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McGowan Coastal Conference's most sportsmanlike player

Stellar scoring season capped off by award
13250langleybradmcgowan
After coming up short in the BCHL scoring race

After a spectacular season scoring-wise, Surrey Eagles forward Brad McGowan was rewarded for another aspect of his game.The 20-year-old from Langley was named the Coastal Conference winner of the most sportsmanlike player award.The Westside Warriors' Grayson Downing won the award for the Interior Conference.McGowan, who is in his last season of junior hockey, finished third in the BCHL scoring race with 36 goals and 53 assists for 89 points."He's done it consistently; he hasn't had that 18-point weekend where he gets named player-of-the week," said Surrey coach Matt Erhart. "He just quietly puts up one or two points a game and goes about his business." McGowan, who put up 46 points as a rookie last season, is quick to credit the team and coaches for his success."I didn't really expect to be putting up this many points, but it's been a bit of luck, and the coach has thrown me out there on the ice a lot, and I've just taken advantage of the opportunity."He has spent the majority of the season on Surrey's top line with another Langley Minor Hockey alum, Richard Vanderhoek.With Vanderhoek a year younger, the pair played together every second year through the Langley Minor Hockey ranks."It was peewee where we kind of realized we played well together," Vanderhoek said. "I always know where he is going to be out there, and he knows where I am. "We trust each other."Vanderhoek was second on the team with 26 goals and 45 points.Thanks in large part to McGowan's scoring prowess, the Eagles finished second in the Coastal Conference.They will face the Coquitlam Express in a best-of-seven playoff series beginning Friday (Feb. 25).McGowan is off to the Rochester Institute of Technology next season.