Nobody's had to convince the Prince George Cougars that Chase Witala is one of the best in the Western Hockey League this season.
They know he's a difference-maker.
The WHL officially recognized the efforts of the Cougars 20-year-old left winger this season when Witala was named Wednesday to the Western Conference second-team all-star team.
Witala's final junior season -- his fifth with the Cougars -- has been a memorable one.
In 71 games he collected 40 goals and added 39 assists to lead the team in the scoring race with 79 points, 16th in the WHL. The six-foot, 170-pound native of Prince George finished with a plus-minus rating of plus-seven and served 81 minutes of penalty time.
Witala scored 11 of his 40 goals on power plays, two while shorthanded and he fired three game-winners.
In a career that spanned 302 regular season games, Witala established new team records for career goals (120) and points (239). He posted back-to-back hat tricks in December, which led to Witala being selected as the WHL's player of the month for December. In 13 games that month, he scored 14 goals and added nine assists for 23 points. As well, he finished the month with a plus-10 rating.
Witala's scoring touch is one of the key elements for the Cougars as they head into the playoffs Friday against the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Cougars and T-birds play Games 1 and 2 Friday and Saturday in Kent, Wash., then return home for Games 3 and 4 next Tuesday and Wednesday at CN Centre.
Two T-birds -- centre Mathew Barzal and defenceman Ethan Bear, made the Western Conference first all-star team, along with Everett Silvertips goalie Carter Hart, Victoria Royals defenceman Joe Hicketts, Kelowna Rockets centre Tyson Baillie and Tri-City Americans centtre Parker Bowles.
Rounding out the West's second team are Kamloops Blazers goalie Connor Ingram, Everett defenceman Noah Juulsen and Blazers left winger Collin Shirley.
Three Moose Jaw Warriors were picked for the Eastern Conference first all-star team -- goalie Zachary Sawchenko, left winger Dryden Hunt and centre Brayden Point. On defence are Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Andrew Nielsen of the Calgary Hitmen and Regina Pats centre Adam Brooks also made the first team.
The East's second all-star team includes goalie Ryan Parenteau (Saskatoon Blades), Calgary Hitmen defencemen Jake Bean and Travis Sanheim and forwards Brayden Burke (Lethbridge Huricanes), Noalan Patrick (Wheat Kings) and Jayce Hawryluk (Wheat Kings).
The WHL also released its individual awards nominees on Wednesday. Hicketts and Hunt are the finalists for the Four Broncos Memmorial Trophy as player of the year.
