The Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the Western Hockey League player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition. The award is named after Saskatoon Blades founder Jim Piggott, one of the founding fathers of what is today the Western Hockey League.
The trophy was previously named the Stewart "Butch" Paul Memorial Trophy. Butch Paul was a player for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 1960s, leading the team to three straight Western Canada Championships, and a Memorial Cup in 1963. He later played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) and during his second year in the organization he died in a car accident on March 25, 1966.
Winners
denotes also named CHL Rookie of the Year
Stewart "Butch" Paul Memorial TrophySeason Player Team1966–67 Ron Garwasiuk Regina Pats1967–68 Ron Fairbrother Saskatoon Blades1968–69 Ron Williams Edmonton Oil Kings1969–70 Gene Carr Flin Flon Bombers1970–71 Stan Weir Medicine Hat Tigers1971–72 Dennis Sobchuk Regina Pats1972–73 Rick Blight Brandon Wheat Kings1973–74 Cam Connor Flin Flon Bombers1974–75 Don Murdoch Medicine Hat Tigers1975–76 Steve Tambellini Lethbridge Hurricanes1976–77 Brian Propp Brandon Wheat Kings1977–78 (tie) Keith Brown Portland Winter Hawks (tie) John Ogrodnick New Westminster Bruins1978–79 Kelly Kisio Calgary Wranglers1979–80 Grant Fuhr Victoria Cougars1980–81 Dave Michayluk Regina Pats1981–82 Dale Derkatch Regina Pats1982–83 Dan Hodgson Prince Albert Raiders1983–84 Cliff Ronning New Westminster Bruins1984–85 Mark MacKay Moose Jaw Warriors1985–861 (West-tie) Ron Shudra Kamloops Blazers (West-tie) Dave Waldie Portland Winter Hawks (East) Neil Brady Medicine Hat Tigers1986–871 (West) Dennis Holland Portland Winter Hawks (East) Joe Sakic Swift Current Broncos Jim Piggott Memorial TrophySeason Player Team1987–88 Stu Barnes New Westminster Bruins1988–89 Wes Walz Lethbridge Hurricanes1989–90 Petr Nedved Seattle Thunderbirds1990–91 Donevan Hextall Prince Albert Raiders1991–92 Ashley Buckberger Swift Current Broncos1992–93 Jeff Friesen Regina Pats1993–94 Wade Redden Brandon Wheat Kings1994–95 Todd Robinson Portland Winter Hawks1995–96 Chris Phillips Prince Albert Raiders1996–97 Donovan Nunweiler Moose Jaw Warriors1997–98 Marian Hossa Portland Winter Hawks1998–99 Pavel Brendl Calgary Hitmen1999–2000 Dan Blackburn Kootenay Ice2000–01 Scottie Upshall Kamloops Blazers2001–02 Braydon Coburn Portland Winter Hawks2002–03 Matt Ellison Red Deer Rebels2003–04 Gilbert Brule Vancouver Giants2004–05 Tyler Plante Brandon Wheat Kings2005–06 Peter Mueller Everett Silvertips2006–07 Kyle Beach Everett Silvertips2007–08 Brayden Schenn Brandon Wheat Kings2008–09 Brett Connolly Prince George Cougars2009–10 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Red Deer Rebels2010–11 Mathew Dumba Red Deer Rebels2011–12 Sam Reinhart Kootenay Ice2012–13 Seth Jones Portland Winterhawks2013–14 Nick Merkley Kelowna Rockets2014–15 Nolan Patrick Brandon Wheat Kings2015–16 Matthew Phillips Victoria Royals2016–17 Aleksi Heponiemi Swift Current Broncos2017–18 Dylan Cozens Lethbridge Hurricanes2018–19 Brayden Tracey Moose Jaw Warriors2019–20 Dylan Guenther Edmonton Oil Kings2020–21 Connor Bedard Regina Pats2021–22 Brayden Yager Moose Jaw Warriors2022–23 Ryder Ritchie Prince Albert Raiders2023–24 Gavin McKenna Medicine Hat Tigers2024–25 Landon DuPont Everett Silvertips2025–26 JP Hurlbert Kamloops Blazers 1The WHL handed out separate awards for the East and West divisions.
See also CHL Rookie of the Year Emms Family Award – Ontario Hockey League Rookie of the Year RDS Cup – Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year
References