Hockey roundup: Yzerman ranked eighth best CHL player; PWHL to name award finalists

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was ranked No. 8 on the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list, which was released on Thursday as part of the CHL’s 50th anniversary season.

Yzerman, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and three-time Stanley Cup champion as a player with the Red Wings with a fourth championship as vice president and alternate governor, was of the most accomplished players in CHL history with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was ranked No. 8 on the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list.

Selected fourth overall by the Petes in the first round of the 1981 OHL Draft, Yzerman recorded 155 points — 63 goals and 92 assists — in 114 regular-season games from 1981-83.

As a rookie in 1981-82, Yzerman posted 64 points (21 goals and 43 assists) in 58 regular-season games before adding one assist in six playoff contests.

The following season, he delivered the best campaign of his OHL career, registering 91 points (42 goals and 49 assists) in 56 regular-season games, along with five points in four playoff games.

Following his two-year OHL career, Yzerman was selected fourth overall by the Red Wings in the 1983 NHL Draft. He spent his entire 22-season NHL playing career with Detroit from 1983-2006.

In 1,514 NHL regular-season games, Yzerman recorded 1,755 points — 692 goals and 1,063 assists — and ranks eighth all-time in NHL scoring.

He remains the longest-serving captain in NHL history, having worn the “C” for Detroit for 19 seasons.

The CHL countdown recognizes the greatest players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) since 1975-76.

PWHL to announce awards finalists

One day after the PWHL awarded an expansion franchise to Detroit, the league announced that the awards finalists will be released from May 19-27.

▶ Tuesday, May 19: Forward of the Year

▶ Wednesday, May 20: Defender of the Year

▶ Thursday, May 21: Goaltender of the Year

▶ Friday, May 22: Coach of the Year

▶ Tuesday, May 26: Rookie of the Year

▶ Wednesday, May 27: Billie Jean King MVP Award

The PWHL will announce the award finalists on June 16 with the 2026 PWHL Draft set for June 17 at the Fox Theatre, beginning at 5 p.m.

The awards selection committee features a cross-section of representatives and a weighted model for tabulating votes:

▶ 50% of voting points from media across North America, including all PWHL markets

▶ 25% from PWHL general managers and head coaches

▶ 15% from PWHL broadcast talent

▶ 10% from the PWHL Players Association (PWHLPA)

Ballots were submitted following the conclusion of the regular season and prior to the start of the playoffs.

Voters ranked their top three selections for each award, with five points awarded for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote, and one point for a third-place vote.

Media ballots were developed in consultation with the Women’s Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Steve Yzerman was ranked No. 8 among best CHL players in 50 years