Five WHLers Win 2024 CHL Awards
Jagger Firkus led the way with two awards, winning CHL Player of the Year and CHL Top Scorer.
Photo by Eric Young/CHL - Five WHLers Win 2024 CHL AwardsSaturday was a special day for the WHL as five players walked away with the year-end CHL Awards. It was the third straight season that the David Branch Player of the Year Award was given to a WHL player and the first time since 2006 that multiple members of the Medicine Hat Tigers organization walked away with awards. Here is a look at the winners and their seasons.
Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors – CHL David Branch Player of the Year & CHL Top Scorer
After recording 126 points in 63 games, Jagger Firkus was named this year's CHL Player of the Year while also capturing CHL Top Scorer. The Seattle Kraken prospect becomes the second straight WHL player to take home both awards, following Connor Bedard, who achieved the feat last season. Thanks to his remarkable season, Firkus became the fourth player in Warriors history to surpass the 300 career point mark while becoming the fifth player in franchise history to surpass 60 goals in a season.
Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers – CHL Rookie of the Year
What a year it has been for Gavin McKenna. The Medicine Hat Tigers' superstar recorded 97 points in 61 games and set a new Canadian record at the U18s with 20 points at this year's tournament. Not draft eligible until 2026, fans in Medicine Hat should be excited for what he has in store for his second entire WHL season.
Noah Chadwick, Lethbridge Hurricanes – CHL Scholastic Player of the Year
Noah Chadwick was this year's recipient of the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. According to the WHL, "At Lethbridge College, Chadwick earned a 98-percent average in English 1150 – Academic Writing this fall. Working through Introduction to Statistics at Athabasca University, Chadwick secured a 93-percent average while also recording a 91-percent grade in Psychology as a Natural Science." Chadwick was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023 and is expected to make the jump to the AHL next season.
Brayden Yager, Moose Jaw Warriors – CHL Sportsman of the Year
Brayden Yager took home his second career CHL Award, this time winning the CHL Sportsman of the Year. The former CHL Rookie of the Year and Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick finished the season with 95 points while recording only 20 penalty minutes. Over his 211-game WHL regular season career so far, Yager has accumulated only 56 penalty minutes compared to 250 points.
Cayden Lindstrom, Medicine Hat Tigers – CHL Top Draft Prospect
After finishing the season ranked third among North American Skaters by NHL Central, Cayden Lindstrom is this year's winner of the CHL Top Draft Prospect Award. Lindstrom finished the season with 46 points in 32 games but missed the majority of the season with an injury. Listed at 6'4", 216 pounds, Lindstrom is expected to go top ten at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
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