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A silky-smooth skater who models his game after Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bernard-Docker was voted by the AJHL’s bench bosses and GMs as winner of the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy, a nod to the most outstanding defenceman on the 16-team circuit. He was also among the four finalists for the most dedicated player award.

As the youngest rearguard on the roster, he helped Team Canada-West to a gold-medal triumph at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge in mid-December.

He has committed to join one of the NCAA’s powerhouse hockey programs — the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks — next fall.

“The way he regiments his workouts, his nutrition, his practice habits … I don’t think it’s any secret why he’s such a good player, just by the way he approaches the game,” praised Oilers captain Carter Huber, who will also skate for the Fighting Hawks next season. “I mean, I’m 21 years old now and he’s the guy I’ll go up to after practice and look for some drills to help me out and things like that. His knowledge of the game and his passion is second-to-none. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before.”

Added Oilers head coach Tyler Deis: “There’s no magic story about Jacob. He’s just a perfect kid. He just works extremely hard, and he knows what he wants.”

What he wants right now is to get his hands on the AJHL’s Inter Pipeline Cup.

He’ll worry about his draft stock later.

“As an athlete, you just try to do your best and the rest will take care of itself,” Bernard-Docker reasoned. “Throughout the year, I’ve worked hard and you just hope for the best. And whatever happens, happens. Whether I get drafted or I don’t, I’m still going to be the same hockey player, the same person. I just try not to let it affect me too much.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/WesGilbertson