Kamloops Blazers goalie wins WHL scholastic award

Photo: Eric Thompson

Dyland Garand makes a save.

Dylan Garand has been named the WHL's Western Conference Scholastic Player of the Year.

The Kamloops Blazers netminder put up a 28-10-2-1 record this season, with a 2.21 GAA and .921 save percentage; however, while these were all strong numbers, it was his off-ice work that got him recognized by the WHL.

"Maintaining an overall academic average of 96.5 percent, Garand is set to graduate with honours in June 2020," states a press release from the league. "In his core Grade 12 courses, Garand has maintained a 93 per cent average to provide leadership among his teammates in the classroom."

The Victoria-born goalie is currently a student at Valleyview Secondary School.

Garand's efforts haven't gone unnoticed; he's the sixth ranked goalie on NHL Central Scouting's final North American rankings.

"Dylan is respected by his teammates as well as our staff, both as an excellent academic student and he provides excellent leadership," says team academic advisor Victor Bifano in the release. "He has managed his academics and hockey with a profound degree of maturity."

The Regina Pats' Jakob Brook was named the Eastern Conference's Scholastic Player of the Year, his second year in a row. Both Garand and Brook are now up for the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy, the awards for the overall league.