Tye Felhaber amongst early favourites for CHL playoff MVP awards

“Awesome feeling, first one was kind of a relief,” said Felhaber, whose squad hasn’t been shut out once all season and is 12-0 in the playoffs.

“Everyone wants to be the guy to step up and I’m just lucky to have a great group of guys supporting me whether I’ve had a bad period or a good period.”

Felhaber, who had 59 goals in the regular season and also scored the series clincher in Round 2 against the Sudbury Wolves, is tied for the OHL playoff lead in goals with 11 and is third in points with 21 in just 12 games.

The right-winger’s recent play is making him one of the early front-runners for the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL playoff MVP alongside teammates Lucas Chiodo and Sasha Chmelevski, who also have 21 points apiece in 12 contests.

Here are six other players still alive in the post-season that are playing like MVPs:

— Saginaw Spirit forward Owen Tippett (14 games played, 11 goals, 22 points)

The 20-year-old Peterborough, Ont., native scored the go-ahead goal on Wednesday in Game 4 against the Guelph Storm on the road to give his team a 3-1 third-round series lead heading home for Friday’s Game 5. Tippett is tied for the OHL lead in playoff goals, with 10 coming at even strength, and is second in points.

— Halifax Mooseheads forward Raphael Lavoie (15 GP, 17 G, 27 PTS.)

The 18-year-old from Chambly, Que., who is expected to be a first-round pick at this summer’s NHL draft, leads all CHL skaters in both post-season goals and points, guiding his Mooseheads to a 3-1 third-round series lead over the higher-seeded Drummondville Voltigeurs. He’s scored in 12 of 15 playoff games.

— Rouyn-Noranda Huskies forward Joel Teasdale (14 GP, 11 G, 26 PTS.)

The 20-year-old from Lavaltrie, Que., is second in QMJHL playoff scoring, but most notably stepped up with leading scorer Peter Abbandonato out with mononucleosis in a four-game third-round sweep of the Rimouski Oceanic. He had nine points against Rimouski and is on a 13-game point streak.

— Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender Dylan Myskiw (GP 11, 7-4-0, 1.81 goals-against average, .926 save percentage)

The 20-year-old Winnipeg native leads all WHL netminders in goals-against average and save percentage, and is coming off CHL goalie of the week honours for his efforts against the Calgary Hitmen in a second-round sweep. He has stopped 102 of 109 shots in the third round and his team is tied at 2-2 against the No. 1 Prince Albert Raiders.

— Prince Albert Raiders forward Noah Gregor (14 GP, 6 G, 15 PTS.)

The 20-year-old Beaumont, Alta., native is third in WHL production but has been clutch by scoring a league-leading three game winners. He had a pair of goals in his club’s third-round matchup against Edmonton, with one being the winner in Game 4 on Wednesday to even the series 2-2 heading home for Friday’s Game 5.

— Vancouver Giants defenceman Bowen Byram (14 GP, 6 G, 16 PTS.)

The 17-year-old from Cranbrook, B.C., who is expected to go in the top 10 in this year’s NHL draft, leads all blue-liners in points and is second overall in scoring in the WHL playoffs. He had a goal and an assist Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime win against the Spokane Chiefs to give the Giants a 3-1 lead, with Game 5 on home ice on Friday.

Honourable mention: Guelph Storm forward Nick Suzuki. The Montreal Canadiens prospect leads all OHL skaters in points but could be out of the playoffs as early as Friday with his team down 3-1 heading into Game 5 against Saginaw… Spokane goalie Bailey Brkin, who has a .923 save percentage while facing more shots against than any of the competition, led his team to an upset over Everett but the Chiefs are now a loss away from elimination.

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Kyle Cicerella, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Tye Felhaber amongst early favourites for CHL playoff MVP awards

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