This week the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is announcing its Overall Award winners for on-ice excellence: Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender, Rookie of the Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player, Coach of the Year and the newly added General Manager of the Year.
Today the KIJHL is pleased to announce Asher Lucas of the Williams Lake Mustangs as the Rookie of the Year.
“I thought he did a great job with leading by example on the ice,” said Mustangs head coach-general manager Tyrel Lucas. “Being a young 16-year-old, he provided a veteran presence mentally as well. I thought he was pretty consistent throughout the whole year.
“With the dynamics of our team, he really did a good job facing tough matchups from our opponents every night,” Tyrel continued. “He was battling through those situations and still found a way to have success – to help our team win some hockey games.”
The Williams Lake native shined for his hometown team. Lucas, who played for Team KIJHL in the BCHC Prospects Game, led all rookies with a 1.39 points per game average (33 GP, 18 G, 28 A, 46 PTS). One of the best players for the Mustangs, he played an average of 21 minutes a night and had a minus eight rating. Half of his points were collected on the power-play (seven goals, 16 assists). Both totals were first for all rookies and his assists were second in the league. Of his 28 assists, 16 were primary. Lucas was also very good in the faceoff circle, winning 54.2 per cent of his draws.
