OKOTOKS, AB (March 7, 2022) ““ Okotoks Oilers forward Rieger Lorenz (Calgary, AB) has won the Dick White Trophy as Alberta Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year, the league announced today.
Lorenz is the second Oiler in franchise history to win the award for the best first-year player in the league, after Corban Knight captured it in the 2008-09 season.
“As a staff we”™re really happy for Rieger”™s accomplishment,” said Oilers head coach and general manager Tyler Deis. “It reflects the hard work that he”™s put in to achieve a historic season and help anchor this young group of players.”
The 17-year old University of Denver commit shattered several team records for first-year players this season, recording 85 points (38 goals, 47 assists) in 60 games. Those totals broke Elliot Sheen”™s record for points by an Oiler rookie, as well as Knight”™s record for rookie goals in a single season. Lorenz”™s campaign also ranks him third all-time in single-season points behind only Dylan Holloway in 2018-19 and Jack Works in 2019-20, as well as fourth all-time in single-season goals and fourth in assists.
He finished the season ranked fifth in the AJHL in points, fourth in goals, and sixth in assists, leading all rookie players in goals as well. He also led the league with five shorthanded goals.
In the midterm NHL draft rankings released by Central Scouting in January, he was ranked 24th among North American skaters.
So far in the 2022 postseason, Lorenz has added two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in two games, as the Oilers head to game 3 against the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Tuesday night looking to take a 3-0 series lead. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM.
Photo: Chad Goddard Photography