Connor Bedard leads the way among 2022-23 CHL Award Winners
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia - Before the 2023 Memorial Cup finale on Sunday, this past season’s best and brightest stars from the Canadian Hockey League were recognized at the CHL Awards ceremony.
All eyes were on Connor Bedard who was nominated for three awards - the Top Prospect Award, the Top Scorer Award, and the David Branch CHL Player of the Year Award. In a surprise to absolutely no one, he came away with all three. It was the first time in CHL history that a player has won all three in the same season.
Connor Bedard is the first CHLer to ever win
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) June 3, 2023
• The Top Prospect Award
• The Top Scorer Award
• David Branch CHL Player of the Year Award
Makin' history.
Bedard wasn't the only player to leave Kamloops with some hardware.
Maxim Massé of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens took home the CHL Rookie of the Year award after posting 29 goals and 62 points in 65 QMJHL contests.
Evan Vierling (NYR) of the Barrie Colts was named CHL Sportsman of the Year after recording a career-high 95 points while earning just 12 penalty minutes.
The CHL Defenceman of the Year award was between three Anaheim Ducks' prospects. Kamloops Blazers' star, Olen Zellweger took home the trophy. Zellweger was tremendous this season, recording 47 goals and 113 points in just 73 games spread across the regular season, playoffs, and Memorial Cup.
Olen Zellweger's junior-level trophy case is STUFFED
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 3, 2023
• U18 Gold Medal
• WJC Goal Medal (x2)
• WJC All-Star Team
• WHL 1st All-Star (x2)
• WHL Top Defenseman (x2)
• CHL Defenseman of the Year
The CHL Goaltender of the Year was awarded to Victoriaville Tigres' stopper, Nathan Darveau. Darveau posted a 27-14-2 record with a .929 save percentage in 50 appearances.
The winner of the CHL Humanitarian of the Year Award was Dalyn Wakely of the North Bay Battalion. Wakely spearheaded a program with his teammates that provide food to North Bay's homeless and low-income residents.
2023 top prospect, Colby Barlow was named the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. Barlow averaged 93 percent in his grade 12 and university-level courses this year.
Finally, the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year award was given to Dave Cameron of the Ottawa 67s. A fitting win as Kilrea has spent nearly 50 years in the 67s organization.
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