Award

(CHL Release) The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Mitch Fadden of the Tri-City Americans.

Fadden picked up eight points, scoring two goals and six assists to go with a +5 rating in three games over the last week, helping the Tri-City Americans win their Kal-Tire 2009 WHL Western Conference Quarter-Finals best-of-seven series over the Everett Silvertips 4-1.

On Wednesday, March 25th, the Tri-City Americans’ opening round series shifted back to the Comcast Arena in Everett for games three and four versus the Silvertips, with the series tied 1-1. In game three Fadden picked up a goal and an assist as the Americans downed the ‘Tips 4-2 to jump out to a 2-1 series lead and was named the games 1st Star. In game four on Friday, March 27th, Fadden netted one goal and added two assists as the Americans took a strangle hold on the best of seven series 3-1 with their 4-1 victory. He was also named the games 2nd Star.

The WHL announced their annual awards finalists today, and it wasn't great news for Lightning prospect Dustin Tokarski.

Despite leading the league in 4 of the 5 goaltending categories (goals against average, save percentage, shutouts, shootout percentage - 5th in wins), Tokarski lost out to fellow Team Canada goaltender Chet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans for the Western Conference's First All-Star team goaltender, and the conference nominee for Goaltender of the Year.

Tokarski was voted to the Conference's Second All-Star team. Possible 2009 Lightning draft target Evander Kane was named to the First team.

While stats obviously don't mean everything, and Pickard's Americans finished just ahead of Spokane in the U.S. Division, Pickard finished with one more win than Tokarski (35), a 5th place GAA of 2.28 (Tokarski 1.97), a 2nd place save percentage of .921 (Tokarski .937), and 6 shutouts (second to Tokarski and Jones' 7). Pickard also had six fewer losses than Tokarski.

The Player of the Year finalists will be announced April 15.

2009 WHL Western Conference Awards

(WHL release)The Western Hockey League announced today that forward Mitch Fadden, of the Tri-City Americans, has been named the HUSKY WHL Player of the Month for February.

The 20-year-old native of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, appeared in all 12 Tri-City games through February notching 14 goals and adding eight assists for 22 points, establishing a new career-high for both stats in one month. He picked up points in 11 of 12 games and wrapped up the month with an eight game goal streak, which has since been stretch to nine games, the WHL’s longest goal scoring streak of the season. Fadden also maintained an impressive +15 rating through the month of February which is also a new career-high for a month.

(WHL release)The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Mitch Fadden of the Tri-City Americans.

Fadden picked up seven points, scoring six goals and one assist to go with a +4 rating in four games over the past week, helping the Americans post a 4-0-0-0 record in that span.

On Wednesday, February 25th, the Americans welcomed the Chilliwack Bruins to the Toyota Centre for a WHL Western Conference clash. Fadden scored twice as the Ams downed the Bruins 8-1 and was named the games 2nd Star.

Tokarski was robbed like USA's Colin Wilson against ... well ... Tokarski.

The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Raffaele D’Orso of the Val d’Or Foreurs is the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 1. D’Orso won three games for the Foreurs including one shutout victory stopping a total of 133 shots with a goals-against-average of 1.33 and a save percentage of .971.

D’Orso began his week Tuesday night when the Foreurs hosted the Montreal Juniors. He stopped all 48 shots including 17 in the third period for the 3-0 shutout win, his first of the season, with first star of the game honours. On Friday D’Orso was again solid between the pipes making 33 saves helping the Foreurs defeat the Halifax Mooseheads 6-2. His week would end on Saturday with an outstanding performance against a strong Moncton Wildcats team. D’Orso made 22 third period saves for a game-total of 52 as first star of the game leading the Foreurs to a 4-2 win.

The OHL nominee for the award this week is Scott Stajcer of the Owen Sound Attack who won all three of his starts and posted a goals-against-average of 2.00 with an OHL best save percentage of .956. Stajcer is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and competed at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Lightning prospect Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs was the best goaltender in the WHL for the third week in a row with three victories including two shutouts allowing just one goal on 88 shots. Tokarski has now won 11 straight games for the Chiefs.