WHL selects Sonne, Pickard >>

Calgary Hitmen forward Brett Sonne has been named the Western Hockey League’s player of the year.

The 19-year-old from Maple Ridge, B.C., finished third in WHL scoring with 48 goals and 52 assists in 62 games, during which he carried a plus-minus rating of plus-39.

Sonne’s contributions helped the Hitmen finish first in the regular-season standings at 59-9-3-1.

Sonne was chosen ahead of Casey Pierro-Zabotel of the Vancouver Giants, who won the WHL’s scoring trophy with 36 goals and 79 assists.

Chet Pickard (pictured at right, competing against Spokane’s Tyler Johnson) of the Tri-City Americans was named the top goaltender. The first-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators posted a 35-12-0-3 record, a goals-against average of 2.28 and a save percentage of .921.

Prince George winger Brett Connolly was chosen rookie of the year, Vancouver’s Jonathan Blum took the defenseman award and his coach, Don Hay, won the coaching award.