Just days after being named the WHL's smartest team, the Kamloops Blazers were given another impressive honour. 

The WHL announced this morning that Blazer goaltender Dylan Garand was the recipient of the Daryl K. Seaman Memorial Trophy. The trophy is awarded to the league's Scholastic Player of the Year. 

"CIBC proudly congratulates Dylan Garand of the Kamloops Blazers on being named the recipient of the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy as the 2019-20 WHL Scholastic Player of the Year," wrote CIBC. "Dylan's excellence both on the ice in hockey and off the ice in academics has set a positive example for his fellow teammates and community members."

The 17-year-old achieved high academic standing while attending Valleyview Secondary this year. Garand is set to graduate with honours this June after maintaining an overall academic average of 96.5%. 

In his core grade 12 courses, Garand provided leadership in the class scoring a 93% average. Between grade 11 and 12, the goaltender completed 16 total courses. 

“Dylan is respected by his teammates as well as our staff, both as an excellent academic student and he provides excellent leadership,” said Victor Bifano, Academic Advisor for the Blazers. “He has managed his academics and hockey with a profound degree of maturity.”

This season, Garand led the Blazers to their first BC Division title since 2012. He posted a 28-10-2-1 record in 42 games while maintaining a 2.21 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and four shutouts. 

Garand is the first Blazer to win the award since Colin Smith in 2011 and Devan Dubnyk in 2004.