AMARILLO, Texas — Derek Hahn, former CHL MVP, has been selected for the Canadian National Team competing in the 2008 Deutschland Cup in November. When sitting in the Amarillo Gorillas arena, The Jungle, if you lift you’re eyes slightly you will see the oversized banner hanging upon the arena wall touting Derek Hahn’s accomplishments: CHL Rookie of the Year and MVP. Hahn had garnered the MVP award in no easy way, having eclipsed a 105 season points record held for seven years by WPHL center, Chris Brooks. Brooks played for the previous Amarillo team, the Rattlers. Brooks dominated the 1998-1999 WPHL season with an amazing 48 goals and 57 assists in 61 games. Brooks went on the following season to become Assistant Hockey Coach at Western Michigan University, a position he held for eight years. This year, in his first season in the professional level, Brooks was named to coach the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. But records are meant to be broken, and Derek Hahn was just the hockey player to do it. After gathering the Rookie of the Year title with the Gorillas in the 2002-2003 season with 52 points, Hahn rolled on to 70 and 78 points tallies respectively the following 2 seasons as a Gorilla center. Hahn was awarded the CHL’s Most Valuable Player award during his 2004-2005 season. During the 2005-2006 64 game schedule, Hahn amassed 35 goals and 79 assists for 114 point total, breaking Brooks WPHL/CHL record, and capturing the Joe Burton award as league scoring champion. In 238 career CHL games with the Gorillas, Hahn scored 124 goals with 201 assists for 325 points. He also scored 41 points (12-29=41) in 36 career Ray Miron President’s Cup playoff games. During his MVP season, the former R.I.T. college star totaled 35 goals and 79 helpers. “Derek was an impact player from the first game he played in Amarillo,” former Amarillo and current Rapid City Rush head coach Joe Ferras said. “Hahner was able to dominate a game with his work ethic and willingness to compete every night. Being selected to represent Canada is a tribute to both Derek’s character and his ability that we were fortunate to see on a daily basis in Amarillo.” Amarillo fans were indeed fortunate to see the caliber of player as is Derek Hahn. “I like to have the puck and try to make things happen,” Hahn said some years ago during his drive to the CHL scoring championship. And make things happen he did. His selection to Canadian National Team indicates he still likes to make things happen. The 2008 Deutschland Cup includes national teams from Canada, Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany and will run from November 7th-9th in Mannheim and Frankfurt, Germany. Canada last participated in the Deutschland Cup in 2006, winning bronze. It has been victorious in the tournament in 2000, 2002 and 2005. Joining Hahn on the team are former NHL players Jamie Storr, Fred Brathwaite, Dan McGillis, Pascal Trepanier, Mathieu Biron, Richie Regehr, Nathan Robinson, Chris Herperger, Norm Milley, Rene Corbet, Bryan Adams, Duncan Milroy, Jamie Wright, Justin Papineau and Rob Collins.
Contact the author at: rhudson@prohockeynews.com
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