Photo credits: Garrett James Photography
After polling coaches and broadcasters from the three teams in the Chilliwack Pod, the league has determined the winners of the Chilliwack Pod Awards.
Chilliwack Pod Most Valuable Player
Christian Buono (Prince George Spruce Kings) – 20GP – 14G – 13A – 27PTS
This year was Buono’s final year of junior eligibility and the Burnaby, B.C. native took full advantage of the opportunity, finishing his career in style scoring a team-high 14 goals and leading the Spruce Kings with 27 points on the year, tying him for seventh overall in the BCHL. Buono’s season was full of big performances, including two separate hat tricks and a three-point night on the final day of the season in a win over the Chilliwack Chiefs that clinched top spot in the pod for his team. The 20-year-old wraps up an impressive BCHL career with 102 points in 168 regular-season games.
Chilliwack Pod Top Goalie
Aaron Trotter (Prince George Spruce Kings) – 11GP – 7-3-1 – .934 SV% – 1.63 GAA – 2 SO
Although technically not considered a rookie due to his 2001 birthday, Trotter made a huge impact in his first year of junior hockey. The 20-year-old from Victoria, B.C. won seven of his 11 starts in the pod and finished second in the league in both save percentage (.934) and goals-against average (1.63), backstopping the Spruce Kings to first place in the Chilliwack Pod. His two shutouts put him in a tie for third-most in the BCHL. Trotter, along with his Spruce Kings crease mates Jordan Fairlie and Kobe Grant, combined to allow the second-fewest goals in the league with 37 against, an average of 1.85 per game.
Chilliwack Pod Top Defenceman
Jackson Munro (Chilliwack Chiefs) – 20GP – 4G – 8A – 12PTS
Munro is another player who took full advantage of his last season of junior hockey. The four-year BCHL veteran finished second in Chiefs scoring among defencemen with 12 points, while being a constant steadying presence in his own end and suiting up for all 20 of his team’s games. Munro’s seven power-play point were most among Chiefs defencemen and third overall on the team. After spending time with the Merritt Centennials and Alberni Valley Bulldogs, the 21-year-old from Vancouver, B.C. wraps up his junior career with the Chiefs having played 164 career regular-season games and amassed 77 points. He is committed to Brown University next year.
Chilliwack Pod Top Rookie
Sasha Teleguine (Chilliwack Chiefs) – 20GP – 4G – 14A – 18PTS
Teleguine was a unanimous choice for Top Rookie in his pod, the only unanimous choice out of all the pod award winners. The first-year man from North Attleboro, Mass. led all rookies in the Chilliwack Pod with 18 points in 20 games. Teleguine was mostly a setup man for the Chiefs this year with 14 of his 18 points coming via assists. The 18-year-old was consistent all year, but really caught fire in the back half of the season, registering at least one point in eight of the Chiefs final nine contests. Teleguine is a prospect for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft in July.
Non-Voting Awards
Chilliwack Pod Leading Scorer: Christian Buono (Prince George Spruce Kings) – 27 points
Chilliwack Pod Champion: Prince George Spruce Kings – 29 points (14-5-1)
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The BCHL Pod Awards are presented by FortisBC.
