Dave Lowry is head coach of the Victoria Royals. But on Wednesday, he was simply a hockey dad, and a beaming one.
His son, forward Adam Lowry, was named the Western Hockey League 2012-13 MVP in a ceremony at Calgary.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a proud moment for our family,鈥� Dave Lowry said.
鈥淵our kids leave at 16 [to play junior hockey], and you don鈥檛 know what to expect.鈥�
Adam Lowry is a strapping six-foot-five 20-year-old. His 45 goals, 88 points and plus-18 rating led the Swift Current Broncos to the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10.
鈥淎dam is a big, strong guy. But it is his hard work and desire and passion to win every night [that made him league MVP],鈥� Dave Lowry said.
Adam Lowry is a 2011 third-round NHL draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets.
鈥淚t鈥檚 best to take it slow. I see him starting in the [minor-pro American Hockey League],鈥� Dave Lowry said.
His other son, forward Joel Lowry, was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings from the Junior 鈥楢鈥� Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL. He currently plays in the NCAA for Cornell.
Meanwhile, the other WHL award winners for 2012-13 were: Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks (top rookie), Patrik Bartosak of the Red Deer Rebels (top goaltender), Brenden Kichton of the Spokane Chiefs (top defenceman), Brendan Leipsic and Nicholas Petan of the Winterhawks (co-winners of top-scorer award), Dylan Wruck of the Edmonton Oil Kings (most sportsmanlike player) and Ryan McGill of the Kootenay Ice (coach of the year).
