The Talents Behind the Trophies: the Scott Boulet Trophy

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Hello, VHL! In this new bi-weekly series, we'll be delving deep into the storied history of our league as we learn about the awards strived for every season by the VHL's top players, along with learning about the players whose names grace these awards. Both VHL and VHLM awards will be covered in this series and between entries, I'm pleased to announce that I will be continuing Matt_O's "Deep Rewind" series, which will be tied to the players covered by the series or recent VHL/VHLM events. 

 

Let's get started, shall we?

 

The Scott Boulet Trophy. Awarded annually to the top two-way forward in the VHL, this award goes to players who play a full 200-foot game, contributing as much defensively as they do offensively. Originally called the Delvecchio Trophy, it was renamed the Scott Boulet Trophy after the dominant Calgary Wranglers forward in Season 11 to honour the four-time winner of the award. Just as Boulet himself did, there are many players who have won the award multiple times. Although Boulet himself was the first to win it four times, several others have joined him, notably Stockholm Vikings forward Lord Karnage, who won the trophy a staggering four years in a row from Season 44 to 47. One player, Davos HC Dynamo/New York Americans legend David Smalling, surpassed them all by winning the Scott Boulet Trophy an unprecedented five times. Along with winning it for the first time in Season 28, Smalling was the first player to win the award four seasons in a row, from Season 31 to 34. But let's not forget the player we're here to learn more about: Scott Boulet himself. 

 

To tell the story of Scott Boulet, we need to go all the way back to the beginning: Season One, the beginning of the VHL itself. During the massive dispersal draft that created the league's first teams, Boulet went in the first round, sixth overall to the Calgary Wranglers. Although we have generations of hindsight and it seems silly in retrospect, many people at the time questioned this pick. Believing Boulet to be more of a role player, his selection in the first round was highly scrutinized. However, he was determined to prove how valuable a two-way forward could be to the VHL. 

 

Scott Boulet, the VHL's original standard for two-way forwards.

 

As part of the Deep Rewind-worthy Season One Calgary Wranglers with Brett Slobodzian, Boulet's doubters were quickly silenced as he notched 53 goals, 79 assists, a +107 rating, 132 hits and 184 penalty minutes as Calgary cruised to the Victory Cup. The All-Star selection also won his first Delvecchio Trophy, but his first ring would have to wait, as the Wranglers' magical season ended in defeat to the Vasteras IK Iron Eagles in six games in the Continental Cup Finals. 

 

One thing that must be noted here: his offensive numbers are certainly impressive, making it look like those numbers are why he won the award. However, in Season One, 132 hits led the league. His 184 penalty minutes were another league-high. It was a different era for the VHL, one in which not all of today's numbers translate. Boulet finished third in league scoring with 132 points, behind only Scotty Campbell and Brett Slobodzian, and led the league in defensive categories as a forward. 

 

Brett Slobodzian, a dangerous scoring threat whose name is still revered.

 

Season Two brought more of the same for Scott Boulet, scoring 60 goals and adding 59 assists for 119 points. He again led the VHL in hits and penalty minutes, with 133 and 199, respectively, adding a +63 rating. Winning his second consecutive Delvecchio Trophy and All-Star nomination, Boulet also added his first Continental Cup title as the Wranglers got their revenge by beating Vasteras to avenge their loss the previous season. Calgary continued their roll in Season 3, capturing another Victory Cup and repeating as Continental Cup champions in yet another finals rematch against Vasteras. Although Boulet did not earn any individual accolades, he was still a valuable contributor to the Wranglers, scoring 56 goals, recording 53 assists and continuing his strong defensive play, with a +77, 113 hits, 21 blocked shots and 191 penalty minutes. 

 

After a disastrous off-season for Calgary in which Brett Slobodzian injured and underwent surgery for a major knee injury, the two-time defending champions went into Season Four looking towards Scott Boulet to lead the way. Although Slobodzian amazingly never missed a game, the Wranglers were not the same this season. While Boulet again topped 100 points and nearly scored 60 goals, it would not be enough for the Wranglers to reach the playoffs, the only time in Boulet's career that this would happen. Season Five, however, saw Boulet truly establish himself as the new face of the Calgary Wranglers. On the heels of a dominant 130 point season in which he recorded a staggering 73 assists, 57 goals, a +64 rating and 134 hits, Boulet was awarded his third Delvecchio Trophy. More importantly, however, the Wranglers returned to the playoffs. Despite Boulet's nine points in six games, the Seattle Bears proved to be too much, going on to win the Continental Cup. 

 

Scotty Campbell, widely considered the best VHL player ever. 

 

Just prior to Season Six, Scott Boulet stunned the VHL by announcing that he would be retiring following the upcoming season. Little did they know, however, that he had saved his very best for last. Scoring 65 goals and recording 74 assists, his 139 points were his career-high in a season. Recording 134 hits, blocking an absurd 50 shots and comprising a +65 rating, Boulet won his fourth Delvecchio Trophy. On top of being selected to another All-Star Game, Boulet also was awarded the VHL's highest individual honour: the Gretzky Trophy, as the league's most valuable player. While the Calgary Wranglers returned to the Continental Cup Finals, Boulet's storybook ending was denied by the Helsinki Titans in five games. The next season, Scott Boulet was inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame's Class of Season Seven along with centre Alex McNeil.

 

Scott Boulet was the early standard of the two-way forward for the VHL, making him the perfect choice for the award given to the league's best two-way forward to be named after him. While many have come close to, tying or, in David Smalling's case, exceeding the amount of Delvecchio/Boulet Trophies than Boulet himself, it remains fair to say that the name will not change anytime soon, if ever. But while Boulet's last VHL game was played more than ten calendar years ago, the excellence that was his career will continue to live on not only through the Scott Boulet Trophy, but through you, the reader, as now his story has been passed to you. 

 

Player Mentions: @Matt_O, djscooter, @boubabi, @Knight, Rybak_49, @scotty, @McNeil

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