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| May 26, 2019 1:00 AM

Chiefs’ Smith named CHL

Defenseman of the Year

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs was named Canadian Hockey League Defenseman of the Year on Saturday.

Smith, a New Jersey Devils prospect, was one of five Western Hockey League players honored among the 10 award winners.

Smith was second on the Chiefs in scoring and fourth among all WHL blue-liners as he tallied seven goals and 62 assists for 69 points in only 57 appearances. The 19-year-old native of Lloydminster, Sask., is the first WHL rearguard to capture the Defenseman of the Year Award since Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings) in 2016.

Other WHL players recognized included Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ian Scott of the Prince Albert Raiders, who was named CHL Goaltender of the Year; Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Justin Almeida of the Moose Jaw Warriors (CHL Sportsman of the Year), 2019 NHL Draft prospect Dustin Wolf of the Everett Silvertips (Scholastic Player of the Year) and 2019 NHL Draft prospect Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants (CHL Top Prospect Award).