Considering the whopper trades he’s made in recent years and how much those players have shaped the fortunes of the Prince George Cougars, there might be a few other general managers in the WHL who would shy away from playing let’s make a deal with Mark Lamb.
Lamb has been nominated for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy along with Chad Leslie of the Swift Current Broncos (Central Division); Jason Ripplinger of the Moose Jaw Warriors (East Division) and Mike Johnston of the Portland Winterhawks (U.S. Division).
Lamb brought in Chase Wheatcroft and Zac Funk through separate trades last season and turned them into super scorers who each cracked the 100-point barrier in successive years. This year he acquired wingers Borya Valis and Matteo Danis for their scoring attributes and bolstered the defence when he traded for veteran Chase Pauls.
Lamb drafted Terik Parascak in the fourth round two years ago and the 17-year-old emerged this season as rookie-of-the-year candidate with 42 goals and 105 points. He also signed undrafted free agent goalie Joshua Ravensbergen who was one of the league’s top freshman this season.
The 59-year-old Lamb, who holds a dual role as head coach and GM, is also in the running for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as the B.C. Division nominee for coach of the year, an honour he won last year.
Johnston, head coach of the Winterhawks, was the U.S. Division coach of the year nominee, joining Lamb, Brennan Sonne of the Saskatoon Blades (East Division) and Willie Desjardins of the Medicine Hat Tigers (Central Division)
Lamb led the Cats to their second B.C. Division title and a 49-15-1-3 record that stands as the franchise best in the 30 years the team has been based in Prince George.
The WHL coach and executive awards will be handed out May 1st.
