Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy

The Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the defenceman of the year in the Western Hockey League (WHL). It is named after one of the league's founders, Bill Hunter, who was the driving force behind the creation of the WHL. Hunter served as the owner, general manager and head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings, and was the first Chairman of the Board of the new league.[1]

## List of winners

[edit]

denotes also named CHL Defenceman of the Year

WHL Defenceman of the Year[1] Season | Player | Team

|
|

1966–67 | Barry Gibbs | Estevan Bruins
1967–68 | Gerry Hart | Flin Flon Bombers
1968–69 | Dale Hoganson | Estevan Bruins
1969–70 | Jim Hargreaves | Winnipeg Jets
1970–71 | Ron Jones | Edmonton Oil Kings
1971–72 | Jim Watson | Calgary Centennials
1972–73 | George Pesut | Saskatoon Blades
1973–74 | Pat Price | Saskatoon Blades
1974–75 | Rick Lapointe | Victoria Cougars
1975–76 | Kevin McCarthy | Winnipeg Clubs
1976–77 | Barry Beck | New Westminster Bruins
1977–78 | Brad McCrimmon | Brandon Wheat Kings
1978–79 | Keith Brown | Portland Winter Hawks
1979–80 | Dave Babych | Portland Winter Hawks
1980–81 | Jim Benning | Portland Winter Hawks
1981–82 | Gary Nylund | Portland Winter Hawks
1982–83 | Gary Leeman | Regina Pats
1983–84 | Bob Rouse | Lethbridge Broncos
1984–85 | Wendel Clark | Saskatoon Blades
1985–86[a] | (West) Glen Wesley | Portland Winter Hawks
(East) Emanuel Viveiros | Prince Albert Raiders
1986–87[a] | (West) Glen Wesley | Portland Winter Hawks
(East) Wayne McBean | Medicine Hat Tigers
1987–88 | Greg Hawgood | Kamloops Blazers
1988–89 | Dan Lambert | Swift Current Broncos
1989–90 | Kevin Haller | Regina Pats
1990–91 | Darryl Sydor | Kamloops Blazers
1991–92 | Richard Matvichuk | Saskatoon Blades
1992–93 | Jason Smith | Regina Pats
1993–94 | Brendan Witt | Seattle Thunderbirds
1994–95 | Nolan Baumgartner | Kamloops Blazers
1995–96 | Nolan Baumgartner | Kamloops Blazers
1996–97 | Chris Phillips | Lethbridge Hurricanes
1997–98 | Michal Rozsival | Swift Current Broncos
1998–99 | Brad Stuart | Calgary Hitmen
1999–2000 | Micki Dupont | Kamloops Blazers
2000–01 | Christian Chartier | Prince George Cougars
2001–02 | Dan Hamhuis | Prince George Cougars
2002–03 | Jeff Woywitka | Red Deer Rebels
2003–04 | Dion Phaneuf | Red Deer Rebels
2004–05 | Dion Phaneuf | Red Deer Rebels
2005–06 | Kris Russell | Medicine Hat Tigers
2006–07 | Kris Russell | Medicine Hat Tigers
2007–08 | Karl Alzner | Calgary Hitmen
2008–09 | Jonathon Blum | Vancouver Giants
2009–10 | Tyson Barrie | Kelowna Rockets
2010–11 | Stefan Elliott | Saskatoon Blades
2011–12 | Alex Petrovic | Red Deer Rebels
2012–13 | Brenden Kichton | Spokane Chiefs
2013–14 | Derrick Pouliot | Portland Winterhawks
2014–15 | Shea Theodore | Seattle Thunderbirds
2015–16 | Ivan Provorov | Brandon Wheat Kings
2016–17 | Ethan Bear | Seattle Thunderbirds
2017–18 | Kale Clague | Brandon/Moose Jaw
2018–19 | Ty Smith | Spokane Chiefs
2019–20 | Ty Smith | Spokane Chiefs
2020–21 | Braden Schneider | Brandon Wheat Kings
2021–22 | Olen Zellweger | Everett Silvertips
2022–23 | Olen Zellweger | Kamloops Blazers
2023–24 | Denton Mateychuk | Moose Jaw Warriors

## See also

[edit]

* CHL Defenceman of the Year – First awarded in 1987–88
* Max Kaminsky Trophy – Ontario Hockey League Defenceman of the Year
* Emile Bouchard Trophy – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Defenceman of the Year

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b In 85–86 and 86–87, the WHL handed out separate awards for the East and West divisions

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Watts, Jesse, ed. (2013). 2013–14 WHL Media Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 267.

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Western Hockey League

| Western Conference| Eastern Conference

|

| B.C. Division|

* Kamloops Blazers
* Kelowna Rockets
* Prince George Cougars
* Vancouver Giants
* Victoria Royals

|

U.S. Division|

* Everett Silvertips
* Portland Winterhawks
* Seattle Thunderbirds
* Spokane Chiefs
* Tri-City Americans
* Wenatchee Wild

| Central Division|

* Calgary Hitmen
* Edmonton Oil Kings
* Lethbridge Hurricanes
* Medicine Hat Tigers
* Red Deer Rebels
* Swift Current Broncos

|

East Division|

* Brandon Wheat Kings
* Moose Jaw Warriors
* Prince Albert Raiders
* Regina Pats
* Saskatoon Blades

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