Red Deer Rebels Christoffer Sedoff and Rhett Stoesser are being recognized for their fantastic seasons on the ice.
Stoesser was selected as one of four finalists for the Western Hockey League’s Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, which is given to the WHL’s Goaltender of the Year. He was also named the Central Division’s Goaltender of the Year award.
The rookie netminder went 19-6-0-0 in his first full season with the Rebels but his year was cut short due to injury.
The Carstairs, Alta. product was signed during training camp in September of last year as a walk-on.
It didn’t take him long to get comfortable posting 2.35 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. He split most of the starts with his goalie partner Kyle Kelsey and together they helped the Rebels capture their first Central Division title in a decade.
Also up for Goaltender of the Year are Jesper Vikman from the Vancouver Giants, Daniel Hauser from the Winnipeg ICE, and Thomas Milic from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Meanwhile, Sedoff was selected as a finalist for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy which will be given to the league’s top defenceman.
As a nominee for the division, he was named the WHL Central Division Defenceman of the Year.
Sedoff said to the media on Tuesday it is a huge honour to be nominated.
“Just looking back at the guys who’ve won the award it’s a huge honour to join them and push myself to get as good as they are,” he said.
Sedoff had a great season offensively with 51 points nearly matching his point total from the 2021-22 season with 61 points.
The Helsinki, Finland product finished the regular season with five goals and 46 assists and was named to the Central Division First All-Star team. His assist total was second among all skaters on the Rebels.
Sedoff his elite season was fueled by a chip on his shoulder after they lost in the playoffs last season and going undrafted in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
His determination paid off in the end as Sedoff signed an entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights this season. Sedoff’s presence on the ice he said is a product of taking his self-improvement seriously.
“Sleeping, nutrition, how I work out, and how I can improve every day out there on the ice and get better,” he said.
“I’m not going to be a perfect player so I have to look at the things I can get better at and help me get to the next level.”
Other players nominated for Defenceman of the Year include Olen Zellweger from the Kamloops Blazers, Stanislav Svozil from the Regina Pats, and Kevin Korchinski from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
