BCHL honours Mike Hardman West Kelowna’s star forward the first Warrior to win Bob Fenton Trophy

Mike Hardman of the West Kelowna Warriors was the winner of the BCHL's Bob Fenton Trophy.

The trophy is awarded to the player who “exhibits the fundamental aspects of sportsmanship while excelling at the game,” as determined by a vote of the league’s coaches.

During the 2018-19 regular season, Hardman scored 39 goals and 33 assists in only 58 games played. Meanwhile, the Hanover, Mass. native registered only 16 penalty minutes this season earning the prestige.

“The biggest thing is that I try to play the right way, but at the same time, I play physical and create scoring chances” Hardman said. “Thank you to my coaches and my teammates for pushing me to be best I can be.”

This is the first time a member of the Warriors has won the Bob Fenton Trophy, which has been awarded to BCHL players since 1967.

Hardman also finishes in third place in Warriors franchise single-season scoring with 39 goals.

Warriors coach and general manager Brandon West was confident Hardman would be a top candidate for the award.

“Mike plays the game the right way; he’s very competitive and plays within the rules,” West said.

The Warriors open the playoffs, Saturday in Wenatchee. Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven series will be played Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 6 in West Kelowna with a possible fifth game, Friday, March 8, also in West Kelowna. All Warriors home games in this series begin at 7 p.m.

If necessary, the sixth and seventh games will be played in Wenatchee on the following weekend.

Tickets for the West Kelowna home games go on sale Saturday. For more information phone 250-769-7051.

The Warriors concluded the regular season with a weekend split against Trail Smoke Eaters.

On Friday at Royal LePage Place, the Warriors won 4-3. On Saturday in Trail, the Smoke Eaters won 5-4.

Other BCHL award winners announced Tuesday were:

• Alex Newhook (Victoria), Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer

• James Miller (Penticton), Most Valuable Defenceman

• Jack LaFontaine (Penticton), Most Outstanding Goaltender

• LaFontaine and Derek Krall (Penticton), Best Goals-Against Average

• Alexander Campbell (Victoria), Rookie of the Year

• Joe Martin (Merritt), Coach of the Year