After suffering a ruptured spleen and dislocated shoulder when he fell awkwardly into the end boards during a home game against Coquitlam Feb. 9, Prince George Spruce Kings centre Ben Poisson needs all the good news he can get.
Now recovering at his home in Vancouver from his season-ending injuries while his teammates prepare for the playoffs, the 18-year-old got something to make him smile Wednesday.
He's been picked as the league's most sportsmanlike player. In 53 games in his second full BCHL season, Poisson scored 22 goals and had 29 assists for 51 points and just two penalty minutes.
Poisson will get his name on the Bob Fenton Trophy, one of several awards the league handed out Wednesday.
Wenatchee Wild forward Jasper Weatherby won the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as the BCHL's most valuable player and also claimed the Brett Hull Trophy as the league scoring champion (37-37-74).
Other award winners were - Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year): Alex Newhook, Victoria Grizzlies; Top defenceman: Cooper Zech, Wenatchee Wild; Top goaltender: Ty Taylor, Vernon Vipers; Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy (coach of the year): Bliss Littler, Wenatchee Wild.
Spruce Kings goalie Evan DeBrouwer was the Mainland Division finalist for the top goalie award, Prince George right winger Ethan de Jong was the Mainland choice for MVP and Spruce Kings head coach Adam Maglio was one of three finalists for coach of the year.
Coaches in each division picked their respective division award finalists and collectively voted again this week to determine the overall trophy winners.
Two other awards besides the Hull Trophy not determined by a vote were the Wally Forslund Trophy (top goaltending tandem): Ty Taylor and Anthony Yamnitsky, Vernon Vipers (1.98 combined goals-against average) and the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy won by the Penticton Vees (40-12-3-3), who finished the 58-game schedule with 86 points and won the regular-season championship.
The Spruce Kings host the Chilliwack Chiefs in Games 1 and 2 of their Mainland Division semifinal Friday and Saturday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Tickets are available at the Spruce Kings office at RMCA.
