Wawanesa Congratulates Canadian Hockey League's Top Rookie
WINNIPEG (MB), June 8, 2018 - Wawanesa Insurance, the Official Property & Casualty Insurer of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), applauds Alexis Lafrenière of the Rimouski Océanic on being named the CHL’s Wawanesa Rookie of the Year.
“This sponsorship is an important initiative for Wawanesa because it fits with our long history of supporting communities from coast to coast in Canada,” remarked Graham Haigh, Vice-President, Business Development, during the presentation at the MasterCard Memorial Cup in Regina, the 100th edition of the tournament. “On behalf of our employees and major junior hockey fans across the country I’d like to congratulate Alexis on an outstanding first season in the QMJHL as he skates toward his dream of playing professional hockey.”
Lafrenière, who is eligible for the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft, led all CHL rookies with 80 points in 60 games. The 16-year old from St-Eustache, Que. was the QMJHL’s first overall pick in 2017 and became the first Quebec-born CHL Rookie of the Year since Rimouski star and now-retired NHL player Vincent Lecavalier. He also follows in the footsteps of another prominent Océanic forward - Sidney Crosby of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
For players 16 to 20 years of age, the CHL is the world's largest development hockey league with 52 Canadian and eight American teams. The list of alumni is a who’s who of players that have gone on to play university hockey in Canada or carved out careers in the North American and European professional leagues.
Wawanesa is closely aligned with major junior hockey. In addition to the player award, Wawanesa engages with fans and brokers alike through promotional activities and contests at CHL regular season games as well as the Mastercard Memorial Cup.
About Wawanesa
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, founded in 1896, is one of the largest property and casualty insurers in Canada with $3 billion in annual revenue and assets of more than $9 billion. Wawanesa Mutual, with executive offices in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa General, which offers property and casualty insurance in California and Oregon; Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada; and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Western Canada. With over 5,000 employees, Wawanesa proudly serves over two million policyholders through nine regional offices and 41 service offices in Canada and the United States. Wawanesa actively gives back to organizations that strengthen communities where it operates, donating well above internationally recognized benchmarks for excellence in corporate philanthropy.
For further information, please contact:
David Hultin
Senior External Communications Specialist
1-844-946-6282
media@wawanesa.com