MHKY: Bouchard named CW Player of the Year

Mount Royal forward Connor Bouchard has been named the 2024 Canada West Men's Hockey Player of the Year.

The second-year Cochrane, Alta. product was the most explosive playmaker in all of U SPORTS this season. The former Tri-City Americans star led the nation with a jaw dropping 57 points, becoming the first Canada West player to eclipse the 50-point plateau since 2000-01.

MRU was well-represented on the awards list, claiming five major recognitions.

• Player of the Year: Connor Bouchard, Mount Royal
• Goaltender of the Year: Shane Farkas, Mount Royal
• Top Scorer: Connor Bouchard, Mount Royal
• Top Defenceman: Clay Hanus, Mount Royal
• Rookie of the Year: Jake Poole, Calgary
• Coach of the Year: Sven Butenschon, UBC
• Student-Athlete Community Service Award Winner: Dawson Holt, Saskatchewan
• UBC Hockey Alumni Trophy for Sportsmanship and Ability: Connor Blake, Mount Royal

Calgary goaltenders Carl Tetachuk & Carl Stankowski were recognized with the Adam Kryczka Memorial Trophy, awarded to the goaltenders on the team with the fewest goals against during regular season play. The Dinos allowed just 61 goals against, edging out Saskatchewan for the award by a single goal.

The Manitoba Bisons also received the Fair Play Trophy, given to the team with the fewest penalty minutes. 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR and TOP SCORER: Connor Bouchard, Mount Royal

• Position: Forward
• Second Year
• Hometown: Cochrane, Alta.
• WHL Club: Tri-City Americans

Bouchard earns the prestigious title of Canada West Men's Hockey Player of the Year after posting one of the most remarkable offensive seasons in conference history.

Bouchard led the nation in scoring with 57 points in 26 games, becoming the first Canada West player to eclipse the 50-point milestone since 2000-01. He won the conference scoring race by an incredible 18 point margin, averaging an absurd 2.19 points-per-game while also leading all of U SPORTS in assists with 34.

After finishing third in conference scoring last year with a 38-point rookie campaign, Bouchard was simply unstoppable in 2023-24 while compiling a remarkable 24-game point streak that spanned the majority of the regular season. His creativity and vision especially shone through on the man advantage, notching 12 power play tallies while leading the Cougars to a lethal 23.4% power play percentage, the second highest mark in the conference.

His staggering +30 plus-minus rating also led the conference by a wide margin, showing a strong commitment to his two-way game. He was vital to the Cougars overall team success, as the team finished with a 21-6-0-1 record.

Bouchard is also the recipient of the Dave "Sweeney" Schriner Scoring Trophy as the conference's top scorer, and will move forward as the Canada West nominee for the Sullivan Trophy, presented annually to the Outstanding Men's Hockey Athlete of the Year in U SPORTS.

 

 

TOP GOALTENDER: Shane Farkas, Mount Royal

• Second Year
• Hometown: Penticton, B.C.
• WHL Club: Portland Winterhawks, Victoria Royals

Farkas is recognized as the conference's top goaltender after a stellar season between the pipes for the Mount Royal Cougars. The second year from Penticton, B.C. was an absolute workhorse in the MRU cage, leading the conference in wins (18), shutouts (4) and games played (23).

His .918 save percentage was the second highest mark among qualified CW goaltenders, which he paired with a strong 2.21 goals against average. He also proved unbeatable in the shootout, going 3-for-3 including a memorable shootout win against rival Calgary in the Crowchild Classic at the Saddledome on Jan. 24.

His remarkable composure, rebound control and ability to read plays was pivotal to the Cougars success all season, helping the team compile an impressive 21-6-0-1 record and a third place finish in the competitive Canada West.

TOP DEFENCEMAN (Mervyn “Red” Dutton Trophy): Clayton Hanus, Mount Royal

• Second Year
• Hometown: Excelsior, MN
• WHL Club: Portland Winterhawks

Hanus earns the prestigious Mervyn "Red" Dutton Trophy as the conference's top defenceman after a standout season where he showcased his unique blend of elite offensive skill and defensive reliability.

He led Canada West in scoring by a defenceman with 36 points, a total that placed him third in overall conference scoring. His slick hands and heavy shot proved especially dangerous on the power play, where he notched six goals and 10 assists.

