Red Deer Rebels forward Brandon Hagel has earned a boatload of notoriety this season.
He signed an NHL contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, set a new Rebels franchise mark for career assists at 176, moved into second all-time in points, fourth overall in goals and was the first Rebels player to eclipse the 100-point plateau since Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2010-11.
He added another accolade to his resume Wednesday when he was named a WHL Eastern Conference second-team all-star. The 20-year-old collected a career-high 41 goals and 61 assists in 66 games this season, tied for fourth in the WHL with Edmonton Oil Kings forward Trey Fix-Wolansky.
Congratulations to the WHL players named to the Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team! ⭐ #WHLAwards pic.twitter.com/IbTOPsK7FQ
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 20, 2019
The Oil Kings captain was named a first-team all-star and the conference player of the year, after posting a career-best 102 point campaign and leading Edmonton to a central division crown. Tristan Langan of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince Albert Raiders star Brett Leason were the other first-team all-stars ahead of Hagel.
Goalie Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders), defencemen Josh Brook (Moose Jaw Warriors) and Dawson Davidson (Saskatoon Blades) were the other first-team all-stars.
Joining Hagel as a second-team all-star forward are Stelio Mattheos (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Mark Kastelic (Calgary Hitmen). Medicine Hat Tigers goalie Mads Sogaard earned the second-team nod in goal, while defencemen Jett Woo (Moose Jaw Warriors) and Brandon Pachal (Prince Albert Raiders) earned the honours on the blueline.
Former goalie Patrik Bartosak was the last Rebel to receive an all-star award in 2012-13, while Alex Petrovic was the last position player to earn the recognition in 2011-12.
Other conference award winners were:
WHL Top Goaltender (Del Wilson Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Top Goaltender – Ian Scott (Calgary Alta.) – Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference Top Goaltender – Dustin Wolf (Tustin, Calif.) – Everett Silvertips
WHL Top Defenceman (Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Top Defenceman – Josh Brook (Roblin, Man.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Top Defenceman – Ty Smith (Lloydminster, Alta.) – Spokane Chiefs
WHL Rookie of the Year (Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year – Brayden Tracey (Calgary, Alta.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Rookie of the Year – Lassi Thomson (Tempere, Finland) – Kelowna Rockets
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year (Brad Hornung Trophy)
Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player – Justin Almeida (Kitimat, B.C.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player – Cody Glass (Winnipeg, Man.) – Portland Winterhawks
WHL Executive of the Year (Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Executive of the Year – Curtis Hunt – Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference Executive of the Year – Garry Davidson – Everett Silvertips
WHL Coach of the Year (Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Coach of the Year – Marc Habscheid – Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference Coach of the Year – Michael Dyck – Vancouver Giants
WHL Top Scorer (Bob Clarke Trophy)
Joachim Blichfeld (Frederikshavn, Denmark) – Portland Winterhawks
68 GP – 53 G – 61 A – 114 PTS – +16 – 70 PIM
WHL Top Plus-Minus
Brayden Pachal (Estevan, Sask.) – Prince Albert Raiders
66 GP – 15 G – 36 A – 51 PTS – +76 – 113 PIM
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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