Awards finalists named

Photo: Contributed

The BC Hockey League has unveiled the finalists for its annual season ending awards.

Following an initial vote by all 17 league coaches, finalist from each of the three divisions have been determined for the five major awards.

A second round of coaches voting will take place to determine each of the winners,. Those will be announced next week, prior to the start of the playoffs.

Here are the finalists for the 2016-17 BCHL awards:

MVP (Vern Dye Memorial Trophy)

• Island: Matthew Galajda, goaltender, Victoria Grizzlies
• Mainland: Brendan Harris, forward, Wenatchee Wild
• Interior: Mat Robson, goaltender, Penticton Vees

Rookie of the Year (Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy)

• Island: Cam Donaldson, forward, Powell River Kings
• Mainland: Brendan Budy, forward, Langley Rivermen
• Interior: Zach Risteau, forward, Merritt Centennials

Top Defenceman Trophy

• Island: Jake Stevens, Victoria Grizzlies
• Mainland: Tyler Anderson, Prince George Spruce Kings
• Interior: Michael Ufberg, Vernon Vipers 

Most Sportsmanlike Player (Bob Fenton Trophy)

• Island: Cam Donaldson, forward, Powell River Kings
• Mainland: Brendan Harris, forward, Wenatchee Wild
• Interior: Grant Cruikshank, forward, Penticton Vees

Coach of the Year (Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy)

• Island: Craig Didmon, Victoria Grizzlies
• Mainland: Bliss Littler, Wenatchee Wild
• Interior: Fred Harbinson, Penticton Vees 

The BCHL’s goaltender awards are not voted on. The goaltending award will go to the goalie with the lowest goals against average and at least 1,000 minutes played. Darion Hanson of Vernon currently leads with a 1.84 goals against average.

The Wally Forslund Award for best goalie tandem goes to the goalie teammates with the lowest combined goals-against average. Penticton leads that category with 125 goals surrendered.

Other league awards that are not voted on are the Brett Hull Award for top scorer and the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy for the team with the best regular-season record.

With 90 points, Wenatchee has already clinched the overall league title while Brendan Harris of the Wild is the runaway points leader with 96.

The league's regular season concludes Sunday with only playoff positioning left to be determined.

In the Interior Division, the West Kelowna Warriors and Trail Smoke Eaters are battling for third while Merritt and Salmon Arm are fighting for fifth.

In the Island Division, Nanaimo trails third place Cowichan Valley by a single point. Both have two games left.

Each of the opening round series begins next Friday night.