Red Deer Rebels goaltender Darcy Kuemper named WHL player of the year

<p>CALGARY – Red Deer Rebels goaltender Darcy Kuemper had plenty of reasons to celebrate at Wednesday’s Western Hockey League awards luncheon.</p> <p>A day before his 21st birthday, Kuemper captured both the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s player of the year and the Del Wilson Trophy as the league’s top goalie.</p> <p>”It’s pretty surreal,” said Kuemper, who led all WHL netminders with 45 victories and 13 shutouts last season. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet.</p> <p>”I’m very appreciative of all the people who voted for me. I know I was up against great competition. It’s a pretty amazing feeling.”</p> <p>Kuemper, who posted a sparkling 1.86 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage, praised his teammates for playing well in front of him all season.</p> <p>”Without the way they battled for me all year and supported me on the ice, I wouldn’t be up here,” said the native of Saskatoon.</p> <p>Kuemper also commended the Red Deer coaching staff led by bench boss Jesse Wallin.</p> <p>”They put the systems in place and sold a package that the players bought into. I can’t thank the coaches and players enough.”</p> <p>In turn, rookie Red Deer defenceman Matt Dumba gave credit to Kuemper for bailing him out on more than one occasion.</p> <p>”Darc saved my bacon a few times this year,” said Dumba, who won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s rookie of the year. “He’s probably the best goaltender I’ve ever been on the ice with. I know he’s on to great things.”</p> <p>Kuemper, a sixth round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2009, finished ahead of a pair of Spokane Chiefs to win the two trophies.</p> <p>Chiefs netminder James Reid was the other nominee for the Del Wilson Trophy.</p> <p>Although Tyler Johnson finished as the runner-up for player of the year, the 20-year-old forward took home the Brad Hornung Trophy as the WHL’s most sportsmanlike player.</p> <p>”It’s an unbelievable honour to receive this award,” said Johnson, who led the WHL with 53 goals last season.</p> <p>Johnson finished second in league scoring just one point behind this year’s Bob Clarke Trophy winner, Linden Vey. The Medicine Hat Tigers forward won the award for leading the league with 116 points.</p> <p>Stefan Elliott of the Saskatoon Blades finished ahead of Kelowna Rockets Tyson Barrie to win the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the WHL defenceman of the year.</p> <p>”It’s a huge honour especially when you look at some of the guys that have won it in the past,” said Elliott. “It just goes to show that if you work hard good things happen for you.”</p> <p>Spencer Edwards of the Moose Jaw Warriors won the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy as the humanitarian of the year, while Colin Smith of the Kamloops Blazers captured the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy as the league’s scholastic player of the year. The Swift Current Broncos were recognized as the scholastic team of the year.</p> <p>Spokane coach Don Nachbaur became the first coach in WHL history to win the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as coach of the year with three different teams (Seattle Thunderbirds in 1995 and the Tri-City Americans in 2008).</p> <p>”It’s fairly humbling actually,” said McCallum. “Any time you get a recognition like that, it’s a direct reflection of the kids and the team that you coached. I give full mark and full credit to the group of players that I had this year.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, Saskatoon Blades coach and general manager Lorne Molleken took home the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as the league’s executive of the year, while Calgary Hitmen director of business operations Mike Moore won the marketing and communications award.</p> <p>The WHL’s league championship series will start on Friday when the Portland Winterhawks host the Kootenay Ice in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.</p>