MJHL honours Chyzyk, Luke

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/02/2011 (5584 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bryn Chyzyk was in school Friday morning when he received a text message advising him that he was named rookie of the year in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Chyzyk, a Virden native who plays with the Dauphin Kings, heard the news from head coach and general manager Marlin Murray.

"I had no idea when they were going to announce (the award-winners), so it kind of caught me by surprise," said Chyzyk, an 18-year-old forward.

It was a big day for the Dauphin organization as league scoring leader Shane Luke of Ste. Rose du Lac was chosen the MJHL’s most valuable player.

Luke, 20, also earned the league’s sportsmanship award.

"He’s a good leader and it’s good to see him get recognized," Chyzyk said of Luke, who has 25 goals and 83 points in 56 games.

Chyzyk is second in team scoring with 22 goals and 64 points after 57 games. With five games left in Dauphin’s regular season, he’s tied for seventh in MJHL scoring.

"Definitely, I showed my finish around the net and my skill level with the puck," said the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Chyzyk. "I was put in an opportunity with our team to put up points and I think I took advantage of it early on and really thrived with the opportunity."

After two years of high school hockey with the Virden Golden Bears, Chyzyk broke through last season with the AAA Midget Southwest Cougars and earned an invitation to the Brandon Wheat Kings’ WHL training camp last summer.

"I was cut (from the Cougars) my 16-year-old year and I came back my 17-year-old year and I made the team," he said. "Things have just kind of taken off for me since then."

Chyzyk’s long-term plans are to play U.S. college hockey. Luke has already netted an NCAA scholarship from Providence College.

"I’ll probably be back in Dauphin (next season)," said Chyzyk, who is finishing Grade 12 this semester. "Eventually, hopefully I can be like Shane and move on to the NCAA level, but I’m thinking that’s a few years down the road for me."

For now, the Kings are on track for another playoff run. Dauphin (36-19-2) is just six points behind the league-leading Portage Terriers (37-15-6).

"We have a good group of guys up here and it’s a great community to play in," Chyzyk said from Dauphin. "Hopefully, we can have a good playoff run and it’ll be very fun to see how things turn out for us here."

The other finalists forthe MJHL rookie award were Waywayseecappo Wolverines forward Brett Pinkerton of Pilot Mound and Portage forward Brent Wold of Lac du Bonnet.

Luke’s competition for MVP honours came from goaltenders Jason Kasdorf of Portage and Matt Krahn of the OCN Blizzard. Krahn was selected Friday as the league’s top goalie.

Brandon native Paul Bonar of the Winnipeg Blues was a finalist for MJHL defenceman of the year. That award went to Clark Byczynski of the Swan Valley Stampeders.

Scott McMillan of OCN was named coach of the year.