A former member of Penticton's BCHL franchise has captured an end-of-season NHL award for his efforts behind the bench.
Washington Capitals bench boss Spencer Carbery won the 2024-2025 Jack Adams Award, handed out annually to the NHL's coach of the year.
The Victoria native and Penticton Panthers forward in 2001-2002 beat out the Winnipeg Jets' Scott Arniel and Montreal Canadiens' Martin St. Louis for the award, the league announced on June 7.
Carbery led Washington to an Eastern Conference-best 111 points (51-22-9) during the 2024-2025 campaign, marking a 20-point improvement from the year before.
The Capitals toppled Montreal in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs before their season ended at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2.
Carbery, 43, also got a front-row seat to NHL history this season when his star winger Alexander Ovechkin scored career marker No. 895 on April 6, to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record.
In one season with Penticton in the BCHL, Washington's current bench boss scored 37 goals and amassed 70 points in 58 games.
He also suited up for the Cowichan Valley Capitals during the 2000-2001 campaign, posting 58 points in 60 games.
