The 2012-13 Canada West men's hockey all-star teams and post-season honours were announced by the conference on Thursday, February 28. The University of Manitoba Bisons had five players honoured for their efforts and four players named as conference all-stars.
Bison men's hockey forward Blair Macaulay has been named 2012-13 Canada West Most Valuable Player (Sullivan Trophy nominee for the CIS Player of the Year) and Bison men's hockey forward James Henry was selected as 2012-13 Canada West Most Outstanding Freshman (U of Alberta Alumni Trophy).
In addition, both Macaulay and Bison defenceman Dane Crowley were named as a 2012-13 Canada West First Team All-Star while defenceman Jeremy Schappert and forward Tyler Dittmer were selected as a 2012-13 Canada West Second Team All-Star.
Macaulay, 24 and a Winnipeg native, not only was a back-to-back Canada West MVP but has now been selected as a conference first team all-star for three consecutive seasons (2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11) in his four seasons at Manitoba. He finished tied for second in conference scoring with 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) while playing all 28 conference regular season games. An alternate captain this season, he was also Top 10 in numerous Canada West categories including assists (tied for second with 23), goals (tied for eighth with 12), plus/minus rating (tied for ninth with +16), power play assists (tied for eighth with eight), shots on goal (second with 103) and game winning goals (tied for third with four).
Crowley, 26, finished his third season with Manitoba (fourth year eligibility) and earned his third consecutive conference selection (2012-13: First Team; 2010-11 and 2011-12: Second Team). Crowley was named captain for the first time this season. The Winnipeg native was leaned upon to shutdown the top players across the conference and also was ninth in Canada West defencemen scoring (ninth in team scoring) with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in playing 26 of 28 conference regular season games. His five power plays goals was tied for fifth best in 2012-13 conference regular season and added a plus/minus rating of +3 with 67 penalty minutes and 70 shots on goal this season.
Schappert, 24, finished his third season with the Bisons and makes his third consecutive appearance as a conference All-Star (2012-13 and 2010-11: Second Team; 2011-12: First Team). The Winnipeg native was fourth in conference defenceman scoring with 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in playing all 28 conference regular season games this season. In addition, the 6'0, 195 lbs. blueliner was tied for sixth among all players in power play assists with nine while posting 36 penalty minutes and 76 shots on goal.
Dittmer, 25, finished his fifth year of eligibility (four seasons) with Manitoba and earned his first conference All-Star selection. In the 2012-13 season, Dittmer finished with his best season with the Bisons as he was sixth in conference scoring with 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) while playing in 26 of 28 conference regular season games. The Brandon, MB native ended up first in Canada West power play goals at eight plus his 15 goals was tied for third in Canada West. He was also an alternate captain for the second consecutive season plus registered a plus/minus rating of +8, eight penalty minutes and 65 shots on goal.
Bison men's hockey head coach
Mike Sirant stated, “The Manitoba Bisons are very proud of our four players selected as 2012-13 Canada West All-Stars. We would like to thank the Canada West coaches for recognizing the outstanding seasons by Blair Macaulay, Dane Crowley, Jeremy Schappert and
Tyler Dittmer. In addition to being elite athletes, these individuals demonstrate exceptional character and values and are all excellent role models for the CIS.”
2012-13 CANADA WEST MEN'S HOCKEY ALL-STAR TEAMS
First Team Second Team
G: Kurtis Mucha, Alberta Jordan White, UBC
D: Jesse Craige, Alberta Thomas Carr, Alberta
D: Dane Crowley, Manitoba Jeremy Schappert, Manitoba
F: Kyle Bortis, Saskatchewan
Tyler Dittmer, Manitoba
F: Jordan Hickmott, Alberta Johnny Lazo, Alberta
F: Blair Macaulay, Manitoba Brock Nixon, Calgary
