Coquitlam hockey player Dante Fabbro is getting some national attention for his stellar play with the Penticton Vees last season.
The 17-year-old blueliner, who scored 14 goals and 53 assists in 45 games this year, is in the running for the Top Defenceman Award. The 67-point season puts Fabbro at the top of the scoring list for all BCHL blueliners and his 31 power-play markers helped the Vees to a league-leading 30.7% succes rate with the man advantage.
He’s been nominated for the honour along with Brinson Pasichnuk of the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs, Brett Orr of the MJHL’s Portage Terriers, Patrick Kudla of the OJHL’s Oakville Blades and Jonathan Fillion of the QJHL’s Collège Français de Longueuil.
The nomination caps a busy year for the young hockey player.
He helped Team Canada West win a gold medal last December during the World Junior A Challenge, while committing to Boston University for next season. He is also expected to be a first-round selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in June.
Fabbro is not the only Penticton player to receive a nomination from the CJHL.
Teammate and goaltender Zach Driscoll is in the running for the Top Goalie Awards, putting his .933 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average against fellow nominees Matthew Murray of the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints, Nathan Park of the MJHL’s Portage Terriers, Andrew Masters of the OJHL’s Georgetown Raiders and Jack Burgart of the SJHL’s Weyburn Redwings.
Driscoll went 21-4 this season and is committed to St. Cloud State University, where he is expected to play this fall.
@gmckennaTC
