After a one-year hiatus, the Tri-City Herald’s Best of the West poll is back as the 2014-15 results were released last week.
This was the 26th edition of the Best of the West poll, in which the players, coaches, management and broadcasters of the WHL’s Western Conference teams vote in a number of categories.
The Everett Silvertips finished at the top of two of the 20 categories. Overage defenseman Ben Betker was voted the best stay-at-home defenseman, garnering 42.40 percent of the maximum possible score. Also, Everett won the best fans category, getting 81.98 percent of the top possible score. It was the eighth time Everett won the category in the past nine votes.
Everett captain Kohl Bauml was among the top six in three different categories. The 20-year-old center finished second in the top faceoff man category, third in top defensive forward and fifth in most underrated player.
The other member of the Tips to receive mention in more than one category was winger Nikita Scherbak. The 19-year-old took third in most accurate shot and fourth in best skater.
Everett’s other mentions among players included Austin Lotz finishing third in best goaltender, winger Carson Stadnyk finishing fourth in most improved player and goaltender Carter Hart taking fifth in best 16-year-old.
Tips general manager Garry Davidson finished second in top executive, while Everett coach Kevin Constantine was third in top coach.
Two players finished atop two categories. Tri-City goaltender Eric Comrie was named both the best goaltender and most valuable to team. Spokane winger Kailer Yamamoto won both best 16-year-old and top rookie.
The other winners included: Tri-City’s Richard Nejezchleb for best overage player; Victoria’s Logan Fisher for top defensive forward; Kelowna’s Madison Bowey for hardest shot; Seattle’s Shea Theodore for best skater; Portland’s Nicolas Petan for top faceoff man; Tri-City’s Parker Bowles for most underrated player; Portland’s Oliver Bjorkstrand for most accurate shot; Seattle’s Evan Wardley for most irritating player; Kelowna’s Tyrell Goulbourne for toughest player; Kelowna’s Nick Merkley for best pro prospect; Kelowna’s Rourke Chartier for most improved player; Spokane’s Don Nachbaur for top coach; Kelowna’s Bruce Hamilton for top executive; and Brett Iverson for top referee.
Around the WHL
The Canadian Hockey League announced Kelowna and Kamloops will host the WHL games in next season’s Canada-Russia Super Series. The games will be the first two of the series, Nov. 9 in Kelowna and Nov. 10 in Kamloops. … Brandon’s Jayce Hawryluk was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 18-year-old forward had five goals and two assists as the Wheat Kings went 1-1.
Leaders
Points — Trevor Cox (Medicine Hat) 94; goals — Rourke Chartier (Kelowna), Cole Sanford (Medicine Hat) 46; assists — Cox 71; penalty minutes — Keegan Kanzig (Calgary) 138; wins — Jordan Papirny (Brandon) 37; goals against average — Taran Kozun (Seattle) 2.31; save percentage — Adin Hill (Portland) .925.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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