Hill, and Tommy Brown (all former Mann protégés in Tisdale). Former Trojan Taylor Watt left the ‘AAA’ Trojans, as a 17-year-old, the same time Mann did and joined the Mustangs with his coach. Never one shy to make a major trade to address major areas of need, Mann’s biggest move this season was to bring in Ilia Ejov, a 20-year-old puckstopper. The transaction turned the Mustangs from a sub-.500 team into a serious league championship contender. Mann’s career SJHL coaching record is 121-89-5-and-9.


These three individuals (listed above) were chosen as finalists based on a vote amongst all SJHL coaches.

SJHL Media will select the overall winner. Ballots will be sent in the coming days.


SJHL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES
SJHL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER NOMINEES

(The same three players are nominated for both of the above trophies)

Ilia Ejov, Melfort Mustangs

If there was ever a player that arrived in the SJHL and immediately turned around his team’s fortunes, it might be Ejov. When the Mustangs secured his Junior ‘A’ rights, they were 5-and-8 and on the brink of languishing in the 4th and 5th spot in the Itech Conference. As soon as Ejov took over the crease, the Mustangs embarked on a streak of 17 straight games in which they picked up a point. Since arriving, Ejov has appeared in 38 of 41 games, seldom showing signs of fatigue. He has racked up a 27-7-2-and-2 record with a 2.01-GAA and a .925-SPCT. Ejov also has four shutouts. He is likely to join Humboldt’s Taylor Nelson in establishing a new SJHL single season GAA mark, which is currently held by former Weyburn goalie Russell Monette (2.24). Ejov’s future aspirations likely lie in the minor pro ranks or the CIS. He played 91-games in the QMJHL in the two years leading up to his tenure in Melfort.

Jordie Johnston, La Ronge Ice Wolves

Johnston is finishing up his third and final SJHL season with the Ice Wolves, having been a point per game performer for each of the last two. On the brink of an SJHL scoring championship, Johnston is one of the SJHL’s most dangerous offensive performers as he has followed up a year in which he had 63-points in 53-games with one that has seen him compile 32-goals and 50-assists in 54-games. La Ronge’s team captain, Johnston has excellent character that often has him as the comic relief in the dressing room when the chips are down, yet he also knows when to get serious and can be one of the most gritty players on the ice. Head Coach Bob Beatty says Johnston is a nightly competitor, who has an edge to his game. He plays in all situations and unlike other high scorers, his play without the puck is also exceptional. Johnston is expected to play in the NCAA with Ferris State this upcoming Fall.

AJ Whiffen, Weyburn Red Wings

It’s not often that rookie goaltenders step into the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and dominate the way Whiffen has this year. All he’s done is tie Terry Denike and Taylor Nelson for the single season shutout record with six. He also has posted a league best save percentage of .932. On a Red Wing team that is rich in tradition, Whiffen is the first ever rookie Red Wing netminder to be handed a starting assignment pretty much from the beginning of the regular season right through to the end, all the while playing on a team that should be a Credential Cup contender. General Manager Ron Rumball credits Whiffen’s abundance of success to his veteran mentality. A hard worker with an unflappable personality, Whiffen didn’t even turn 18 until November 30th. Although he has two more years of junior eligibility, Whiffen is surely drawing NCAA interest already.

SJHL DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Kyle Haines, Weyburn Red Wings

The 1987 born Weyburn SK native is the Red Wings’ captain and contributes to his team’s success in ways far beyond his statistics would indicate. While his 3-goals and 22-assists in 55-games are decent for a player who splits time quarterbacking a powerplay with three other players, Haines is a player that can, often, be found matched up late in a close hockey game against the opposition’s top forward line. And, with Weyburn sitting firmly in first place in the Sherwood Conference, it should be noted that Haines’ pairing often emerges as the winner of this in-game chess match. Haines sets a great example on the ice and has high team values. He is dependable in a number of different facets and is a quality role model. Haines is also hopeful of landing an NCAA scholarship.

