If two out of three ain’t bad, as Meat Loaf sang, then six out of seven is even better.
The league regular-season champion Victoria Royals won a half-dozen Western Hockey League Western Conference awards, announced Wednesday. The recipients now become the conference finalists, against the Eastern Conference winners, for the league awards in each category to be announced in May.
Victoria defenceman Joe Hicketts was named Western Conference player of the year and also top defenceman, Matthew Phillips rookie of the year, Tyler Soy most sportsmanlike player, Dave Lowry coach of the year and GM Cam Hope executive of the year.
The only Western Conference award that didn’t fall Victoria’s way was for best goaltender, which went to Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips.
“It’s nice recognition for what was a great season,” Hope said.
“There is something special about this team.”
The Eastern Conference award winners are Dryden Hunt of the Moose Jaw Warriors as player of the year, Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings as the top defenceman, former Royals prospect Noah Gregor of the Warriors as best rookie, Jake Bean of the Calgary Hitmen as most sportsmanlike player, Zachary Sawchenko of the Warriors as top goaltender, Brent Kisio of the Lethbridge Hurricanes as coach of the year and Peter Anholt of the Hurricanes as the top executive.
Taking nothing away from Hunt, but it’s Hicketts who clearly appears destined to be named 2015-16 WHL MVP.
“[Hicketts] took a group of young guys and pushed them to the top of the standings,” Hope said.
“You can’t measure what Joe does for our organization. He’s one of those special guys.”
The Detroit Red Wings-signed Hicketts deflected the accolades back to his teammates, but reflected on what is also a significant personal achievement.
“It’s a huge honour to be mentioned among the great names that have come through the WHL,” said the undersized but mobile blue-liner.
“It’s encouraging to see all the hard work has paid off. But I got a lot of help from my teammates. It’s never just one person.”
Meanwhile, Hicketts was the lone unanimous selection for the Western Conference first-all star team, which also included Ethan Bear of the Seattle Thunderbirds as the other defenceman, Hart in goal, Tyson Baillie of the Kelowna Rockets, Mathew Barzal of the Thunderbirds and Park Bowles of the Tri City Americans as the forwards.
The elusive Soy, who scored 46 goals, was named to the Western Conference second all-star team along with Chase Witala of the Prince George Cougars and Colin Shirley of the Kamloops Blazers as the other forwards, Noah Juulsen of the Silvertips and Jason Fram of the Spokane Chiefs on defence and Connor Ingram of the Blazers in goal.
ICE CHIPS: The Kootenay Ice’s dismal 12-win season was rewarded, in a manner, by winning the WHL bantam draft lottery conducted Wednesday in Calgary. The Ice will select first May 5, followed in this order by the other non-playoff WHL teams: Vancouver, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Tri City and Medicine Hat. The regular-season champion Royals will select 22nd and last.
