A complete player
Red Wings head coach says IJHL MVP provides more than offence
SUMMERSIDE – Chandler Wood’s numbers only tell part of the story.
It’s the intangibles the rightwinger brings to the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings that has impressed head coach Nathan DesRoches.
Wood, who is in his first season as team captain in his second year with the Abram-Village-based Red Wings, was named the Island Junior Hockey League’s most valuable player on Thursday.
“Chandler had an excellent season statistics-wise, but the thing I love most about him is his leadership, on and off the ice, the way he conducts himself and how he plays in his end defensively,” said DesRoches. “He’s on our first-line penalty kill, he’s on our power play and he just does it all for us.”
A product of the Alberton-based Western Regals and Kensington Wild midget programs, Wood entered Friday’s action with a league-leading 61 points and 27 goals in 32 games. He sat second in assists with 34, one behind linemate Isaac Callaghan.
“Chandler’s very welldeserving of the MVP award,” said DesRoches. “His work ethic is second to none, he’s worked his way up and he’s just like a sponge. He wants to be better every day and he’s a Red Wing through and through.”
OTHER AWARDS
Three of Wood’s teammates with the first-place Red Wings also received major awards. Isaac Knox was named best defensive forward, Silas Handrahan received the award for top forward and Luke Oliver was voted top goaltender.
Knox, who plays on a line with Wood and Callaghan, is also a force offensively. He recorded 44 points in his first 27 games.
“Defensively, Isaac’s speed is what catches everybody’s eye, but his attention to details and his stops and starts are phenomenal,” said DesRoches. “In junior hockey, you hear a lot of coaches emphasizing on starting and stopping on pucks, getting in good habits and
Isaac has been like that from Day 1.”
Handrahan sat third in league scoring with 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 31 contests entering Friday’s game against the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers. “Silas is a phenomenal hockey talent,” said DesRoches, who noted speed is what drives Handrahan’s game.
“He’s a true competitor and is a pleasure to coach.
“I thought last year he was left off on a couple of awards and I’m really happy for him to be recognized. There are a lot of games where he just simply takes over.”
Oliver went 17-1 (wonlost) with a microscopic 1.89 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in his first 18 games.
“Luke is a great teammate and he puts the work in,” said DesRoches. “He comes off as this fun-loving guy, but the reality is he’s a real competitor in the net.
“He works hard for everything that he does. He’s had a very exceptional season this year and we are going to rely on him in the playoffs.”
TOP DEFENCEMAN
Tyler Gallant of Kensington was selected best defenceman. Gallant had nine points in his first 32 games going into Friday’s action.
“I am glad the other teams that voted for Ty could see his value,” said Vipers head coach Wade Waddell. “He is not the type of player who’s going to put up huge offensive numbers, but his game has no real weaknesses and night-in and night-out he is arguably our best player.
“Tyler is also a very wellrespected player in our room.”
Rookie defenceman Brett MacDonald, who joined the Vipers out of the Mid-Isle Matrix midget AAA program, was chosen the most improved player. He registered six points in his first 31 games.
“As the season went on, Brett moved up our depth chart from a guy who was playing 10 minutes a game to a guy who is playing on our power play, killing penalties and at this level I’ve never seen a kid’s skating improve as much as Brett’s has this season,” said Waddell. “To me, it was a no-brainer for Brett to be named most improved player.
“In my time coaching, I’ve never seen a player come from one spot and end up at another in such a short time. It’s been remarkable to watch.”
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Sherwood A&S Scrap Metal Metros defenceman Hunter Bradley, who has 15 points in 31 games, is the rookie of the year.
“(Bradley’s) an important player for us,” said Metros head coach Brandon Birt. “He played all kinds of big minutes for us right out of the gate, penalty kill, power play, is on the ice late in the game, late in periods and every situation he’s one of our go-to guys.”
Two Montague-based Hynes Paving Maniacs forwards were recognized. Jacob MacEachern, who has five points in 32 games, was selected the most sportsmanlike player and Ty Peardon was voted the league’s unsung hero.
“Jacob is a great two-way player, a great team player and he’s gained respect throughout the league with a clean style of play,” said Maniacs head coach Steve Jamieson. “He plays hard but he plays the right way.”
Peardon has nine points in 31 games.
“Ty Peardon is a great twoway player,” said Jamieson. “He’s fast, he comes to play every night, he has a good attitude and is a very, very good team player.
“Any team in the league would be more than happy to have him in the lineup.”