The Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the defenceman of the year in the Western Hockey League (WHL). It is named after one of the league's founders, Bill Hunter, who was the driving force behind the creation of the WHL. Hunter served as the owner, general manager and head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings, and was the first Chairman of the Board of the new league.
List of winners denotes also named CHL Defenceman of the Year
+ WHL Defenceman of the YearSeason Player Team1966–67 Barry Gibbs Estevan Bruins1967–68 Gerry Hart Flin Flon Bombers1968–69 Dale Hoganson Estevan Bruins1969–70 Jim Hargreaves Winnipeg Jets1970–71 Ron Jones Edmonton Oil Kings1971–72 Jim Watson Calgary Centennials1972–73 George Pesut Saskatoon Blades1973–74 Pat Price Saskatoon Blades1974–75 Rick Lapointe Victoria Cougars1975–76 Kevin McCarthy Winnipeg Clubs1976–77 Barry Beck New Westminster Bruins1977–78 Brad McCrimmon Brandon Wheat Kings1978–79 Keith Brown Portland Winter Hawks1979–80 Dave Babych Portland Winter Hawks1980–81 Jim Benning Portland Winter Hawks1981–82 Gary Nylund Portland Winter Hawks1982–83 Gary Leeman Regina Pats1983–84 Bob Rouse Lethbridge Broncos1984–85 Wendel Clark Saskatoon Blades 1985–86 (West) Glen Wesley Portland Winter Hawks (East) Emanuel Viveiros Prince Albert Raiders1986–87 (West) Glen Wesley Portland Winter Hawks (East) Wayne McBean Medicine Hat Tigers1987–88 Greg Hawgood Kamloops Blazers1988–89 Dan Lambert Swift Current Broncos1989–90 Kevin Haller Regina Pats1990–91 Darryl Sydor Kamloops Blazers1991–92 Richard Matvichuk Saskatoon Blades1992–93 Jason Smith Regina Pats1993–94 Brendan Witt Seattle Thunderbirds1994–95 Nolan Baumgartner Kamloops Blazers1995–96 Nolan Baumgartner Kamloops Blazers1996–97 Chris Phillips Lethbridge Hurricanes1997–98 Michal Rozsival Swift Current Broncos1998–99 Brad Stuart Calgary Hitmen1999–2000 Micki Dupont Kamloops Blazers2000–01 Christian Chartier Prince George Cougars2001–02 Dan Hamhuis Prince George Cougars2002–03 Jeff Woywitka Red Deer Rebels2003–04 Dion Phaneuf Red Deer Rebels2004–05 Dion Phaneuf Red Deer Rebels2005–06 Kris Russell Medicine Hat Tigers2006–07 Kris Russell Medicine Hat Tigers2007–08 Karl Alzner Calgary Hitmen2008–09 Jonathon Blum Vancouver Giants2009–10 Tyson Barrie Kelowna Rockets2010–11 Stefan Elliott Saskatoon Blades2011–12 Alex Petrovic Red Deer Rebels2012–13 Brenden Kichton Spokane Chiefs2013–14 Derrick Pouliot Portland Winterhawks2014–15 Shea Theodore Seattle Thunderbirds 2015–16 Ivan Provorov Brandon Wheat Kings 2016–17 Ethan Bear Seattle Thunderbirds2017–18 Kale Clague Brandon/Moose Jaw2018–19 Ty Smith Spokane Chiefs2019–20 Ty Smith Spokane Chiefs2020–21 Braden Schneider Brandon Wheat Kings2021–22 Olen Zellweger Everett Silvertips2022–23 Olen Zellweger Kamloops Blazers2023–24 Denton Mateychuk Moose Jaw Warriors2024–25 Tyson Jugnauth Portland Winterhawks2025–26 Bryce Pickford Medicine Hat Tigers
See also CHL Defenceman of the Year – First awarded in 1987–88 Max Kaminsky Trophy – Ontario Hockey League Defenceman of the Year Emile Bouchard Trophy – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Defenceman of the Year
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