Bryce Pickford named WHL Player of the Year; first defenseman to win the award since 2009

“Him [Pickford] and Russ were the same. When they came into my office, they never asked about Kris Russell or Bryce Pickford and what they needed, it was always ‘What about this for the team? Can we do that?’ The only time I really talked to them was about the team, it was never about themselves.”

“I do believe his off-ice stuff meant more to us than even his on-ice, which is pretty incredible because his on-ice was unbelievable”, Desjardins added.

Pickford helped Captain the Medicine Hat Tigers to just their fifth 50-win season in franchise history and the best defense of a WHL Championship in over a decade.

This marks the second straight season a Medicine Hat Tiger has taken home the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, following Gavin McKenna’s win last spring.

It is the first time a defenseman has won the award in 17 seasons, since Calgary Hitmen defenseman Karl Alzner won it back in 2009.

It is the first time since 2009 that a team has had consecutive Four Broncos Memorial Trophy winners, when the Hitmen saw Alzner and Brett Sonne win the award back-to-back in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

The Chauvin, Alta., product was also named the recipient of the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, recognizing the WHL’s Top Defenseman earlier this week.

by Will Bryant

Bryce Pickford named WHL Player of the Year; first defenseman to win the award since 2009

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