Beyond his offensive production, Hanus was dependable in his own end thanks to his smooth skating and smart decision making. He accumulated a strong +14 plus-minus rating despite playing tough minutes against top opposition.

 

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (U of A Hockey Alumni Trophy): Jake Poole, Calgary

• Position: Forward
• Hometown: McAuley, Man.
• WHL Clubs: Kelowna Rockets, Victoria Royals

Jake Poole becomes Calgary’s eighth Canada West Rookie of the Year and first since Chris Collins won the award back in 2014. Poole had an outstanding first season on the ice with the Dinos, racking up 17 goals on the year – by far the most by a rookie in Canada West and good for third overall in the league. The 6-foot-2 forward stepped his game up as the season went along, netting eight of his goals in the first 18 games before the winter break, before getting hot down the stretch with nine goals in his final eight games of the regular season – including finishing the year on a three-game scoring run.

A model of consistency, the McAuley, Man., product was one of just three players to appear in all 28 regular season games on the year. In addition to his 17 goals, the rookie also added nine assists on the year for 26 points – also by far the most by a rookie in the conference this season.

The highlight of the season came in the penultimate game of the year for Poole. With the Dinos in an incredibly tight race in the conference standings and every point proving crucial, Poole turned in a four-point performance in a lopsided win over Regina – netting his first collegiate hat trick while adding one assist to help the high-powered Dinos earn the No. 2 seed and a bye in this year’s postseason.

 

 

COACH OF THE YEAR: Sven Butenschon, UBC

• 8th season

Guiding the Thunderbirds to the top seed in the Canada West for the first time since 1963, Sven Butenschon has been named the conference’s Coach of the Year for the second time in his eight seasons at the helm.

Setting new program records this season in wins (22) and points (46), Butenschon’s squad led the Canada West with 126 goals as well as the conference’s top power play (23.6%) and penalty kill (89.1%).

Taking over the reigns of the program in 2016, the former NHLer has transformed the Thunderbirds into a perennial contender with two U SPORTS national championship appearances in the previous three seasons. Recently coaching his 100^th Canada West regular season victory behind the bench, Butenschon now boasts conference record of 107-69, the top win percentage of any coach in UBC men’s hockey history. 

 

 

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Dawson Holt, Saskatchewan

• Third Year
• Position: Forward
• Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.
• WHL Clubs: Vancouver Giants, Regina Pats

Dawson is described by teammates and coaches as "one of those all-round players you want on your team." He made important contributions to the Huskies on the ice in scoring 22 points in 28 games this season, while also demonstrating tremendous leadership off the ice.

As the Huskie Athletic Council (HAC) President for the last three years, he has been an advisor to the Chief Athletics Officer and University senior administration. He has been leading by example, attending HAC initiatives including Saskatoon area schools visits, collecting donations for Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, and creating Christmas hampers for families in need.

In Dawson's spare time, you can find him volunteering at Jim Pattison Children's Hospital where he spends free time with the kids in the Children’s Hospital three hours per week. He's also helped organize and volunteer at a pancake breakfast for KidSport, and has acted as an ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood.

Holt moves forward as Canada West's Randy Gregg Award nominee, a U SPORTS award that recognizes outstanding achievement in ice hockey, academics, and community involvement.

 

 

UBC HOCKEY ALUMNI TROPHY FOR SPORTSMANSHIP AND ABILITY: Connor Blake, Mount Royal

• Position: Defence
• Fifth Year
• Hometown: Calgary, Alta.

The MRU captain has been the embodiment of sportsmanship and skill for the Cougars throughout his university career, earning this year's UBC Hockey Alumni Trophy as the Canada West Men's Hockey Sportsmanship and Ability recipient.

Blake's two-way game was key to the Cougars' success as he finished third in conference scoring by a defenceman with 30 points in 28 contests. He also took just eight penalty minutes all season, despite playing heavy minutes against top opposition.

Teammates and coaches have praised Blake's leadership abilities and his contributions beyond the scoresheet.

"This award is so fitting for Connor as he really embodies all of the qualities of an exceptional student-athlete," says MRU Cougars head coach Bert Gilling. "He has been an awesome captain and deserves a ton of credit for the success of our team this year. Among his greatest qualities, what really stands out are his character and class. He plays the right way and has been an impactful player (and person) all season long."