THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

– It’s awards day for the WHL in Calgary at the annual awards luncheon. Pats Senior VP of Hockey Operations and Head Coach John Paddock is up for the Dunc McCallum Memorial trophy as the WHL Coach of the Year in 2015. Dan Lambert of the Kelowna Rockets is the Western Conference nominee.

Paddock led the Pats to a 37-24-5-4 record in his first season behind the bench, finishing second in the East Division and achieving the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Paddock says it would be quite an honour to win the award today. “It would mean, obviously a lot. Like I said to a few people when asked about it; ‘It’s never something you plan for, individual awards or especially individual awards as a coach. You are concerned with 20 or 25 players no matter what level you are at.’ So it would be great in that way because you are voted on by your peers in this league in the awards. That’s the ultimate compliment, I believe, when it’s your peers.”

If Paddock should win the award it would not be his first time being named coach of the year. He won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the American Hockey League coach of the year in 1988.  He also won a Calder Cup championship that year.

Paddock says he has to credit the players and his staff for being up for the WHL Award this year. “I think you have to have good players. I think our players were good, I think they were very very attentive, bought in, were ready to buy in right on from August to the end of the year. The changes in our team did not change the players attitude. And of course I have good people. (Dave) Struch is a very experienced guy, a very good coach. You never win anything in today’s game by yourself. There is always lots to do, technology has given us even more to do every day and you have to have a team working with you no matter where you are at.”

620 CKRM’s Rod Pedersen reports that Paddock will win the award today.

The Awards Luncheon in Calgary gets underway at 11:30.

– Thursday at 8:30 AM is the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. I spent a lot of time previewing the draft last week so I will just give you the Pats’ draft picks for this year this week.

1st Round – 14th overall.

2nd Round – No pick, went to Red Deer in Jake Leschyshyn trade in 2015.

3rd Round – Two picks, 57th is their own, 61st acquired from Medicine Hat in Kyle Burroughs and Dryden Hunt deal.

4th Round – No pick, went to Red Deer in Colten Mayor and Stephen Hak trade in 2012.

5th Round – No pick, went to Calgary in Darian Henry trade in 2012.

6th Round – 125th, acquired from Red Deer in Dominik Volek trade in 2012. The Pats traded their 6th rounder to Red Deer in the Colten Mayor and Stephen Hak trade.

7th Round – 145th overall.

8th Round – Two picks. 154th via Saskatoon for Isaac Schacher in 2014 plus their own at 167.

9th Round – 189th overall.

10th Round – 211th overall.

11th Round – 233rd overall.

12th Round – 255th overall.

– Here is a top 30 list I found in my searches this week.

1. Ty Smith (D) Delta Hockey Academy 5’10-155 16g 9-19-28 14pim
2. Riley Stotts (F) Wpg Monarchs 5’10-150 31g 39-29-68 40pim
3. Jett Woo (D) Wpg Warriors 5’11-190 31g 10-27-37 30pim
4. Luca Burzan (F) NSWC 6’0-170 52g 65-43-108
5. Jackson Leppard (F) NSWC 6’1-180 51g 37-38-75
6. Cole Fonstad (F) Estevan Bruins 5’9-135 29g 36-31-67 42pim
7. Calen Addison (D) Brandon AAA 5’8-156 27g 39-28-67 42pim
8. Ethan Cap (D) NSWC 6’2-195 54g 7-24-31
9. Carson Focht (F) Notre Dame AA 5’9-154 35g 35-29-64 56pim
10. Caiden Daley (F) Wpg Warriors 5’11-147 32g 23-38-61 30pim
11. Tyler Popowich OHA 6’4-190 13g 7-8-15 23pim
12. Jonathon Tychonick (D) Calgary FamesAAA 5’9-150 33g 20-38-58 78pim
13. Koby Morriseau (F) Parkland rangers Wpg 6’1-168 29g 38-19-57 79pim
14. Carson Miller (F) Yorkton AA 5’9-160 31g 49-58-107 54pim
15. Tristan Nielsen (F) Edge Mountaineers 5’9-163 15g 15-6-21 45pim
16. Mictchell Prowse (D) OHA 6’1-180 16g 0-5-5 45pim
17. Loeden Schaufler (D) Notre DameAA 5’11-160 35g 10-22-32 22pim
18. Jackson Shepard (F) NSWC 5’7-150 51g 27-68-95
19. Austin Chorney (D) Edge Mounyaineers 5’11-186 15g 1-4-5
20. Chase Wouters (F) Lloydminster Heat 5’10-165 32g 19-38-57 46pim
21. Ryan Chyzowski (F) KamloopsAAA 5’11-175 6g 9-2-11 8pim
22. Matt Mosher (F) Delta Hockey Ac 5’11-175 16g 10-2-12 27pim
23. Spencer Moe (F) Calgary Bisons 5’6-155 27g 31-21-52 33pim
24. Luke Zazula (D) Delta Hockey Ac 5’8-145 15g 2-9-11 39pim
25. Donovan Buskey (G) NSWC
26. Dawson Barteaux (D) Yellowhead Chiefs 6’0-156 26g 7-17-24 16pim
27. Kabir Gill (F) NSWC 6’1-195 53g 19-46-65
28. Paycen Bjorklund (F) Grande Prairie Storm 5’10-150 23g 37-18-55 12pim
29. Sean Comrie (D) Edmonton CAC 6’0-165 30g 11-11-22 44pim
30. Payton McIsaac (D) Fort Saskatchewan 5’10-165 33g 11-34-45 26pim

– On another Pats note, one of the three players that graduated last season has signed his first pro contract. Out of respect to the player and the team I have been asked to keep the information quiet for now but it’s some exciting news. The other two are still working on getting deals signed.

-The Regina Thunder held their Spring Training Camp over the weekend and from where I sat things look really good for 2015. Jaeden Marwick looks primed for a big year and he’s got some potent weapons around him. The defense will be solid as well, the secondary is a veteran group and the d-line should have some good success. Biggest question is at linebacker considering 5 guys graduated from last year.

– The Toronto Blue Jays are painful to watch. Sunday they were leading 6-1 going to the 5th. I went to mow the lawn, came back and they were down 10-6. Pitching is a massive issue. I’ve given up on them already.

– The Chicago Blackhawks are a different team with Patrick Kane in the lineup. I would not be surprised to see them hoisting the Stanley Cup once again. Minnesota is overmatched. Anaheim will give them a good run in the conference final. I think the Champion will come out of those two teams. Though there could be an argument made for New York, Washington and Tampa. Good goaltending with all three those teams and some good scoring. Lots of good teams, makes for some good entertainment.

That’s it from me today. Have a great week.

Phil
@PhilTheThrill18