Francesco Seren RossoCome tutti gli anni, giocatori, allenatori e membri dello staff delle 17 squadre della CHL sono chiamati a votare il meglio della lega per ben 46 categorie differenti, ed ovviamente ce n’è per tutti: si passa dal “tradizionale” riconoscimento al miglior giocatore, Jeff Christian degli Youngstown Steelhounds, ed a quello per il miglior portiere (David Cacciola dei New Mexico Scorpions), a quelli più originali come la miglior mascotte, che è risultata essere quella degli Amarillo Gorillas, alla migliore divisa, quella degli Oklahoma City Blazers; ma sicuramente il più originale (e sulla cui utilità si potrebbe discuterne a lungo) è il sondaggio per decidere l’arena con la miglior musica negli intervalli di gioco, ovvero il Laredo Entertainment Center. Ogni votante poteva esprime tre preferenze per ogni categoria, con cinque punti la primo, tre al secondo ed uno al terzo.
La franchigia più premiata è stata quella dei Colorado Eagles, con otto riconoscimenti, seguiti dagli Oklahoma City Blazers che ne hanno avuti sei, mentre Youngstown è la squadr più rappresentata nei premi riguardanti l’aspetto tecnico della votazione.
Di seguito, riportiamo l’esito delle votazioni, tra parentesi i voti ottenuti e le prime posizioni.
1 Best Overall Player
1 – Jeff Christian, Youngstown (55, 8)
2 – Brent Kelly, Arizona (34, 3)
3 – Riley Nelson, Colorado (27, 3)
2 Best Skater
1 – Riley Nelson, Colorado (56, 10)
2 – Joe Blaznek, Wichita (36, 4)
3 – Brent Kelly, Arizona (18, 2)
3 Best Stickhandler
1 – Chris Richards, Youngstown (29, 5)
2 – Brent Kelly, Arizona (26, 3)
3 – Jeff Christian, Youngstown (19, 3)
4 Best Playmaker
1 – Chris Richards, Youngstown (42, 7)
2 – Jeff Christian, Youngstown (32, 4)
3 – Jeff Bes, Laredo (14, 1)
5 Smartest Player
1 – Jeff Bes, Laredo (32, 5)
2 – Jeff Christian, Youngstown (26, 4)
3 – Riley Nelson, Colorado (16, 1)
6 Best Goaltender
1 – David Cacciola, New Mexico (32, 4)
2 – John DeCaro, Bossier-Shreveport (27, 3)
3 – Sebastien Laplante, Wichita (21, 2)
7 Most Underrated Player
1 – Derrick McIver, Corpus Christi (24, 3)
2 – Cory Stillman, Arizona (17, 2)
3 – Rich Hansen, Amarillo (15, 1)
8 Best On Power Play
1 – Jeff Christian, Youngstown (37, 5)
2 – Chris Richards, Youngstown (25, 2)
3 – Derek Landmesser, Memphis (19, 3)
9 Best Penalty Killer
1 – Riley Nelson, Colorado (61, 11)
2 – Craig Hartsburg, Colorado 16, 1)
3 – Joe Blaznek, Wichita (12, 1)
10 Hardest Shooter
1 – Joe Blaznek, Wichita (31, 5)
2 – David Masse, Rio Grande Valley (22, 2)
3 – Aaron MacInnis, New Mexico (15, 2)
11 Best Defensive Forward
1 – Dave Rattray, Tulsa (24, 3)
2 – Craig Hartsburg, Colorado (21, 3)
3 – Serge Dube, Laredo (14, 2)
12 Best Offensive Defenseman
1 – Derek Landmesser, Memphis (49, 7)
2 – Brad Williamson, Colorado (43, 6)
3 – Mike Burgoyne, Oklahoma City (20, 2)
13 Best Defensive Defenseman
1 – Aaron MacInnis, New Mexico (22, 2)
2 – Quade Lightbody, Bossier-Shreveport (20, 2)
3 – Tyler Fleck, Oklahoma City (14, 2)
14 Best Player On Face-Offs
1 – Dave Rattray, Tulsa (22, 3)
2 – Jason Cirone, Rio Grande Valley (19, 2)
3 – Forbes MacPherson, Bossier-Shreveport (15, 2)
15 Best Bodychecker
1 – Tyler Fleck, Oklahoma City (23, 4)
2 – Daniel Tetrault, Wichita (19, 2)
3 – Derek Landmesser, Memphis (14, 1)
16 Best Fighter (Heavyweight)
1 – Ryan Tobler, Colorado (32, 5)
2 – Adam Stefishen, Rocky Mountain (24, 3)
3 – Jeff Ewasko, Odessa (19, 3)
17 Best Fighter (Pound for Pound)
1 – Graham Dearle, Oklahoma City (32, 5)
2 – David Silverstone, Amarillo (28, 4)
3 – Fraser Filipic, Colorado (26, 3)
18 Best Power Forward
1 – Ryan Tobler, Colorado (51, 7)
2 – Jeff Christian, Youngstown (37, 6)
3 – Cory Stillman, Arizona (12, 1)
