After an epic championship series, all that remains is to hand out the individual trophies for Season 10.
Scoring Champion: Alf Smith, RW, Thistles
With a league-leading 18 goals and 36 points, the fiery forward won his first scoring championship, finishing five points ahead of runner-up Cyclone Taylor. Smith has always oozed with talent, but this season he put it all together -- and in doing so, he jumped from fourth all-time in goals to second, behind only the great Frank McGee of the Comets.
Forward MVP: Alf Smith, RW, Thistles
Bearcats phenom Joe Malone was the frontrunner for the first half of the season, but Smith sailed past him with an absolutely dominant finish. For the first time in his career, Smith was defensively responsible too, as evinced by his strong plus-minus (+8).
Bearcats phenom Joe Malone was the frontrunner for the first half of the season, but Smith sailed past him with an absolutely dominant finish. For the first time in his career, Smith was defensively responsible too, as evinced by his strong plus-minus (+8).
Defenseman MVP: Dickie Boon, Bearcats
For the first time ever, the Victorias' Cyclone Taylor was not a top-three finalist for this award. Wow! This year's worthy runners-up were Fred Whitcroft of the Thistles (7 goals, 5 assists, +9) and Art Ross of the Bearcats (2 goals, 3 assists, and a league-leading +16). The winner, however, was the Bearcats' Boon, who put up Taylor-esque offensive numbers (8 goals, 9 assists) and finished second in the league in plus-minus (+12).
For the first time ever, the Victorias' Cyclone Taylor was not a top-three finalist for this award. Wow! This year's worthy runners-up were Fred Whitcroft of the Thistles (7 goals, 5 assists, +9) and Art Ross of the Bearcats (2 goals, 3 assists, and a league-leading +16). The winner, however, was the Bearcats' Boon, who put up Taylor-esque offensive numbers (8 goals, 9 assists) and finished second in the league in plus-minus (+12).
Goaltender MVP: Hap Holmes, Bearcats
Last season, the Vics' Bowse Hutton edged Holmes in the closest finish of all time for this award. Well, this season it was even closer! Holmes and Hutton both posted a .927 save percentage, but Holmes had a slightly better goals-against average (2.20 vs. 2.30). I don't track all high-danger/high-leverage saves, but I do make note of key moments when a goalie absolutely robs someone, and this year Holmes certainly had a lot more such "highlight reel" saves. So it's really a tossup, but I'm giving it to Holmes, who claims his second such trophy in his four-year career.
Last season, the Vics' Bowse Hutton edged Holmes in the closest finish of all time for this award. Well, this season it was even closer! Holmes and Hutton both posted a .927 save percentage, but Holmes had a slightly better goals-against average (2.20 vs. 2.30). I don't track all high-danger/high-leverage saves, but I do make note of key moments when a goalie absolutely robs someone, and this year Holmes certainly had a lot more such "highlight reel" saves. So it's really a tossup, but I'm giving it to Holmes, who claims his second such trophy in his four-year career.
Rookie of the Year: Frank Fredrickson, C, Bearcats
Fredrickson put up solid numbers across the board (7 goals, 13 assists, +6), although he definitely benefited from playing alongside Joe Malone. Even so, I'm very comfortable giving this award to Fredrickson over number-one draft pick Mickey MacKay of the Millionaires, who had good offensive numbers (7 goals, 6 assists), but had the second-worst plus-minus in the league (-17) and was a healthy scratch twice on a last-place Millies team.
Fredrickson put up solid numbers across the board (7 goals, 13 assists, +6), although he definitely benefited from playing alongside Joe Malone. Even so, I'm very comfortable giving this award to Fredrickson over number-one draft pick Mickey MacKay of the Millionaires, who had good offensive numbers (7 goals, 6 assists), but had the second-worst plus-minus in the league (-17) and was a healthy scratch twice on a last-place Millies team.
Playoff MVP: Hugh Lehman, G, Thistles
Lehman outdueled the league's best goaltender, Hap Holmes, and finished his postseason run with a 2.25 goals-against average and a stellar .940 save percentage. He becomes the second player to win multiple Playoff MVP trophies (after -- who else? -- Cyclone Taylor) and he also has the distinction of being the first player to win major individual awards with two different teams; his first Playoff MVP trophy came when he was a member of the Millionaires. Had the Bearcats won the championship, this award would likely have gone to Malone (8 goals, 7 assists) for his offensive wizardry.
Lehman outdueled the league's best goaltender, Hap Holmes, and finished his postseason run with a 2.25 goals-against average and a stellar .940 save percentage. He becomes the second player to win multiple Playoff MVP trophies (after -- who else? -- Cyclone Taylor) and he also has the distinction of being the first player to win major individual awards with two different teams; his first Playoff MVP trophy came when he was a member of the Millionaires. Had the Bearcats won the championship, this award would likely have gone to Malone (8 goals, 7 assists) for his offensive wizardry.
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