Interior Conference Rookie of the Year?

Let the posturing begin...Salmon Arm Silverbacks' forward Bryce Gervais should be the Interior Conference's Rookie of the Year. The 1992 born center is tied amongst rookies for the conference lead in goals (29), second in points (49), tied for first in shorthanded goals (1), second in game winning goals (6), third in powerplay goals (7), and 12th in penalty minutes (45).

The main reason the Battleford, Saskatchewan resident should win the award is that he only joined one of the two powerplay units 32 games into the season on Decemeber 5th and thus only 28% of his points have come on the man-advantage. Meanwhile 43% of Joey Benik's conference leading 55 points have come on the powerplay this season.

The 5'9" 150 pounder leads all conference rookies with 34 even strength points and is a plus player on a team full of minuses despite not ever playing alongside veteran team scoring leaders: Mike Hammond (86), Dave Killip (56), Brett Knowles (53), Brad Reid (49), or Devin Gannon (47). Instead he has played with fellow rookie Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (48) and Brandon Mistal (17) for most of the season.

Bryce has also been on the team's penalty kill the entire season and done a terrific job helping the Silverbacks post the third best PK in the league. He is also the center on his line and has the responsibility of taking faceoffs and playing down low in the defensive zone.

As far as game winning goals three of Gervais' have come in one goal games to go along with two primary assists on GWGs in one-goal contests while only one of Benik's conference leading seven GWGs has been in a one-goal game.

The little bugger is also gritty, exemplified by breaking his nose against Powell River only to return shortly thereafter and score the tying goal.