Wednesday . . . early

Mike Johnston, the general manager and head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks, has been named head coach of Canada’s under-18 team that will play in the IIHF World championship in Fargo, N.D., and Moorehead, Minn., April 9-19. . . . Canada is the defending champion, having beaten Russian 8-0 in last year’s final in Kazan, Russia. . . . Eric Lavigne of the QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs and Steve Spott of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers will serve as assistant coaches. . . . This will be the 12th time that Johnston has served as the head coach or an assistant coach with a Canadian team on the international stage.
---
We’re into awards season, with the WHL announcing some Western Conference awards finalists on Wednesday, with Eastern Conference finalists to be announced Thursday.
The WHL will announce the award winners and its player of the year at an awards luncheon in Edmonton on April 29.
Here’s what came down for the Western Conference:
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans
Defenceman – Jonathon Blum, Vancouver Giants (unanimous)
Defenceman – Thomas Hickey, Seattle Thunderbirds
Forward – Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Vancouver Giants (unanimous)
Forward – Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Goaltender – Dustin Tokarski, Spokane Chiefs
Defenceman – Tyler Myers, Kelowna Rockets
Defenceman – Brent Regner, Vancouver Giants
Forward – Drayson Bowman, Spokane Chiefs
Forward – Colin Long, Kelowna Rockets
Forward – Taylor Procyshen, Tri-City Americans
--------
WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Western Conference – Brett Connolly, Prince George Cougars
WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy: Western Conference – Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans
WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy: Western Conference – Jonathon Blum, Vancouver, BC
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, Brad Hornung Trophy: Western Conference – Colin Long, Kelowna Rockets
WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Western Conference – Tyler Maxwell, Everett Silvertips
WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Western Conference – Don Hay, Vancouver Giants
WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Western Conference – Scott Bonner, Vancouver Giants
WHL Regular-Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Calgary Hitmen.
WHL Top Scorer, Bob Clarke Trophy: Casey Pierro-Zabotel (Kamloops, BC) Vancouver Giants