Former WHL’ers Brad Cole, Brock Nixon take home NCHL awards

Brad Cole of the Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks, who spent 4 years playing in the WHL with three different teams, was named the North Central Hockey League’s top defenceman.   He currently has recorded 27 points in only 11 games.

Russell Rams Brock Nixon was named the league’s most valuable player, rookie of the year and most gentlemanly player.  Nixon, who also played professionally in Europe, shared the most gentlemanly award with Curtis Oliver of the Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks.

The awards are voted on by representatives of the league’s 10 teams.  The league also announced their annual all-star teams as listed below:

Nixon and Cole are 1^st team all-stars. They join goaltender Deven Dubyk of the Swan Valley Axemen, defenceman Dillin Stonehouse of Miniota-Elkhorn, winger Derek Leblanc of the Virden Oil Capitals and centre Derek Falloon of Russell.

The second team consists of netminder Jerrod Auger of Russell, defencemen Kaine Morran of the Grandview Comets and Jordan Thomson of Russell, wingers Rylee Zimmer of Russell and Tanner Lewis of Virden, and centre Drake Bodie of Virden.

The 3^rd team has an entire line from Miniota-Elkhorn – centre Brad Bowles and wingers Dustin Fisher and Shawn Bowles. Andy Chipelski of the Foxwarren Falcosn and Colin Paull of Virden anchor the defence, while the goaltender is Kyler Beckett of the Moosomin Rangers.