The Midwest Junior Hockey League today announced that Ken Winter of the Detroit Fighting Irish has been named Forward of the Year, as voted on by the league’s seven head coaches.

Winter, a 1994-born native of Eastpointe, Mich., led Detroit in scoring and finished in a ninth-place tie among MWJHL scoring leaders this season with 34 goals and 21 assists for 55 points in 36 games. He collected two four-goal games this season and on Dec. 6 against the Decatur Blaze, registered three shorthanded goals. Winter led the league with six shorthanded goals in 2014-15.

The three-year MWJHL veteran compiled 13 multi-point games this year and on seven occasions, recorded three or more points in one game. Winter added four hat tricks to his totals and of his 55 points, 42 came while playing even-strength.

“Ken Winter has been one of the most important players to our organization since he came to play for us back with the Motor City Chiefs,” Fighting Irish coach-GM Dan Vasquez said. “He represented and embodied the philosophy that our organization has been built upon, a player who has dedicated himself to be the best in every part of the game. He also represents the true spirit of development.”

Winter scored 24 goals among 35 points in 2013-14 and started his MWJHL career in 2012-13 where he tallied 24 goals and 50 points. In all three seasons in the MWJHL, Winter led his team to the postseason.

“Ken as a player was ready to play at the next levels, but there were other parts of his development as a person that were dependent on his participation in our program,” added Vasquez. “He and his parents embraced the philosophy and have supported our program. I am truly going to be sad to see him finish his junior career because he has been a joy to coach and to mentor. His importance to our organization is immeasurable. I stated recently that more than anything, we watched him grow from boy to man and the bonus was watching him give our organization a tremendous effort night after night.”

The Fighting Irish swept the Alpena Flyers in the first round of this season’s Veteran’s Memorial Cup Playoffs last weekend and play the Motor City Monarchs this weekend in the semifinals. Game 1 is tonight at the Jack Adams Ice Arena in Detroit, while Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will be at Fraser Hockeyland.

The MWJHL Organization of the Year will be announced next week.