2014/15 SJHL Award Winners Named

(From www.sjhl.ca)

SJHL Rookie of the Year: Garrett Dunlop (Nipawin Hawks)

95 F Garrett Dunlop (Nanaimo BC) has recorded offensive numbers at greater than a point per game for most of the season and finished the season as the league’s leading rookie scorer and he was also 7th overall amongst all performers.  Dunlop, who’s coming off a 60-point season in 43-games with the VIJHL Nanaimo Buccaneers, was second on his team in points with 18-goals and 35-assists in 49-games.

RBC Player of the Year/ SGEU Most Valuable Player/ SJHL Top Scorer - Travis Mayan (Melfort Mustangs)

(Player of the Year) The Melfort Mustangs captured their second straight Sherwood Division title in 2014-15, but it is hard to imagine them being able to take the next step towards capturing first place overall without the scoring exploits of winger Travis Mayan. The 19-year-old Rimbey, Alta., product was the runaway leader in scoring with 40 goals and 44 assists for 84 points, tops in each category. Mayan’s production, which was exactly twice as much as the 42 he registered in his rookie campaign last year, included several runs of five games each where he scored at least one goal or one assist and he ended the season with points in the final 11 games (11-8-19) to help the Mustangs secure home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

(MVP) By definition the most valuable player is one who makes an impact on his team in each and every game and without him the level of success would certainly be altered. Travis Mayan certainly falls in that category as the 19-year-old winger from Rimbey, Alta., dominated the individual scoring race and in the process helped the Melfort Mustangs finish first overall in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s regular season. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Mayan was held off the scoresheet just twice after Dec. 6 and to finish the season he scored 11 goals and added 8 assists in the final 11 games to help Melfort nail down first place overall. Mayan doubled his output from his rookie season last year and with one more year of eligibility remaining the sky is the limit.

(Top Scorer) The end result wasn’t even close as Melfort’s Travis Mayan recorded the largest margin in recent history to claim the individual scoring title by 20 points over Flin Flon’s Chris Rauckman and Kindersley’s Owen LaClare. The 19-year-old Mayan, who hails from Rimbey, Alta., led the league in every category scoring 40 goals and adding 44 assists for 84 points. Mayan had two five-game stretches where he scored at least one goal (final five games – 6 goals and Nov. 8-18 – 7 goals); two five-game stretches where he registered at least one assist (Dec. 11-19 – nine assists and Jan. 2-14 – eight assists); a seven-game point-scoring streak (Dec. 6-20 – 14 points) and an 11-game point-scoring streak to end the season (Jan. 30-Feb. 28 – 19 points). His consistency resulted in him being held off the scoresheet just twice from Dec. 6 to the end of the season.  Mayan, who exactly doubled his output from his rookie year last season, has one more year of junior eligibility which leaves some to wonder what he can do for an encore.

Sasktel Top Goaltender- Evan Weninger (Kindersley Klippers)

1996 G Evan Weninger (Saskatoon SK) carved out a decent chunk of playing time as a 17-year-old rookie and now he’s, arguably, the best 18-year-old Junior ‘A’ goalie in the country.  Weninger, who also had a spot on the Canada West roster for the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, paced the Klippers with a 27-10-and-2 record to go with a 2.06-GAA and an SJHL league leading .942-SPCT.  He’s goals against average ranked second and he was third in wins despite missing a month while playing for Canada West.

IBAS Top Defenceman- Spencer Trapp (Notre Dame Hounds)

1995 D Spencer Trapp (White City SK) is a complete package and a horse when it comes to logging ice time.  Trapp also has earned a scholarship for next year to Holy Cross.  An all-around performer, Trapp is one of the best on offense with 12-goals and 22-assists in 55-games.  He has three powerplay goals as well as one shorthanded.  He also piled up 114-penalty minutes and is comfortable playing any style of game.

Coach of the Year- Trevor Blevins (Melfort Mustangs)

Trevor Blevins took over the Mustangs in December 2013 with the team looking from the outside at a playoff spot.  He has, not only, turned the franchise into a contender; but the Mustangs go into the playoffs as the odds-on favorite to win the Canalta Cup.  Blevins led the Mustangs to a first overall finish in the SJHL regular season standings for the first time in franchise history.  In addition, the Mustangs are the top defensive team in the league despite Blevins employing a blueline that allows creativity in the offensive zone.  Offensively, Melfort scored the second most goals in the league.