Kootenay Ice captain Sam Reinhart has added more hardware to his ever-expanding trophy case this past weekend, earning CHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year honours.
A top prospect for the upcoming 2014 NHL Draft, Reinhart was also the WHL's nominee for CHL Player of the Year, but lost out to the QMJHL's Anthony Mantha.
Reinhart collected all of 11 minutes in penalties in 60 games, and tallied 36 goals and 69 assists for 105 points this past season.
He represented Canada at the world junior championship and also participated in the CHL Top Prospects game. He ended the season ranked third overall North American skater on the Central Scouting lists.
He recently headed to Europe to take part in training camp with Team Canada for the men's world championship, hosted by Belarus. Other CHL award winners include:
Jack Link's Top Prospect of the Year
Sam Bennett
Bennett crept up to claim the first overall spot in the Central Scouting Rankings in the final list near the end of the regular season. Bennett, who plays for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL, tallied 36 goals and 55 assists in 27 games this year. Reinhart was a runner up for the award, along with the QMJHL's Nikolaj Ehlers.
Chrysler Dodge Top Scorer
Connor Brown
Brown led the CHL scoring race, finishing with 128 points—45 goals and 83 assists in 68 games with the Erie Otters, which helped establish a franchise-best season with 52 wins and 106 points. Brown is a sixth round selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012. Finalists included Anthony Mantha of Val-d'Or (QMJHL) and Mitch Holmberg of the Spokane Chiefs (WHL).
Subway Scholastic Player of the Year
Connor McDavid
Not only is McDavid a highly touted prospect for the 2015 NHL draft, but he's also one of the smartest. McDavid carried an 87 per cent average in his final semester of Grade 11 and was an integral part to the on-ice success of the Otters this season. McDavid tallied 99 points in 56 games for the Otters and represented Canada at the World Junior Championship. Finalists included Jeremy Gregoire of Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) and Nelson Nogier of the Saskatoon Blades (WHL).
Cooper Tires Humanitarian of the Year
Sam Fioretti
Fioretti, an overage player with the Moose Jaw Warriors, was a key factor with the Warriors' partnership with the Moose Jaw Police Service to visit schools on anti-bullying campaigns. Fioretti is also passionate about educating local students the importance of physical activity and was a big part of the club's Read To Succeed program. Other finalists included Charles-David Beaudoin of the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) and Scott Simmonds of the Belleville Bulls (OHL).
Old Dutch Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year
Eric Veilleux
Veilleux coached Baie-Comeau Drakkar to the top spot in the QMJHL standings in his sophomore season behind the bench, with a record of 47-16-2-3. Finalists included D.J. Smith of the Oshawa Generals (OHL) and Dave Lowry of the Victoria Royals (WHL).
BMO Rookie of the Year
Nikolaj Ehlers
Ehlers tallied 104 points this season, including 49 goals, for his rookie year with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. A product of the CHL Import Draft who hails from Denmark, Ehlers is the top rated QMJHL prospect for the 2014 NHL draft. Finalists included Travis Konecny of the Ottawa 67's (OHL) and Nick Merkley of the Kelowna Rockets (WHL).
Vaughn Goaltender of the Year
Jordan Cooke
Cooke finished his WHL career with the Kelowna Rockets with a 2.28 goals against average and a save percentage of 0.922—good for fourth place in the WHL in both categories. He had four shutouts in 51 games, and earned a record of 39-7-0-4 when he was between the pipes. Finalists include Zachary Fucale of the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) and Alex Nedeljkovic of the Plymouth Whalers (OHL).
Arctic Spas Defenceman of the Year
Derrick Pouliot
Pouliot had a banner year in likely his final year in the major-junior hockey, scoring 17 goals and tallying 53 helpers for 70 points with the Portland Winterhawks. Pouliot was a first-round selection from the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012 and represented Canada at the World Junior Championship this year. Finalists included Guillaume Gelinas of Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) and Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts (OHL).
Sportsnet Player of the Year
Anthony Mantha
Mantha had a monster season, averaging a goal per game with 57, and adding 36 assists for 120 points in 57 games played for the Val-d'Or Foreurs. Mantha, a first-round selection by the Detroit Red Wings in 2013, was a key member of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship this year. Mantha beat out Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice (WHL) and Connor Brown of the Erie Otters (OHL) for the award.