Friday, May 4, 2001

  Calgary -- The Western Hockey League is pleased to announce that airBC will honor the WHL's Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of the 2001 playoffs. The award will see a panel of WHL media vote on which player has been the Most Valuable to his team in the 2001 playoffs.

Goaltender Dan Blackburn of the Kootenay Ice captured the 2000 Playoff MVP Trophy, as he led his team to a League Championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup. Blackburn, played 21 games and recorded a 2.03 goals against average, a 0.935 save percentage, 16 wins and only fives losses.

Centreman Brad Moran of the Calgary Hitmen captured the 1999 Playoff MVP Trophy, as he led his team to a League Championship and the Memorial Cup Final. In the playoffs, Moran scored 17 goals, 25 assists and 42 points in 21 games.

Brent Belecki of the Portland Winter Hawks was named the 1998 Playoff MVP Trophy, as he backstopped the Hawks to a League championship and a Memorial Cup title. In the playoffs, Belecki recorded a 12 - 4 win - loss record, and recorded a 2.45 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

Blaine Russell of the Lethbridge Hurricanes was the 1997 winner of the airBC / WHL Playoff MVP award. Russell won 13 of 14 playoff games he appeared in, posting a 2.13 goals against average and a .925 save percentage, and a berth in the Memorial Cup.

Bobby Brown of the Brandon Wheat Kings was the 1996 Playoff MVP. Brown led the Wheaties to the League crown and a berth in the Memorial Cup with 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 19 games.

Nolan Baumgartner of the Kamloops Blazers was selected as the Playoff MVP in 1995, as he scored 17 points from his blueline berth, and was also outstanding defensively for the Blazers, who went on to win the 1995 Memorial Cup.

Steve Passmore of the Kamloops Blazers was named the winner of the Most Valuable Player Award in the 1994 playoffs, as he helped the Blazers to the WHL Championship, and also a Memorial Cup title.

Andy Schneider of the Swift Current Broncos was named the winner of the Most Valuable Player Award in the 1993 playoffs, as he helped the Broncos to the WHL Championship, and on to a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament.

Jarrett Deuling of the Kamloops Blazers was named the inaugural winner of the Most Valuable Player Award in the 1992 playoffs, as he helped the Kamloops Blazers to the WHL Championship and the Memorial Cup title.

"The Western Hockey League presents only one individual trophy during the Championship Final - The airBC Most Valuable Player Award. We are very fortunate through airBC's commitment as a League sponsor to be in a position to recognize the outstanding achievement by a player participating in our final series'" stated Ron Robison, Commissioner of the Western Hockey League.

The winner will receive a trophy from airBC, as well as a trip for two anywhere airBC flies.