Photo courtesy: Victoria Grizzlies/BCHL

The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced Friday that Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) has been named the recipient of its Top Forward Award for the 2018-19 campaign.

Newhook earned the honours following a voting process completed by each of the CJHL’s 10-member leagues for his efforts during the course of the regular season, over fellow Top Forward finalists Dylan Holloway (F), Okotoks Oilers (AJHL); Brodie MacArthur (F), Summerside Western Capitals (MHL); Josh Tripp (F), Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL) and Keighan Gerrie (F), Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL).

The 18-year-old from St. John’s, N.L., had a tremendous year with Victoria, leading the BCHL in scoring by notching 38 goals and doling out a league-best 64 assists as his 102 total points placed him 18 higher than his closest rival.

This marked the first 100-plus-point season in the BCHL since 2015-16 as he capped off a 10-game point streak in style by wrapping up regular season while registering a hat trick and dishing out five helpers for an eight-point effort in the Grizzlies final regular season contest.

Last year’s BCHL and CJHL Rookie of the Year, Newhook boasted two separate point streaks of 10 games or more in 2018-19, including 28 overall in the final 10 contests of the campaign on 13 tallies and 15 assists

Newhook won a bronze medal as an assistant captain for Canada West at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge and also participated in the 2019 CJHL Prospects Game in Okotoks, Alta., in January where he had an assist in aiding Team West to a 5-2 triumph over Team East.

Currently ranked No. 13, among North American skaters, on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings list, he is expected to be a first-round selection at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver.

The second-year forward is committed to attend Boston College on NCAA Division I scholarship next season.

With files from: Jesse Adamson, Communications Coordinator (BCHL)