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With six points in his last two games, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Adam Brooks has been named WHL Player of the Week for the week of November 6-13.

On Thursday, November 10 versus the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brooks put forth three assists in a 5-4 overtime victory. The 20-year-old product of Winnipeg followed up with a goal and two assists on Sunday, November 13 in an 8-4 win over the Red Deer Rebels, earning second-star recognition.
ReginaPats.com

It’s not at all surprising knowing he won the 2015-16 scoring title as a 19-year-old — and had won the player-of-the-week honours three times previous — but the recognition comes as confirmation that Brooks is off and running in his final junior season. His 25 points in 11 games are tied with teammate Sam Steel for tops of the WHL in points-per-game. Brooks has yet to go a game without a point, has two four-point games to his name through 11, and is riding a five-game run of multi-point outings. He’s also scored six of his seven goals at even strength.

The Leafs needed to make a decision on Brooks’ whereabouts this past Fall after drafting the 20-year-old in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. The left-handed center got a look in Toronto Marlies camp but was ultimately sent back for his fifth year of junior. In a September interview with Maple Leafs Hot Stove, Regina Pats head coach John Paddock mentioned that several NHL scouts suggested to him around the draft last Spring that an extra year of junior could be beneficial for Brooks; reason being that he saw limited ice time not just as a WHL rookie but as a sophomore as well.

Paddock: I’m probably a little bit biased, but I think the one factor that’s been mentioned to me before the draft by the at least some to numerous organizations that expressed interest is that he’s really only played two years of major junior. [Many players] wouldn’t play [much] the first year, but it’s not like he’s played four years. The first two years, he didn’t get much time. The thinking of those people that were talking to me before the draft was that there is certainly not going to be any harm in coming back and having another special year like he just had. But it remains to be seen what happens in training camp.

Brooks, who wears the ‘C’ for the Pats, is going to have every chance to accomplish some special things in Regina this season. The Pats are leading in the WHL standings, have yet to lose in regulation through 17 games (14-0-3), and have won ten consecutive as of Monday, November 15. Since Brooks returned from Toronto Marlies camp in time for an October 12th game versus Red Deer, the Pats have gone 10-0-1. Between Sam Steel (Anaheim, 2016 – 30th overall), Filip Ahl (Ottawa, 2015 – 109th overall) and Brooks, the Pats have three players in the top 12 in overall WHL point scoring.

It’s also shaping up to be an expensive season for Partner Technologies Inc. (PTI), who launched a program in partnership with Brooks and the Regina Pats organization this season. PTI is donating $100 per regular season point and $250 per playoff point garnered by Brooks throughout the entirety of the 2016-17 campaign, with all the money benefiting Big Brothers Regina. A running total for “Brooksy Bucks” is available on the Pats website — Brooks has helped raise $2,500 in just his first 11 games of the season.


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