Flyers prospect named WHL top defenseman

Ivan Provorov, the Flyers' No. 1 selection in the draft last year, was named the Western Hockey League's top defenseman Wednesday.

Provorov, 19, of the Brandon Wheat Kings, led WHL defensemen with 73 points (21 goals, 52 assists), and he topped the league with a plus-64 rating in 62 games.

Selected seventh overall last June, he finished the season second in points per game (1.18) for a defenseman. Calgary's Travis Sanheim, another Flyers prospect, finished first by averaging 1.31 points per game.

Several former Flyers have won the WHL award as the league's top defenseman, including Jason Smith (1993), Kevin Haller (1990), Brad McCrimmon (1978), Kevin McCarthy (1976), and Jim Watson (1972).

Provorov's Wheat Kings will face Seattle in the WHL championship series, which will starts Friday. The winner will advance to the Memorial Cup Tournament.

- Sam Carchidi