Multiple Huskies garner conference honours

EDMONTON – A total of five members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team were honoured Wednesday by Canada West, as the conference's men's hockey all-stars and all-rookies were unveiled.

Jesse Forsberg, Taran Kozun and Carson Stadnyk were all named first team all-stars while Kohl Bauml was named to the second team and Gordie Ballhorn was placed on the all-rookie team.

Forsberg is second in scoring among defencemen in the conference after putting up 21 points in 24 regular season games. Kozun meanwhile, had one of the best seasons in conference history, setting the Canada West record for wins in a season, shutouts in a season as well as consecutive shutout streak. Rounding out the first teamers is Stadnyk, who leads the Huskies with 32 points, good enough for fourth in the conference.

Bauml has 29 points in 28 games to sit second on the Huskies, while Ballhorn's tally of 12 points leads all rookie defencemen.

Once again, Western Hockey League (WHL) graduates formed the foundation for the Canada West selections, as 16 of the 18 total players selected are products of the major junior league.

Leading the way in terms of selections were the Golden Bears, who had six players acknowledged, while the Huskies were a close second with five. Both teams return to action this weekend after first round byes, as Alberta hosts the Calgary Dinos, while Saskatchewan welcomes the Mount Royal Cougars.

The first-place Huskies had three players named conference first teamers, while the Bears had a pair.

The only player stopping a Sask-Alta first team sweep was Calgary Dino Riley Sheen, who used a 34-point season to earn a first team spot at forward.
Among the most interesting ballot battles decided by the conference's eight men's hockey head coaches, who selected the winners, was at the goaltending position.

Saskatchewan's Kozun edged out Zach Sawchenko for the first team spot. The pair were undoubtedly the conference's best between the pipes this season, tying for the best save percentage in the conference at .926. The pair also set a new conference record for shutouts in a single season, both registering five perfect nights.

In terms of the all-rookie team, the future is bright for the conference's Calgary-based schools, as both the Dinos and their crosstown rivals the Mount Royal Cougars had a pair of first-year players honoured.

Among the players named all-rookies was MRU netminder Riley Morris. The former Okotoks Oiler finished third in conference save percentage at .919, as the first-year goalie earned 10 wins in 19 games played.

The conference major awards will be announced on Wednesday, February 27 in advance of the CW Final, which gets underway Friday, March 1.

You can watch all the CW playoff action by tuning into Canada West TV.

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / HOMETOWN / MOST RECENT WHL CLUB

G / Taran Kozun / Saskatchewan 2 / Nipawin, Sask. / Seattle Thunderbirds
D / Jesse Forsberg / Saskatchewan / 5 / Waldheim, Sask. / Moose Jaw Warriors
D / Jason Fram / Alberta / 3 / Delta, B.C. / Spokane Chiefs
F / Luke Philp / Alberta / 3 / Canmore, Alta. / Red Deer Rebels
F / Riley Sheen / Calgary / 3 / Edmonton, Alta. / Red Deer Rebels
F / Carson Stadnyk / Saskatchewan / 3 / Saskatoon, Sask. / Everett Silvertips