title: Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
text: # Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
  
  The Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the defenceman of the year in the Western Hockey League (WHL). It is named after one of the league's founders, Bill Hunter, who was the driving force behind the creation of the WHL. Hunter served as the owner, general manager and head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings, and was the first Chairman of the Board of the new league.
  
  ## List of winners
  
  * denotes also named CHL Defenceman of the Year
  
  WHL Defenceman of the Year :
  
  | Season | Player | Team |
  | - | - | - |
  | 1966–67 | Barry Gibbs | Estevan Bruins |
  | 1967–68 | Gerry Hart | Flin Flon Bombers |
  | 1968–69 | Dale Hoganson | Estevan Bruins |
  | 1969–70 | Jim Hargreaves | Winnipeg Jets |
  | 1970–71 | Ron Jones | Edmonton Oil Kings |
  | 1971–72 | Jim Watson | Calgary Centennials |
  | 1972–73 | George Pesut | Saskatoon Blades |
  | 1973–74 | Pat Price | Saskatoon Blades |
  | 1974–75 | Rick Lapointe | Victoria Cougars |
  | 1975–76 | Kevin McCarthy | Winnipeg Clubs |
  | 1976–77 | Barry Beck | New Westminster Bruins |
  | 1977–78 | Brad McCrimmon | Brandon Wheat Kings |
  | 1978–79 | Keith Brown | Portland Winter Hawks |
  | 1979–80 | Dave Babych | Portland Winter Hawks |
  | 1980–81 | Jim Benning | Portland Winter Hawks |
  | 1981–82 | Gary Nylund | Portland Winter Hawks |
  | 1982–83 | Gary Leeman | Regina Pats |
  | 1983–84 | Bob Rouse | Lethbridge Broncos |
  | 1984–85 | Wendel Clark | Saskatoon Blades |
  | 1985–86 | (West) Glen Wesley | Portland Winter Hawks |
  | 1985–86 | (East) Emanuel Viveiros | Prince Albert Raiders |
  | 1986–87 | (West) Glen Wesley | Portland Winter Hawks |
  | 1986–87 | (East) Wayne McBean | Medicine Hat Tigers |
  | 1987–88 | Greg Hawgood | Kamloops Blazers |
  | 1988–89 | Dan Lambert | Swift Current Broncos |
  | 1989–90 | Kevin Haller | Regina Pats |
  | 1990–91 | Darryl Sydor | Kamloops Blazers |
  | 1991–92 | Richard Matvichuk | Saskatoon Blades |
  | 1992–93 | Jason Smith | Regina Pats |
  | 1993–94 | Brendan Witt | Seattle Thunderbirds |
  | 1994–95 | Nolan Baumgartner | Kamloops Blazers |
  | 1995–96 | Nolan Baumgartner | Kamloops Blazers |
  | 1996–97 | Chris Phillips | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
  | 1997–98 | Michal Rozsival | Swift Current Broncos |
  | 1998–99 | Brad Stuart | Calgary Hitmen |
  | 1999–2000 | Micki Dupont | Kamloops Blazers |
  | 2000–01 | Christian Chartier | Prince George Cougars |
  | 2001–02 | Dan Hamhuis | Prince George Cougars |
  | 2002–03 | Jeff Woywitka | Red Deer Rebels |
  | 2003–04 | Dion Phaneuf | Red Deer Rebels |
  | 2004–05 | Dion Phaneuf | Red Deer Rebels |
  | 2005–06 | Kris Russell | Medicine Hat Tigers |
  | 2006–07 | Kris Russell | Medicine Hat Tigers |
  | 2007–08 | Karl Alzner | Calgary Hitmen |
  | 2008–09 | Jonathon Blum | Vancouver Giants |
  | 2009–10 | Tyson Barrie | Kelowna Rockets |
  | 2010–11 | Stefan Elliott | Saskatoon Blades |
  | 2011–12 | Alex Petrovic | Red Deer Rebels |
  | 2012–13 | Brenden Kichton | Spokane Chiefs |
  | 2013–14 | Derrick Pouliot | Portland Winterhawks |
  | 2014–15 | Shea Theodore | Seattle Thunderbirds |
  | 2015–16 | Ivan Provorov | Brandon Wheat Kings |
  | 2016–17 | Ethan Bear | Seattle Thunderbirds |
  | 2017–18 | Kale Clague | Brandon/Moose Jaw |
  | 2018–19 | Ty Smith | Spokane Chiefs |
  | 2019–20 | Ty Smith | Spokane Chiefs |
  | 2020–21 | Braden Schneider | Brandon Wheat Kings |
  | 2021–22 | Olen Zellweger | Everett Silvertips |
  | 2022–23 | Olen Zellweger | Kamloops Blazers |
  