MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager has won the third award of his Western Hockey League career.
The WHL announced Thursday the 19-year-old forward is the recipient of the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the league’s Most Sportsmanlike Player for the 2023-24 season.
It’s the second straight year Yager has won the award and the third time the WHL has called his name come awards time after he was also named the Rookie of the Year after the 2021-22 campaign.
“It’s an honour to receive this award,” Yager said. “I’d like to congratulate the other Division winners on their amazing season. I’d like to take the time to thank my coaching staff, my teammates and the entire organization of the Moose Jaw Warriors for all the support and helping me get to where I am today.
“I’d also like to thank my family for all their support throughout the years and everything they’ve done for me.”
The 19-year-old Saskatoon product recorded 35 goals and 60 assists for 95 points in 57 games during the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season, finishing third in scoring in the Warriors line-up. More importantly, Yager continued to show tremendous discipline on the ice, with only 20 penalty minutes.
This represents sixth time a member of the Moose Jaw Warriors has been named WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player, with Justin Almeida last claiming the honour in the 2018-19 campaign.
Yager is also the first back-to-back winner of the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy since Tyler Ennis of the Medicine Hat Tigers accomplished the feat during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.
“On behalf of Brad, I am thrilled to honour Brayden Yager of the Moose Jaw Warriors for the second consecutive year as the winner of the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy,“ said Leanne Wright, sister of Brad Hornung, who passed away in 2022. “Brayden has continued to excel and surpass personal bests with only 20 minutes in penalties over the 68-game season. On behalf of Brad and the entire Hornung family, I want to congratulate Brayden again and wish him all the best in the future.”
Originally selected third overall by the Warriors in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Yager was also a first-round pick in the NHL Draft, selected 14th overall by Pittsburgh in 2023.
The 6-foot-0, 170-pound forward reached major milestones this season, surpassing 100 career goals and hitting a perfect 250 career points with 104 goals and 146 assists in 211 regular-season games.
Also nominated for the award were Jordan Keller (Kamloops Blazers), Gavin Hodnett (Edmonton Oil Kings) and Jordan Gavin (Tri-City Americans).
The Warriors are back on the ice for Game 5 of the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Championship against the Saskatoon Blades on Friday night. Game 6 is back in Moose Jaw on Sunday at 2 p.m., with only standing room tickets available.
-- with files from www.whl.ca
