Prince George Cougars captain Hudson Thornton, is the B.C. Division candidate for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy that goes to the Western Hockey League’s defenceman of the year.
In his fourth and final WHL season, Thornton shredded the Cougars’ record book, setting new standards for career goals (56), assists (140) and points (196).
This season the five-foot-11, 191-pound Winnipeg native ranked fourth among WHL defencemen with 74 points, including 18 goals and career-high 56 assists. He played all 68 games and posted a plus-28 rating, also a career best.
Last week he was named a B.C. Division first-team all-star.
Thornton is part of Cougar defence that allowed just 187 goals (second-best in the WHL), helping them put together a 19-game point streak (17-0-1-1) to close out the regular season.
He's kept up a point-per-game pace in the playoffs with a goals and three assists as the Cats eliminated the Spokane Chiefs in four games in their opening-round series.
Thornton was drafted by the Cougars in 2018 in the second round, 33rd overall.
The other Hunter award candidates are:
Central Division – Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary, Alta.) – Calgary Hitmen
East Division – Denton Mateychuk (Dominion City, Man.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
U.S. Division – Graham Sward (Abbotsford) – Wenatchee Wild
