NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN - Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund stops forward Cole Sillinger during the elimination shootout at the team’s annual skills competition, Jan. 16, 2020 at the Canalta Centre.
The Medicine Hat Tigers had such a stellar class of first-year players, they couldn’t pick just one to recognize. Or even two.
The WHL team named three players its MY96 Rookie of the Year winners Wednesday night, with Cole Sillinger, Garin Bjorklund and Dru Krebs all earning the distinction.
Sillinger was an obvious choice, finishing fourth in the league and on the team in rookie scoring with 53 points in 48 games. Only Winnipeg’s Michael Teply (63 points in 53 games) had a better points-per-game average among WHL first-years.
The 16-year-old from Regina scored 22 goals including eight on the power play and continued to show fans why he was a first-round draft pick in 2018.
Bjorklund also made his mark, initially backing up Mads Sogaard in net but eventually earning 26 decisions, going an incredible 20-5-1 with a goals against average of 2.91 and save percentage of .897.
The 17-year-old from Calgary won his first seven starts dating back to the prior season when he was a mid-season call-up.
Finally, defenceman Dru Krebs earned a spot on the trophy thanks to a stellar first season in which he played 55 games and registered 13 points on the back end.
The 17-year-old from Okotoks earned extra playing time and impressed both fans and coaches on the ice.
Tigers awards continue in a piecemeal fashion with the most improved player today, the top defensive forward named tomorrow and the best defenceman on Saturday. The MVP will wrap up the awards on Sunday.
