Spokane's Nachbaur named top coach
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 15 years, 5 months AGO
First-year Spokane Chiefs coach Don Nachbaur was named the 2010-2011 Western Hockey League Coach of the Year, announced during the annual WHL awards luncheon Wednesday in Calgary, Alberta.
Red Deer goaltender Darcy Kuemper was named the player of the year. Former Coeur d'Alene Laker and Spokane Chiefs forward Tyler Johnson was runner-up. Johnson won the most sportsmanlike award, beating Stefan Elliott of Saskatoon.
Kuemper also won goaltender of the year, beating out James Reid of Spokane.
2010-11 WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Darcy Kuemper, Red Deer. Runner-up, Tyler Johnson, Spokane.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Matt Dumba, Red Deer. Runner-up, Sven Bartschi, Portland.
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR - Darcy Kuemper, Red Deer. Runner-up, James Reid, Spokane.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR - Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon. Runner-up, Tyson Barrie, Kelowna.
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER - Tyler Johnson, Spokane. Runner-up, Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon.
SCHOLASTIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Colin Smith, Kamloops. Runner-up, Adam Lowry, Swift Current.
COACH OF THE YEAR - Don Nachbaur, Spokane. Runner-up, Jesse Wallin, Red Deer.
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR - Lorne Molleken, Saskatoon. Runner-up, Mike Johnston, Portland.
HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR - Spencer Edwards, Moose Jaw. Runner-up, Jeff Einhorn, Chilliwack.
MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS AWARD - Mike Moore, Calgary. Runner-up, Brian Sandy, Tri-City.
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS - Saskatoon Blades.
TOP SCORER - Linden Vey, Medicine Hat.
WHL Bantam Draft set for today: The time has come for teams in the Western Hockey League to restock the cupboards at the annual Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, held today in Calgary, Alberta.
Spokane's 2010-11 roster featured 11 players who were selected by the Chiefs in past Western Hockey League Bantam Drafts, 12 that played on their 50-player protected list and two who were selected in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
In the five-draft span (2005 to 2009), that would make up a WHL roster this season, Spokane had at least one player picked in each round from 1-7, and another, Tyler Johnson, in the 11th round.
Players eligible for the draft will be 1996-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.