The Talents Behind the Trophies: the Benoit Devereux Trophy

[Doomsday 4,143]

@Motzaburger has a trophy case like this for making all these award-winning graphics.

 

 

Hello and welcome to Season Two of The Talents Behind the Trophies. In this series, we delve deep into the history of the Victory Hockey League to learn more about the players that the various awards of the VHL and VHLM are named after. Many times, people covet a trophy, yet they don't know the story behind the player the award is named for. Personally, I feel that the stories of these players should be told. You see, these awards were initially named after NHL players, eventually taking the name of VHL players who personified the spirit of that award. Naturally, these are some of the best to ever grace the league, and The Talents Behind the Trophies will ensure their stories are known. 

 

Before we get started, let's take a moment to check out what's going on with the VSN. @Patrik Tallinder just dropped his rankings for the upcoming WJCs, @Berocka has a new segment out for VSN Radio, and Weekly Reviews for both leagues will be dropping soon as well!

 

WJC Team Rankings | VSN Radio | Under 250: the VHLM Review | VSN Weekly Review | Deep Rewind

 

This week, we'll be learning about the Benoit Devereux Trophy, along with the legendary goaltender it is named after. First awarded in Season Two as the Sawchuk Trophy, it has been awarded annually ever since to the top goalie, or per the Hall of Fame, the player deemed to be the top goalie in the VHLM. The very first winner was future VHL Hall of Famer Adrian McCreath, with 44 wins, 3.10 goals allowed average and a .842 save percentage. Season Nine was when Benoit Devereux, the player who the award would eventually be named for, won the award. The big distinction for Devereux was winning 65 games, a mark that would not be broken until Martin Brookside won 66 in Season 36 and Jacques Lafontaine won 68 in Season 69 (nice). To go with his impressive win totals, Devereux posted a 1.64 GAA, .915 save percentage and nine shutouts. As it turned out, it was only the beginning of Devereux's legendary career.

 

The Benoit Devereux Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to be the best goalie in the VHLM.

 

As the GM player for the Avangard Havoc, Devereux was not drafted. However, with Avangard in the middle of a rebuild, the team decided that it would be for the best to allow him to play in the VHLM instead of getting shelled in his first season of VHL eligibility. While the Havoc endured another rough season, Devereux absolutely dominated the M. Backstopping a Toledo Scorpions (since defunct) team that featured another future VHL Hall of Famer in Zach Arce, there was little the VHLM could do to stand in their way. With 65 wins, a .915 save percentage, 1.64 GAA and nine shutouts, Devereux started his career with not only a Sawchuk Trophy but lifted the Founder's Cup as Toledo won the championship. Season 10 saw him make his debut with Avangard, and it soon became apparent his time with Toledo had done wonders for the young netminder. While the Havoc were not yet ready to seriously compete for the Continental Cup, that didn't dissuade Devereux. Winning 32 games with an unbelievable .936 save percentage and a GAA below 3, he made history by becoming the first goaltender in VHL history to win the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy as the rookie of the year, along with the Tretiak Trophy as the top goalie of the VHL. Although he was successful in carrying the Havoc to the playoffs, Avangard would go no further, swept by the Riga Reign, who would go on to win the Continental Cup, despite Devereux's stellar .934 save percentage. 

 

After an off-season that saw the Havoc become the HC Davos Dynamo following a relocation, Benoit Devereux made it very clear that his talents did not remain in Avangard. Their inaugural season wound up being very memorable not just for Devereux, but for Davos as well. Recording 51 wins in 66 games played, his .940 save percentage led the VHL in Season 11. Combined with his 1.95 GAA, it led to many frustrating nights for his opponents. This time, however, his regular-season dominance led to continued success in the playoffs. Matching his .940 save percentage, Devereux continued to dominate, culminating in not only lifting his first Continental Cup, but winning the Howe Trophy as the most valuable player in the post-season. However, their reign at the top was short-lived. Davos failed to reach the playoffs in Season 12. While Devereux was still studly in net, it just wasn't enough for Davos this season. His .936 save percentage once again led the VHL and earned him a trip to the All-Star Game, but that simply wasn't enough for Devereux. It didn't ease the sting of watching the playoffs from home for the first time in his career, especially a season removed from a championship. 

 

Benoit Devereux was the first legendary netminder for a franchise that boasts some of the greatest to ever play.

 

Season 13 saw Davos return to form, bolstered by the acquisition of Matt Bentz. With the HC Dynamo dramatically improved offensively, along with Benoit Devereux continuing his masterful netminding, it wasn't much of a surprise for Davos to resume their winning ways from Season 11. For the third straight season, Devereux led the VHL with a .932 save percentage, with a GAA just above 2. This led to 55 wins in his 67 games played, easily enough for the HC Davos Dynamo to return to the playoffs. Winning his second Tretiak Trophy, Devereux also won his second Continental Cup after a thrilling Game Seven win over the New York Americans. Benoit Devereux made VHL history yet again in Season 14, becoming the first-ever player to win three Tretiak Trophies. Winning 43 games in 64 appearances, Devereux's numbers were beginning to dip, but he still posted strong numbers, with a .921 save percentage, 2.42 GAA and six shutouts. Although the HC Davos Dynamo returned to the playoffs, they were eliminated in six games by the Helsinki Titans, despite the best efforts of Devereux.

 

Sadly, better times were not ahead for Davos and Devereux. He had stopped showing up to all voluntary functions, and his play had dramatically dropped off. Predictably, this had disastrous implications for the HC Dynamo, who hardly resembled the powerhouse they had once been. With regression hitting hard and going uncombated, Devereux was simply unable to produce at the elite levels expected of him any longer. After two dismal seasons to finish out his career in Davos, there was one last moment of greatness for the Montreal, Canada native when he finally was able to win a gold medal in the World Cup in his final VHL appearance. Despite his fall from grace, the greatness of Benoit Devereux's career was undeniable, and he was enshrined in the VHL Hall of Fame in Season 18, along with Grimm Jonsson.

 

One of the VHL's most legendary leaders, Grimm Jonsson was on the losing end to Devereux's HC Dynamo in the Season 13 Continental Cup Finals.

 

In Season 42, the Sawchuk Trophy, which became the first of Benoit Devereux's many accolades in Season 9, was renamed in honour of the legendary netminder. Recent Benoit Devereux Trophy winners have gone on to make names for themselves, although it isn't necessarily the fast track to stardom for all that it was for Devereux himself. For every Jacques Lafontaine and Jaxx Hextall, who are both impressing in their rookie seasons, you have a Sean McGee or Chase that underwhelm in the bigs. The latest contender for the Benoit Devereux Trophy is a netminder that has the beginnings much like the man the trophy is named for. Rather than spend time on a Davos team that frankly isn't ready to compete this year, Season 71 draftee Joakim Bruden is in the VHLM with the Ottawa Lynx. He leads the M in wins with 44 and leads starting goalies with a .904 save percentage, 2.41 GAA and four shutouts. Bruden will undoubtedly be a key part of General Manager Jerry Garcia's rebuilding of the HC Davos Dynamo, and surely he is hopeful that Bruden's similarities to the Davos legend won't end when he leaves the VHLM. I for one can't think of a better start for the HC Dynamo than for them to have found their next legendary netminder, but that will be another story for another time.

 

Player Mentions: @Cowboy, @diamond_ace, @Matt, @sterling, @SlapshotDragon, @ROOKIE745, @Strooper99, @Chase Klein, @PadStack, @GustavMattias

[diamond_ace 3,112]

[ROOKIE745 607]

Glad to be mentioned here! thank you! great article Doomsday ^^

[PadStack 48]

Thanks for the mention