19 Best Leader
1 – Dan Wildfong, Bossier-Shreveport (35, 5)
2 – Jeff Christian, Youngstown (22, 3)
3 – Riley Nelson, Colorado (16, 2)
20 Most Gentlemanly Player
1 – Brent Kelly, Arizona (41, 5)
2 – Riley Nelson, Colorado (19, 3)
3 – Jason Duda, Wichita (8, 1)
21 Most Annoying Player
1 – Dan Wildfong, Bossier-Shreveport (42, 7)
2 – Chris Greene, Arizona (26, 4)
3 – Bryan Lachapelle, Tulsa (15, 1)
22 Best Rookie
1 – Bobby Chaumont, Laredo (61, 8)
2 – Lance Herauf, New Mexico (25, 4)
3 – Ryan McLeod, New Mexico (10, 1)
23 Best Coach
1 – Terry Ruskowski, Laredo (42, 5)
2 – Kevin McClelland, Memphis (33, 4)
3 – Scott Muscutt, Bossier-Shreveport (27, 4)
24 Best Equipment / Training Staff
1 – Rocky Mountain Rage (30, 4)
2 – Laredo Bucks (28, 4)
3 – Oklahoma City Blazers (27, 4)
25 Best Fans
1 – Colorado Eagles (42, 4)
2 – Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (30, 4)
3 – Oklahoma City Blazers (29, 4)
26 Most Annoying Fans
1 – Wichita Thunder (56, 10)
2 – Austin Ice Bats (22, 3)
3 – Laredo Bucks (16, 1)
27 Toughest Building to Win In
1 – Budweiser Events Center, Colorado (61, 11)
2 – CenturyTel Center, Bossier-Shreveport (28, 1)
3 – Laredo Entertainment Center, Laredo (22, 3)
28 Hardest Working Team
1 – Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (56, 7)
2 – Laredo Bucks (21, 2)
3 – New Mexico Scorpions (17, 0)
29 Best Referee
1 – Steve Cruickshank (58, 10)
2 – Keith Kaval (26, 4)
3 – Tudor Floru (14, 1)
30 Best Arena
1 – Ford Center, Oklahoma City (69, 13)
2 – Tim’s Toyota Center, Arizona (22, 2)
3 – Broomfield Event Center, Rocky Mountain (18, 1)
31 Best Locker Rooms
1 – Dodge Arena, Rio Grande Valley (38, 6)
2 – Ford Center, Oklahoma City (36, 6)
3 – CenturyTel Center, Bossier-Shreveport (24, 3)
32 Best Team Logo
1 – Odessa Jackalopes (30, 4)
2 – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (24, 3)
3 – Rocky Mountain Rage (18, 2)
33 Best Team Uniforms
1 – Oklahoma City Blazers (32, 6)
2 – Colorado Eagles (27, 4)
3 – Tulsa Oilers (18, 1)
34 Best Broadcaster
1 – Jim Erickson, Memphis (40, 6)
2 – Joe Dominey, Laredo (36, 5)
3 – Josh Bogorad, Corpus Christi (22, 1)
35 Best PA Announcer
1 – Ben Buckland, Oklahoma City (46, 8)
2 – Ryan Pritt, Youngstown (20, 2)
3 – Reed Saunders, Colorado (15, 1)
36 Best Press Box
1 – City Bank Coliseum, Lubbock (31, 4)
2 – American Bank Center, Corpus Christi (19, 2)
3 – Budweiser Events Center, Colorado (14, 2)
37 Best Game Notes
1 – Lubbock Cotton Kings (33, 4)
2 – Memphis RiverKings (25, 4)
3 – Laredo Bucks (22, 2)
38 Best Team Website
1 – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (23, 3)
2 – Oklahoma City Blazers (19, 3)
3 – Amarillo Gorillas (18, 2)
39 Best Mascot
1 – Stomp, Amarillo (23, 3)
2 – Fang, Austin (21, 3)
3 – Clawed, Bossier-Shreveport (18, 2)
40 Best On Ice Promotions
1 – Oklahoma City Blazers (23, 3)
2 – Wichita Thunder (21, 3)
3 – Lubbock Cotton Kings (12, 1)
41 Best Cheerleaders
1 – Eagles Chicks, Colorado (45, 8)
2 – Ice Girls, Corpus Christi (28, 3)
3 – Lady SteelHounds, Youngstown (19, 1)
42 Best Arena Music
1 – Laredo Entertainment Center, Laredo (25, 3)
2 – DeSoto Civic Center, Memphis (16, 2)
3 – City Bank Coliseum, Lubbock (14, 2)
43 Best Arena Concessions
1 – Ector County Coliseum, Odessa (23, 3)
2 – CenturyTel Center, Bossier-Shreveport (18, 3)
3 – Santa Ana Star Center, New Mexico (16, 2)
44 Best City
1 – Austin, TX (45, 6)
2 – Oklahoma City, OK (43, 7)
3 – Loveland, CO (19, 2)
45 Best Host Hotel
1 – Fort Collins Marriott, Colorado (36, 5)
2 – MCM Elegante, Odessa (32, 3)
3 – Embassy Suites, Rio Grande Valley (30, 4)
46 Best Booster Club
1 – Mudbug Boilers, Bossier-Shreveport (39, 7)
2 – Jack-Pack, Odessa (25, 3)
3 – The Storm, Wichita (14, 2)