Jagger Firkus takes home Player of the Year, Top Scorer awards to highlight 2024 CHL Awards

Sat, 01 Jun 24 19:42:43 +0000

Lauren Kelly Contributor - OHL Scout

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FRANKENMUTH, Michigan – The CHL’s most outstanding players of the 2023-24 season gathered Saturday morning for the annual CHL Awards.

Even after a disappointing Memorial Cup elimination less than twelve hours prior, Moose Jaw Warriors forwards Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager were all smiles today.

“It wasn’t really a goal of mine to come home with an individual award, but it feels great, obviously. A lot of support from my teammates, family and the organization in Moose Jaw. It definitely feels special,” Yager said, after winning the Sportsman of the Year award.

Firkus won two awards, recognized as the CHL’s Top Scorer and Player of the Year. He became the first Warriors player to ever win Player of the Year and credited his teammates with his memorable season. “It was special, it really was. It was the funnest year of hockey I’ve ever had, it was the best group of guys I’ve ever been apart of. Looking back on it, I wish it could never end… Just super proud of the guys.”

Top 2024 NHL Draft prospects Cayden Lindstrom and Zayne Parekh were both up for Top Draft Prospect, along with Maxim Massé, and Lindstrom was announced the winner.

“Obviously I missed the whole second half, but still managing to win the trophy is a huge honour for me, and it was a thrill to be up there and be presented the trophy,” Lindstrom said.

Medicine Hat Tigers phenom Gavin McKenna won Rookie of the Year, and had nothing but positive things to say about his teammate Lindstrom: “It’s super cool. In Medicine Hat, we’ve built really good friendships there, and to see one of my closest buddies win an award, he’s earned it, and he’s had an unbelievable season, so to see him get some recognition is super exciting.”

Lindstrom was equally complimentary: “Just to have a player like Gavin McKenna on my side, and playing with him during the season is great… It’s really great to have a teammate and a friend go through all the same things.”

Parekh didn’t leave the awards empty-handed, however. He was recognized as the CHL’s Defenceman of the Year, but his focus remained solely on the Memorial Cup championship game tomorrow.

“This is the last chance at [a championship]. We don’t get another shot at this. I know we’re hungry, and I’m emotional, because I want this thing so bad. Just even talking about it gives me chills.”

List of Awards Winners:

Player of the Year: Jagger Firkus (Seattle Kraken)

Finalists: Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs), Mathieu Cataford (Vegas Golden Knights)

Defenceman of the Year: Zayne Parekh (2024 NHL Draft)

Finalists: Denton Mateychuk (Columbus Blue Jackets), Vsevolod Komarov (Buffalo Sabres)

Goaltender of the Year: William Rousseau

Finalists: Brett Mirwald, Jacob Oster

Rookie of the Year: Gavin McKenna (2026 NHL Draft)

Finalists: Jake O’Brien (2025 NHL Draft), Émile Guité (2025 NHL Draft)

Top Scorer Award: Jagger Firkus (Seattle Kraken)

Finalists: David Goyette (Seattle Kraken), Antonin Verreault

Coach of the Year: Jean-François Grégoire (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)