Connor Neave of the Saskatoon Westleys is awarded the Prairie Junior Hockey League's Top Defenceman Award by league president, Mike Zambon. (Submitted photo/Connor Neave)

By Martin Martinson

Blue line Excellence

N.B. local, Neave named PJHL Top Defenceman

Mar 15, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) has announced their year-end awards for the 2022-23 season, with a familiar face around the Battlefords rinks among those taking home the hardware.

North Battleford local Connor Neave has been named the league’s Top Defenceman this year, becoming the first Saskatoon Westleys player to win the award since 2008.

Neave is currently in his third season with the Westleys, where he paced all defencemen and finished eighth overall in league scoring with 53 points (24G, 29A) in 40 games this season.

Neave said being recognized amongst the elite at the blue line position is something he had set out to achieve as a goal heading into the year.

“It’s pretty cool, I kind of had a plan at the start of the year [to compete for Top Defenceman], so it’s an honour and I’m pretty proud of myself and the boys for helping me get there,” he said.

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Connor Neave in action for the Westleys this season. (Submitted photo/Connor Neave)

While the offensive numbers are the first thing to jump off the page, Neave also prides himself on the defensive side of the puck as well by playing big minutes in all game situations for the Westleys this season.

“It all starts on the backend in our own end,” the recently-turned 21-year-old said. “I’d like to think of myself as a two-way player and I take pride in my defensive abilities, but it’s also nice being able to put the puck in the net and contribute for the fellas and do anything I can to help the boys win a hockey game.”

Neave’s play helped lead the Westleys to second place in the Bob Dybvig Division, and third overall in the league standings, with a 29-10-0-1 record this season.

Currently tied at three games apiece in the North Semi-Finals of the postseason, the #2 Westleys will play the #3 Saskatoon Royals in Game 7 Wednesday, for a chance to advance to the North Final against the Saskatoon Quakers.

It’s the kind of big-game opportunity Neave said he and his teammates are looking forward to.

“You’ve just got to take it one game at a time, and tonight’s a huge one,” he said, with an audible smile creeping in. “It’s do or die, so we’ve got to do our job and get the win tonight to move on.”

Wednesday’s Game 7 will be played at Saskatoon’s Rod Hamm Arena, with puck drop at 8 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1