CALGARY – Fresh off one of its best regular seasons in program history, the No. 1 ranked University of Calgary Dinos earned four major awards handed out by Canada West Wednesday.
Head coach
Mark Howell was named the Canada West Coach of the Year, while rookie
Carl Tetachuk was named the conference's goalie of the year. Tetachuk,
Carl Stankowski and
Brodan Salmond helped the Dinos claim this year's Adam Kryczka Memorial Trophy, which goes to the team with the fewest goals against on the year. The Dinos trio allowed just 63 goals this season. Calgary also wins the CW Fair Play Trophy for fewest amount of penalty minutes (362).
For Tetachuk, this has been a busy week after being named a Canada West first-team all-star and a conference all-rookie selection just one week ago. The netminder took the conference by storm from the moment he stepped onto Canada West ice, which says a lot for an athlete who plays a position that is often overlooked until problems arise.
Tetachuk, a rookie, stood out for all the right reasons. He was named the CW WHL Grad of the Month for November/December then helped his Dinos grow even stronger. He was a major factor in Calgary flipping the script on the preseason coaches' poll, which had the team ranked fifth of nine teams. Instead, Tetachuk helped them to a CW record 23 win streak, which was still active at the end of the regular season.
Along the way, he posted two shutouts and the second-best save percentage in the conference (.914). But nothing was more impressive than Tetachuk's ability to rise to the big moments, making unbelievable saves when his team needed him the most.
His iron-clad mindset kept the Dinos in close games and allowed them to squeak out wins when the odds seemed stacked against them.
"Carl is very deserving of being selected as the Canada West Goaltender of the Year in 2023," Calgary head coach
Mark Howell said. "He came into our program and has been very consistent from the beginning of the year and given our team a chance to win each night. Carl has a tremendous work ethic and is very coachable, working with our goaltending coach, Brad Kirkwood. We are very proud of Carl and thank him for what he brings to our program each day."
Meanwhile, the man at the helm of the league-leading Calgary Dinos has been named Coach of the Year after pushing his team to exceed expectations in 2022-23. Now in his 13th season as the Dinos benchboss,
Mark Howell has coached his team to a CW-record 23-straight victories to end the regular season, a special feat that can only be accomplished through strong leadership.
Howell has won this award twice before, in 2011 and 2014. He was also named the CIS (now U SPORTS) Coach of the Year in 2011.
"Mark and his staff did a tremendous job this year," Calgary Director of Athletics Ben Matchett said. "A historic season like the one the Dinos had doesn't happen without buy-in and belief from every member of the team, and the group he assembled and coached to a first-place finish has completely bought in. Combined with his role in Canada's gold medal win at the Lake Placid World University Games, it has been an incredible year for Mark, and we look forward to seeing what's in store in the postseason."
The Dinos postseason gets underway starting Thursday when they host a best-of-three series against Saskatchewan. Puck drop from Father David Bauer Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday, and Saturday, as well, if needed.
Complete list of this year's Canada West award winners
- Player of the Year: Riley Sawchuk, Mount Royal Cougars
- Goaltender of the Year: Carl Tetachuk, Calgary Dinos
- Top Defenceman: Connor Hobbs, Saskatchewan Huskies
- Rookie of the Year: Jakin Smallwood, Alberta Golden Bears
- Sportsmanship & Ability Award Winner: Matt Fonteyne, Alberta Golden Bears
- Student-Athlete Community Service Award Winner: Connor Blake, Mount Royal Cougars
- Coach of the Year: Mark Howell, Calgary Dinos
- Adam Kryczka Memorial Trophy: Carl Tetachuk, Carl Stankowski and Brodan Salmond, Calgary Dinos
- CW Fair Play Trophy: Calgary Dinos
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