All-Stars Theodore, Kozun named finalists for WHL honors

For the Reporter

Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Shea Theodore and goalie Taran Kozun have been named Western Hockey League Awards finalists and first-team Western Conference All-Stars by the WHL.

Theodore is the West’s nominee for the WHL Defenseman of the Year award.

Theodore, a 2013 first round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, played 43 games this season and had 48 points on 13 goals and 35 assists. Theodore is the T-Birds’ all-time leader in goals scored and points for a defenseman. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championship in January.

Kozun is the Western Conference nominee for the WHL Goaltender of the Year award. Kozun had a 33-19-4-4 record this season with a .915 save percentage and a 2.41 goals against average. He had four shutouts this season.

The winners of these awards along with the WHL Player of the Year will be announced at an awards show in Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, May 6.

The T-Birds are preparing to face the Portland Winterhawks in the first round of the WHL playoffs. The series opens in Portland at 6 p.m. Saturday. The T-Birds’ first home game will be at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.

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PLAYOFF GLANCE

Seattle vs. Portland

Game 1 – Seattle at Portland, March 28, 6 p.m. (Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
Game 2 – Seattle at Portland, March 29, 5 p.m. (Moda Center)
Game 3 – Portland at Seattle, March 31, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 – Portland at Seattle, April 2, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 – Seattle at Portland, April 4, 6 p.m.* (VMC)
Game 6 – Portland at Seattle, April 7, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 7 – Seattle at Portland, April 8, 7:00 p.m.* (VMC)

*If necessary

Tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 are on sale on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

Game 3 will be a Director’s Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday game. All tickets for Game 3 are 2-for-1 and ShoWare Center will feature concession specials including $2 beer, $2 hot dogs, $2 soda and $2 popcorn for all fans.

The T-Birds have a special ticket offer for Game 4. Fans can get 10 tickets for Game 4 for $200. Anyone that purchases this playoff ticket package will also receive two additional playoff tickets to Game 4, a T-Birds t-shirt of their choice from the Hockey Store in ShoWare Center and $10 in Chuck-a-Pucks. Fans can purchase this package on the T-Birds website.

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WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR TEAMS

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender – Taran Kozun (Nipawin, Saskatchewan), Seattle Thunderbirds
Defenseman – Shea Theodore (Aldergrove, B.C.), Seattle Thunderbirds
Defenseman – Madison Bowey (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Oliver Bjorkstrand (Herning, Denmark), Portland Winterhawks *
Forward – Cole Ully (Calgary, Alberta), Kamloops Blazers
Forward – Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, SK), Kelowna Rockets

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender – Eric Comrie (Edmonton, AB), Tri-City Americans
Defenseman – Joe Hicketts (Kamloops, B.C.), Victoria Royals
Defenseman – Josh Morrissey (Calgary, AB), Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Nic Petan (Delta, B.C.), Portland Winterhawks
Forward – Nick Merkley (Calgary, AB), Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Adam Helewka (Burnaby, B.C.), Spokane Chiefs

* indicates unanimous selection

WHL Awards finalists in the following categories:

WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference – Nolan Patrick (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Kailer Yamamoto (Spokane), Spokane Chiefs

WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy

Eastern Conference – Tristan Jarry (Delta, B.C.), Edmonton Oil Kings
Western Conference – Taran Kozun (Nipawin, Saskatchewan), Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Defenseman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference – Ivan Provorov (Yaroslavl, Russia), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Shea Theodore (Aldergrove, B.C.), Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Brad Hornung Trophy

Eastern Conference – Peter Quenneville (Edmonton, Alberta), Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, SK), Kelowna Rockets

WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference – Nick McBride (Maple Ridge, B.C.), Prince Albert Raiders
Western Conference – Joe Gatenby (Kelowna, BC), Kelowna Rockets

WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference – John Paddock, Regina Pats
Western Conference – Dan Lambert, Kelowna Rockets

WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy

Eastern Conference – Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings
Western Conference – Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets

WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy

Brandon Wheat Kings: 72 GP (53 W, 11 L, 4 OTL, 4 SL, 114 pts.

WHL Top Scorer (Bob Clarke Trophy)/Plus-Minus Award

Oliver Bjorkstrand (Herning, Denmark), Portland Winterhawks

59 GP – 63 G – 55 A – 118 pts. – +60 – 35 PIM

Nominees for the WHL’s Player of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, Top Official and Marketing/Public Relations Award will be announced at a later date.