Tigers’ McKenna, Lindstrom nominated for CHL awards
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on May 22, 2024.
sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews Two Medicine Hat Tigers are on the ballots for Canadian Hockey League’s awards. Rookie forward Gavin McKenna is one of three nominees for the CHL’s rookie of the year award and forward Cayden Lindstrom is nominated for the CHL’s top draft prospect award. The CHL rookie of the year awards is presented to the top rookie in the CHL based on the recipients of the three league awards in the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. McKenna won the WHL’s Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy and is nominated alongside Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs who won the OHL’s Emms Family Award and Émile Guité of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens who was the QMJHL’s rookie of the year. McKenna had 34 goals in 97 points in 61 games, adding two goals and six points in five playoff games. O’Brien had 13 goals and 64 points in 61 regular season games, with a goal and five points in six postseason games. Guité chipped in 25 goals and 57 points in 61 games, notching two goals and four points in eight playoff games. Lindstrom is nominated for the top draft prospect award, alongside Zayne Parekh of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit and Maxim Massé of the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Saguenéens. The CHL top draft prospect award is presented annually to the top prospect eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft from the Canadian Hockey League. Ranked No. 3 by NHL Central Scouting in their final rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, Lindstrom had 27 goals and 46 points in 32 games before injury held him out of the second half of the Tigers’ regular season. He had a goal and two points in four playoff games. Parekh was ranked No. 5 by Central Scouting in their finals rankings and was the top-ranked North American skater from the OHL on their list. The defenceman had 33 goals and 96 points in 66 regular season games. He had two goals and 11 points in 13 playoff games and will suit up in the Memorial Cup with the host Spirit. Ranked at No. 30 by NHL Central Scouting, Massé was the second highest-ranked skater from the QMJHL on their list. Massé score 36 goals with 75 points in 67 games for Chicoutimi, notching three goals and six points in eight playoff games. The awards will be handed out June 1 during a ceremony at the Memorial Cup in Saginaw, Mich. 15-14
