PORTLAND, OR – The Western Hockey League announced today, May 1, that Prince George Cougars General Manager & Head Coach Mark Lamb has won the 2023-2024 Dunc McCallum Trophy, given annually to the WHL Coach of the Year.
This is the first time Lamb has been awarded the Dunc McCallum Trophy. Lamb is also the first Prince George Cougar bench boss in team history to win this award.
In his sixth season with the organization, Lamb helped the Cougars to a 49-15-1-3 record, marking the best record in the Cougars’ 30-year history. This record breaking season earned the Cougars a BC Division crown and the best record in the Western Conference.
In addition to the remarkable season, the Cougars ranked first in the WHL in road wins (24) and power-play goals for (84). The 2023-2024 Prince George Cougars paced the Western Conference in wins (49), points (102), power-play percentage (30.1%), penalty-kill percentage (84.3%), and goal differential (+129).
“This really is a team award” said humbly by Mark Lamb. “Winning this award means that we have a great hockey team and a great coaching staff. With the addition of Jim Playfair and having Carter Rigby and Taylor Dakers, it’s a really tight group. Acknowledging this award and winning this award, it goes to a lot of people.”
Under Lamb’s guidance, forward Zac Funk (67-56-123) was named the BC Division nominee for the WHL Player of the Year, Terik Parascak (43-62-105) was named the BC Division nominee for WHL Rookie of the Year, and captain Hudson Thornton (18-56-74) earned the BC Division nominee for WHL Defenceman of the year.