Dec. 11 - The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and the Western Hockey League are pleased to announce that forward DAVID CAMERON of the University of Manitoba Bisons has been named the Canada West Hockey - WHL Graduate of the Month for November, 2002.

CAMERON, a 22-year-old University Studies student from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the second winner of the award in 2002-03, joining University of Saskatchewan defenceman Dan Hulak, who was the October recipient.

The former Saskatoon Blade finished ahead of University of Alberta Golden Bears forward Brad Tutschek and University of Saskatchewan Huskies goaltender Thomas Vicars in the voting conducted by the conference's seven coaches. CAMERON received four of the six first place votes as well as one second and one third place vote.

Celebrating its 14th season, the Canada West Hockey - WHL Graduate of the Month Award is presented monthly to a graduate of the Western Hockey League who is now playing on one of the seven teams in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. Each monthly winner between October and March, receives a cheque for $500.00 from the WHL to go towards the cost of his education.

Canadian intercollegiate hockey is a quality option for players who wish to combine both hockey and education. Over 50 WHL grads were members of Canada West Hockey's eight teams in 2001-02. CIS hockey in general, and Canada West Hockey in particular, has allowed these players to further their hockey careers as well as their education at some of Canada's finest academic institutions.

During the 2001-02 season a total of 77 former Canada West Hockey players were playing professional hockey in North America and Europe, including former University of Alberta Golden Bears defenceman Cory Cross with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators forward Stu Grimson, who played collegiate hockey with the University of Manitoba Bisons.

In his second season with Manitoba, CAMERON scored points in six of the Bisons eight games in November, scoring five goals and six assists for 11 points. With the 11 points, the 6'1", 190-pound sophomore tops the Manitoba scoring list with 6-11-17 and is tied for seventh place in the Canada West Hockey scoring race at the Christmas break.

After opening the month scoreless in a two-game road series against the number one ranked Alberta Golden Bears on November 1st and 2nd, CAMERON went on to score points in each of the Bisons last six games. He scored goals in four of the six games of his scoring streak and added assists in five as Manitoba compiled a 4-4-0 record during the month.

A highlight of the month saw the Bisons assistant captain scored 3-3-6 in a two-game sweep of the Lethbridge Pronghorns on November 15th-16th. CAMERON earned Canada West Hockey Player of the Week honors for the six-game performance as he scored twice and added two assists in a come from behind 6-5 victory in the series opener and then netted the game-winning goal and added an assist in the 6-2 win in the second game of the series.

Other nominees for the Canada West Hockey - WHL Graduate of the Month award for October were goaltender Thomas Vicars of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (Prince Albert Raiders) and forwards Brad Tutschek of the University of Alberta Golden Bears (Seattle Thunderbirds), Nils Antons of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (Kamloops Blazers), Sean Robertson of the University of Calgary Dinos (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Charlie Mattersdorfer of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (Lethbridge Hurricanes).

CAMERON played five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades between 1996-97 and 2000-01.