Blair Toms, Nipawin Hawks

Toms, a 1987 born product from Redvers, continues to excel and improve with each passing game. Toms is an ice time eater, recently being clocked at almost 36:30 in one particular 60-minute game. Toms is the first on the ice for powerplay time, first out on the penalty kill, always assigned to shut down opposing teams in the final minute of a close game, leads the Hawks in blocked shots, and is the top +/- player on the team. Toms gets high praise from Head Coach Dave Hyrsky, who marveled at the respect his captain has from the rest of the dressing room. Hyrsky, who has considerable experience coaching men, calls Toms the best captain he’s ever had. A dedicated athlete who hits the gym as early as 7:30 in the morning, Toms has pro potential and a couple of NCAA schools scouting him for possible enrollment in the Fall of 2008.

Kealin Wong, Estevan Bruins


1987 born Wong is a model of consistency on the blueline for the Bruins and a fantastic leader by his on-ice and off-ice performances. On the ice, Wong is the first defenseman tapped for powerplay duty and one of the first to head out on the penalty kill. Head Coach Karry Biette says Wong is extremely mature and may be a couple of years ahead of his time. He spends a significant amount of time at the gym, sometimes attending more than once a day. He doesn’t rest on past laurels either as he is often one of the better players at practice. With 14-goals and 21-assists in 55-games, the Regina native ranks amongst the top ten in SJHL defensemen scoring. An Ivy League student, Wong has attracted interest from several NCAA schools.

SJHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Tommy Brown, Melfort Mustangs

Brown is a hockey marvel. The 5’9” 175 lbs native of Prince Albert SK is likely to finish in the top three in the SJHL rookie scoring parade. He may also be in the top three amongst all SJHL defensemen. Despite his rookie status, Brown was the lone SJHLer selected to play in the World Junior ‘A’ Hockey Challenge back in November. With 14-goals and 25-assists in 48-games, Brown has had no trouble adapting from the Midget ‘AAA’ ranks to the Junior ‘A’ game. His numbers are all the more impressive when you consider Melfort’s defense has four capable puck movers who all see significant powerplay time. Brown is the type of player who makes others around become better performers and with his recent scholarship announcement to Michigan Tech for the Fall of 2009, it is highly likely Brown will be back for one more tour of duty with the Mustangs. And, although he is a defenseman, he has to be considered an early contender for an overall SJHL scoring crown.

Rylan Schwartz, Notre Dame Hounds

Schwartz is an SJHL scoring rarity in that midget aged players do not walk into the best Junior ‘A’ hockey league in the country and become leading scorers. But, Schwartz has accepted his role with relative ease. He has been a point per game contributor right from the get go and is a shoe-in to lead the SJHL rookie scoring parade. In 49-games, Schwartz has 25-goals and 30-assists. The 1990 born native of Wilcox SK has a scholarship to Colorado College, which can begin as early as this Fall, but can also be deferred to the Fall of 2009. If his first, and possibly only, SJHL season is any indication, Schwartz may be ready to join the NCAA despite being the age of a first year junior ‘A’ player. Schwartz, who played in the CJAHL Top Prospects Game, got his first career hat trick last month and also had a 5-point game against Weyburn in October.

AJ Whiffen, Weyburn Red Wings

It’s not often that rookie goaltenders step into the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and dominate the way Whiffen has this year. All he’s done is tie Terry Denike and Taylor Nelson for the single season shutout record with six. He also has posted a league best save percentage of .932. On a Red Wing team that is rich in tradition, Whiffen is the first ever rookie Red Wing netminder to be handed a starting assignment pretty much from the beginning of the regular season right through to the end, all the while playing on a team that should be a Credential Cup contender. General Manager Ron Rumball credits Whiffen’s abundance of success to his veteran mentality. A hard worker with an unflappable personality, Whiffen didn’t even turn 18 until November 30th. Although he has two more years of junior eligibility, Whiffen is surely drawing NCAA interest already.

All player award finalists were nominated and voted on by the SJHL member teams. Winners will be revealed in the weeks ahead as part of the Showcase of Awards.