Lacombe's Daxon Rudolph is one of six nominees in the running for the WHL's Rookie of the Year award (Jim Piggot Memorial Trophy).
The 17-year-old scored seven goals and 34 assists for 41 points in 64 games with the Prince Albert Raiders.
Rudolph, the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, finished fourth in points among rookie defencemen and fifth among all rookies in assists.
He went on a 12-game point streak that saw him net two goals and 13 assists from January 1 to January 26.
Rudolph scored a career-best five points (1G-4A) in a key win over Moose Jaw on February 17 and another game-winner against the Warriors in the final week of the regular season to help the Raiders clinch the East Division title.
In November, he helped Canada White win gold at the 2024 U17 World Challenge in Sarnia, Ont.
Rudolph was named WHL Rookie of the Month for January in addition to one weekly award win in late February.
He’s eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.
The full list of nominees includes:
- Eastern Conference - Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, Alta.) – Prince Albert Raiders
- Eastern Conference - Lukas Sawchyn (Grande Prairie, Alta.) – Edmonton Oil Kings
- Eastern Conference - Cooper Williams (Calgary, Alta.) – Saskatoon Blades
- Western Conference - Landon DuPont (Calgary, Alta.) – Everett Silvertips
- Western Conference - Ryan Lin (Richmond, B.C.) – Vancouver Giants
- Western Conference - Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) – Victoria Royals
Winners of the 2025 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 22, through Wednesday, May 7.
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