NORTHWEST NOTES: April 23, 2020
Beckman earns WHL Western Conference
Player of the Year
Spokane Chiefs forward and Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Beckman was named the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference Player of the Year.
He is one of two finalists — joining Dylan Cozens of the Lethbridge Hurricanes — for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s top player.
Beckman is the first Chief to earn Western Conference Player of the Year honors since Mitch Holmberg in 2013-14. Ray Whitney (1990-91) is the only Chief to earn the full WHL Player of the Year accolade. Beckman was also named the Chiefs’ Player of the Year.
An 18-year-old forward from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Beckman ranked first in points (107), goals (48) and shots on goal (316), tied for third in assists (59), fifth in plus-minus (+44), second in power play goals (16) and second in game-winning goals (9).
Beckman was selected by Minnesota in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and signed to an entry-level contract late last month.
Boise State to
furlough coaches
Boise State head football coach Bryan Harsin and other coaches and athletic department employees earning more than $40,000 per year will be furloughed.
School President Marlene Tromp informed staff of the furloughs, saying canceling events into the summer because of the coronavirus pandemic has cost the school more than $10 million.
All university employees earning more than $150,000 will be required to take 10-day furloughs between early May and the end of July. Those earning $100,000 to $149,999 will be required to take seven days; $75,000 to $99,999, five days; and $40,000 to $74,999, four days. Employees are not allowed to perform any work during the furloughs.
Most of Boise State’s football coaches will be required to take the 10-day furlough. Harsin makes $1.65 million in base salary. The majority of Boise State’s football coaching staff also exceeds the $150,000 threshold.
The 10-day furloughs will also come into play for men’s basketball coach Leon Rice and women’s basketball coach Gordy Presnell. Rice’s base salary for 2019 was $705,292 and Presnell’s was $242,128.