Wong deserves recognition

It won’t be Tyler Wong. When the dust settles and the Western Hockey League names its MVP, the winner will not be Tyler Wong. The Lethbridge Hurricanes captain has 48 goals and 53 assists and sits third among scorers in the league.

Despite having less-heralded talent around him, he’s having a great season. He deserves consideration for the award, and he’ll be down the list on many ballots. He’ll be the feel-good vote for everyone not working for the Regina Pats but he will not win the award.

Wong’s WHL resume includes four head coaches — Rich Preston, Drake Berehowsky, Peter Anholt and Brent Kisio. He’s been good for all of them. Taken in the fifth round of the bantam entry draft in 2011, Wong was one of the many Smurfs selected during the Canes’ darkest days. He was completely overshadowed by 2011ers Reid Duke and Ryan Pilon.

Since his first appearance with the team, he’s played a very similar game to now. There are few spots on the ice Wong won’t charge into. He’s about five-foot-eight and plays that little-ball-ofhate style that makes him a fan favourite here. He also answers questions with long, accurate sentences. That makes him a media favourite. Wong has answered some difficult questions in his time in Lethbridge. While other players ducked their heads, Wong was always willing to comment on shareholder votes, coach firings and dismal results.

He punctuates his interviews with faith, always quick to credit teammates, too. He tweets out bible verses and is a kid that frontoffice staff can put in any situation. His efforts raising money for KidSport last season earned him the WHL’s humanitarian award.

Few players have lived with more hockey misery than Wong. Unlike so many of his contemporaries — Pilon, Duke, Macoy Erkamps, Sam McKechnie, Jaimen Yakubowski — Wong never demanded or asked for a trade. Quite the contrary, Wong has settled into life in Lethbridge. His professional options are limited by his height, but I’ve never thought Wong put all his chips in one basket.

He was No. 21 in a list of the top 30 Hurricane players of all time, which I can’t argue with but I think when it’s all over, he’ll rank much higher on the next list.

Adam Brooks or Sam Steel will be your MVP, WHL fans. The Regina Pats forwards are outscoring Wong and they are sexy names to voters. They are also fully deserving of the league’s Four Broncos Memorial Trophy.

But so is Tyler Wong.