Highly–touted prospect expected to be 1st Round NHL Draft selection in June
CALGARY, Alta. – The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced Wednesday that Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) has been named the CJHL’s Most Valuable Player Award recipient for the 2018-19 season.
Newhook earned the accolades over fellow CJHL MVP finalists Dylan Holloway (F), Okotoks Oilers (AJHL); Brodie MacArthur, (F) Summerside Western Capitals (MHL); Josh Tripp (F), Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL) and Jett Alexander (G), North York Rangers (OJHL) following a nomination and selection voting process submitted and completed by each of the CJHL’s 10-member leagues for their respective efforts during the course of the regular season.
The 18-year-old from St. John’s, N.L., had a tremendous year with Victoria, leading the BCHL in scoring by notching 38 goals and doling out a league-best 64 assists as his 102 total points placed him 18 higher than his closest rival.
This marked the first 100-plus-point season in the BCHL since 2015-16 as he capped off a 10-game point streak in style by wrapping up regular season by registering a hat trick and dishing out five helpers for an eight-point effort in the Grizzlies final regular season contest.
The CJHL’s Top Forward Award winner, Newhook boasted two separate point streaks of 10 games or more in 2018-19, including amassing 28 points overall in the final 10 contests of the campaign on 13 tallies and 15 assists
He also won bronze as an assistant captain with Canada West at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge and participated in the 2019 CJHL Prospects Game in Okotoks, Alta., in January where he had an assist in aiding Team West’s 5-2 triumph over Team East.
Currently ranked No. 13, among North American skaters, on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings list, Newhook is expected to be a first-round selection at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver.
The second-year forward is committed to attend Boston College on NCAA Division I scholarship in the fall.
Hockey Canada will also be naming the Canadian Jr. A Player of the Year and Scholastic Player of the Year later this week at the National Junior A Championship in Brooks, Alta.
With files from: Jesse Adamson, Communications Coordinator (BCHL)