NHL prospects Hague, Hart, Barre-Boulet among CHL award winners
More good news for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Up-and-coming blue-liner Nicolas Hague was named the Canadian Hockey League's defenseman of the year Saturday as the development league handed out its annual awards.
Selected with the 34th pick in last year's draft, Hague recently completed his third season with the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads, recording a team-leading 78 points with 35 goals - the most by an OHL defender since 1998.
When his junior year ended, the 19-year-old got a taste of the pro ranks, appearing in five games with the AHL's Chicago Wolves, the Golden Knights' minor-league affiliate. He's expected to return to the Steelheads next season.
Also among the award winners was Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Hart, who was named the CHL's goaltender of the year. The Everett Silvertips netminder is the first two-time recipient of the award after winning it in 2015-16. Earlier this month, he became the first WHL goalie to win three straight Del Wilson Memorial Trophies, presented to that league's goaltender of the year.
Alex Barre-Boulet was named player of the year after he capped his season with the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada by tallying 116 points in just 65 games. The performance comes after he finished the 2016-17 campaign with 81 points in 65 games. In March, the 21-year-old signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as an undrafted free agent.
See a complete list of award winners here.