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Cootes, a right-shot centre who was Vancouver\u2019s first-round pick (No. 15 overall) last summer and started the season with three games with the big team, played 45 games this WHL regular season with the Raiders and the Seattle Thunderbirds and totalled 24 goals and 63 points while amassing just eight minutes in penalties.<\/p>\n
As good as his point totals were, Cootes is known for his two-way game<\/a> and always being around the puck. The fact that he plays that way and had just a broken stick minor Oct. 18, an interference minor Jan. 9, an interference minor Feb. 6 and an unsportsmanlike conduct minor March 20 speaks to how efficient he is.<\/p>\n Cootes did receive a 10-minute misconduct at the second-period final horn in a Jan. 23 game, but the WHL doesn\u2019t count those penalties in its player totals.<\/p>\n \u201cOur organization is proud and happy for him to win this award,\u201d Prince Albert general manager Curtis Hunt explained via text message Wednesday. \u201cHe is a player that plays with relentless and dogged pursuit. He plays a 200-foot game the way the game is supposed to be played. It\u2019s a great combination of skill, tenacity, and sportsmanship<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Hunt, a former Canucks defence farmhand, landed Cootes in a blockbuster swap with Seattle at the WHL trade deadline in January. The Raiders (52-10-5-1) and Medicine Hat Tigers (50-10-5-3) finished atop the Eastern Conference regular season standings and they start the best-of-seven conference final on Friday in Prince Albert.<\/p>\n The Raiders beat the Red Deer Rebels in five games and then the Saskatoon Blades in a sweep to advance to meet Medicine Hat. Cootes has five goals and 11 points in nine games.<\/p>\n Other finalists for the award were Markus Ruck of Medicine Hat, Ryden Evers of the Penticton Vees, Jordan Gavin of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Matias Vanhanen of the Everett Silvertips and Alex Weiermair of the Portland Winterhawks.<\/p>\n Brad Hornung was noted for his talent, desire, and sportsmanlike attitude during his time in the WHL with the Regina Pats. The award is given out annually to the player who best combines those attributes. It was named Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy in 2022 following his passing at the age of 52. Hornung\u2019s career was cut short after the forward was paralyzed from the waist down following a hit in a game on March 1, 1987.<\/p>\n The award is voted upon by WHL general managers and members of the media.\u00a0<\/p>\n @SteveEwen<\/p>\n SEwen@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n![\"canucks\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/hko-world-junior-canada-cootes-20251218_300431340.jpg\")
Canucks forward Braeden Cootes is shown during a game against the Calgary Flames in Vancouver on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Photo by DARRYL DYCK \/THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
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