After skating to the second best record in the regular season, members of the Swift Current Broncos were prominently featured in the Western Hockey League Conference All-Stars Teams and awards nominees.
Captain Glenn Gawdin led the way as the winner of the WHL Plus-Minus Award after posting a plus-61 rating in 67 games this season. He was also named to the Eastern Conference First All-Star Team after finishing second in the WHL with 125 points.
Gawdin was joined on the First All-Star team by linemate Aleksi Heponiemi, who led the league with 90 assists and was third with 118 points in only 57 games. He was also named the Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player, as he attempts to become the second straight Bronco to win the Brad Hornung Award after Tyler Steenbergen won last season. Heponiemi was named the WHL Rookie of the Year last season.
STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER
Both Tyler Steenbergen and defenseman Colby Sissons were named to the Second All-Star Team. Steenbergen posted 47 goals and 102 points in only 56 games. Sissons was tied for third in WHL scoring amongst WHL defenseman with 71 points and registered a plus-46 rating while skating in all 72 games.
Head coach Manny Viveiros was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Broncos to a 48-17-5-2 record.
WHL Eastern Conference All-Star Teams
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Logan Flodell (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Defenceman – Kale Clague (Lloydminster, Alta.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Defenceman – David Quenneville (Edmonton, Alta.) – Medicine Hat Tigers
Forward – Jayden Halbgewachs (Emerald Park, Sask.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Forward – Glenn Gawdin (Richmond, B.C.) – Swift Current Broncos
Forward – Aleksi Heponiemi (Tampere, Finland) – Swift Current Broncos
SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Logan Thompson (Calgary, Alta.) – Brandon Wheat Kings
Defenceman – Josh Mahura (St. Albert, Alta.) – Regina Pats
Defenceman – Colby Sissons (Edmonton, Alta.) – Swift Current Broncos
Forward – Tyler Steenbergen (Sylvan Lake, Alta.) – Swift Current Broncos
Forward – Jordy Bellerive (North Vancouver, B.C.) – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Forward – Brayden Burke (Edmonton, Alta.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
WHL Western Conference All-Star Teams
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, Alta.) – Everett Silvertips
Defenceman – Cal Foote (Engelwood, Colo.) – Kelowna Rockets
Defenceman – Ty Smith (Lloydminster, Alta.) – Spokane Chiefs
Forward – Matthew Phillips (Calgary, Alta.) – Victoria Royals
Forward – Cody Glass (Winnipeg, Man.) – Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Calgary, Alta.) – Spokane Chiefs
SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – David Tendeck (North Vancouver, B.C.) – Vancouver Giants
Defenceman – Henri Jokiharju (Tampere, Finland) – Portland Winterhawks
Defenceman – Juuso Valimaki (Nokia, Finland) – Tri-City Americans
Forward – Ty Ronning (Burnaby, B.C.) – Vancouver Giants
Forward – Dillon Dube (Cochrane, Alta.) – Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Patrick Bajkov (Nanaimo, B.C.) – Everett Silvertips
2017-18 WHL Conference Award Winners
WHL Player of the Year (Four Broncos Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Player of the Year – Jayden Halbgewachs (Emerald Park, Sask.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Player of the Year – Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, Alta.) – Everett Silvertips
WHL Top Goaltender (Del Wilson Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Top Goaltender – Logan Flodell (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Western Conference Top Goaltender – Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, Alta.) – Everett Silvertips
WHL Top Defenceman (Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Top Defenceman – Kale Clague (Lloydminster, Alta.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference Top Defenceman – Cal Foote (Engelwood, Colo.) – Kelowna Rockets
WHL Rookie of the Year (Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy)
Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year – Dylan Cozens (Whitehorse, Yukon) – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Western Conference Rookie of the Year – Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, B.C.) – Vancouver Giants
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year (Brad Hornung Trophy)
Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player – Aleksi Heponiemi (Tampere, Finland) – Swift Current Broncos
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 – Alan Millar – Moose Jaw Warriors
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 – Manny Viveiros – Swift Current Broncos
Western Conference Coach of the Year – Dennis Williams – Everett Silvertips
The following individual and team awards were won during the 2017-18 WHL Regular Season:
WHL Regular Season Champions (Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy)
Moose Jaw Warriors: 72 GP – 52 W – 15 L – 2 OTL – 3 SOL – 109 PTS
WHL Top Scorer (Bob Clarke Trophy)
Jayden Halbgewachs (Emerald Park, Sask.) – Moose Jaw Warriors
72 GP – 70 G – 59 A – 129 PTS – +43 – 12 PIM
WHL Plus-Minus Award
Glenn Gawdin (Richmond, B.C.) – Swift Current Broncos
67 GP – 56 G – 69 A – 125 PTS – +61 – 101 PIM
WHL Conference Awards for WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, WHL Humanitarian of the Year, WHL Top Official and the WHL Business Award will be announced at a later date.
