Kamloops Blazers General Manager Matt Bardsley has named the WHL Western Conference Executive of the Year for the 2019/20 season.

That means Bardsley is a nominee for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as WHL Executive of the Year – given to a team executive for contributions to their team’s overall performance on and off the ice during the WHL regular season.

In his second full season as a General Manager, Bardsley oversaw a Kamloops Blazers roster that won its first B.C. Division title since 2012, with a 41-18-3-1 record through 63 games before the season was suspended because of COVID-19.

Among the moves made by Bardsley to strengthen the roster saw the addition of overage forward Ryan Hughes and overage defenceman Max Martin from Saskatoon and Prince Albert respectively. He also bolstered the blue-line at the trade deadline by acquiring Libor Zabransky from the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Bardsley was also responsible for the trade that brought Blazers captain Zane Franklin to Kamloops last season. The Marwayne, Alberta native was fourth in WHL scoring with 91 points and was named a second team all-star this season.

Meanwhile, Lethbridge Hurricanes General Manager Peter Anholt was named the top executive in the Eastern Conference.

The winner of the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy will be announced on May 8.