From cjhlhockey.com
TORONTO – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), in conjunction with the National Hockey League Coaches’ Association (NHLCA), announced Monday the names of the six finalists for the Darcy Haugan/Mark Cross Memorial Award, emblematic of CJHL Coach of the Year, for the 2024-25 campaign.
Presented annually by the CJHL and NHLCA, this distinguished honour serves in memory of Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) head coach Darcy Haugan and assistant Mark Cross, who were among those who sadly lost their lives following the tragic events of April 6, 2018.
Each of the finalists were determined through a voting process completed by the CJHL’s nine-member leagues, for their respective contributions throughout the course of the regular season.
Trevor Blevins, Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) – The Mustangs showed no letdown from last year’s run to the Centennial Cup championship game, finishing with another stellar run in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. … The standard that the long-time Melfort coach Blevins holds his team to, had much to do with it. … With another experienced team, he guided the Mustangs to a SJHL-best record of 46-8-0-2, boasting a winning percentage of .839… 41 of the Mustangs wins came in regulation time, while three more were decided in overtime and two via the shootout. … Melfort had the best power play (25%) and penalty kill (85.3%) in the league. … Their goal differential of plus-98 was 22 tallies better than the next closest side in the 12-team SJHL. … The Mustangs were also first overall in goals-scored (221) and allowed the fewest against (123). … Hailing from Melfort, Sask., Blevins also played his junior hockey for his hometown Mustangs. … He has served as head coach of the club since the 2011-12 season and has also been their general manager the past five campaigns.
With files from Jamie Neugebauer & Clark Munroe, Co–Directors of Media (SJHL)
