Winterhawks’ Bjorkstrand named WHL Player of Year

Oliver Bjorkstrand was named the Western Hockey League Player of the Year on Wednesday, becoming the third league MVP in the Portland Winterhawks history.

“When I first came into the WHL one of my goals was to be one of the top players in the league, so the fact that I won the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy really means a lot to me,” Bjorkstrand said. “This is a great organization and I’ve loved my time in Portland. It’s my sincere honor to win this prestigious award.”

Bjorkstrand was not at Wednesday’s awards luncheon in Calgary because he has joined Team Denmark at the IIHF World Championships in the Czech Republic.

Playing in only 59 regular-season games, Bjorksrtand led the league with 63 goals and 118 points. His plus-minus rating of plus 60 led the league.

Other Winterhawks to win the league MVP were current Seattle Thunderbirds coach Steve Konowalchuk in the 1991-92 season and Perry Turnbull in the 1978-79 season. A native of Denmark, Bjorkstrand is the second European player in league history to win the MVP award.

Among the highlights of Bjorkstrand’s season were three consecutive WHL player of the month awards and a team-record 12-game goal streak.

Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft, Bjorkstrand represented his Denmark at the World Junior Championship this year.