The Regina Pats are heading to the WHL finals as their most successful season in decades continues, and now they have two more reason to celebrate – their GM and head coach, John Paddock has been named WHL Coach of the Year and Sam Steele player of the year.
Paddock led the team to 52 wins and 112 points during the regular season, a franchise record. In addition, they also won the Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions.
“This is really a team honour,” Paddock said in a written release. “We have a special group of players that give our staff their complete cooperation and I share this with our coaches: Dave, Brad, Robbie and Landon.”
Pats forward Sam Steel was also honoured, as the WHL named him Player of the Year. He was presented with the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy at the WHL awards luncheon in Calgary.
Steel, a signed first round pick for the Anaheim Ducks scored 90 goals and 165 assists for 255 points in 204 regular season games.
“It’s hard to express what winning Player of the Year in the WHL means to me,” Steel said in a written release. “I want to thank my incredible teammates and our coaching staff in Regina, without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”
The Pats will face off against the Seattle Thunderbirds on May 5 in the first game of the WHL Championship Series.
