Music: {allcanada} Red Deer's Kuemper WHL player of the year

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

{allcanada} Red Deer's Kuemper WHL player of the year

Goaltender Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday was named winner of the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the Western Hockey League's player of the year.

He led all WHL netminders with 45 victories and 13 shutouts last season.

Kuemper also posted a sparkling 1.86 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.

Spokane Chiefs forward Tyler Johnson was the runner-up.

Kuemper also won the Del Wilson Trophy as WHL goaltender of the year. Chiefs goaltender James Reid was the other nominee.

Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires was named Ontario Hockey League's top player on Wednesday, while Drummondville Voltigeurs centre Sean Couturier was named MVP in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last month.

The Canadian Hockey League player of the year will go to Kuemper, Ellis, or Couturier, with the winner being decided during Memorial Cup festivities later this month.