Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Oulahen to Head Coach and Eric Wellwood to Associate Coach of the Flint Firebirds.
“Today’s announcement is a further piece in putting together a strong hockey operations staff for the Flint Firebirds,” said David Branch OHL Commissioner. “Their combined knowledge and experience will help develop the Flint Firebird players both on and off the ice.”
Ryan Oulahen, 31, a native of Newmarket, Ontario has spent the last six years as the Lead Assistant Coach of the Brampton/North Bay Battalion, a team he competed for from 2002-2005, including one season as captain. Oulahen played for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins for four seasons, including one season as captain and has been an Assistant Coach, Team Canada World Under 17 Challenge.
Eric Wellwood, 26, a native of Windsor, Ontario has won three Memorial Cups, two as a player and one with the Oshawa Generals, where he has been the Assistant Coach for the last two seasons. Wellwood played for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and the AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms. In addition, for three consecutive seasons, he was the OHL player named the Hardest Worker in the OHL’s Coaches poll.
“Ryan and Eric are both young yet experienced, bringing tremendous enthusiasm, leadership and a strong foundation in junior hockey to the Firebirds’ bench,” said George Burnett, General Manager Flint Firebirds. “My role is to support Ryan and Eric as they lead our group of current and prospective players in delivering an exciting brand of junior hockey to Genesee County in the 2016-17 season and beyond.”
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Barrie Colts defenceman Michael Webster is the 2015-16 recipient of the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy.
Webster was chosen for the award by a media selection committee as the OHL team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, with a passion and dedication to the game of hockey and community that Mickey demonstrated.
Michael Webster of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
“I am very honoured to be this year’s recipient of the OHL’s Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy,” said Webster. “This is an amazing award named after a former Captain of the Windsor Spitfires, who I understand was a great leader on and off the ice. I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to play for an organization like the OHL’s Barrie Colts for the past four years and also to have been picked by our owner Howie Campbell and coach Dale Hawerchuk, to serve as Captain this year. We had a great year as a team and I share this honour with my teammates. I would like to extend my thanks to the Renaud family for giving us Mickey’s example to live up to.”
A four-year member of the Colts, Webster was named team captain prior to the start of the 2015-16 season. The 20-year-old Toronto native helped lead the club to a second straight Central Division title contributing a career-high 44 points in 64 games from the blueline. The 17th captain in franchise history finishes his OHL career having played 254 career regular season games accumulating 18 goals and 77 assists for 95 points. He was chosen by the Colts in the 12th round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.
“The Colts are extremely proud of Michael and the way he handled himself as the captain of the Barrie Colts this season,” said General Manager Jason Ford. “He showed outstanding initiative and dedication in the community, and was someone all of the players looked up to on and off the ice.”
Webster’s dedication to community initiatives throughout Barrie and Simcoe County were exceptional representing the Colts as a Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy nominee for two straight years as the team’s Humanitarian of the Year. He took leadership in efforts to support the Canadian Mental Health Association personally raising close to $50,000 for various causes including $21,000 this season for the March Mullet Foundation in support of CMHA. Webster is also a weekly supporter of a CMHA program called LIFT (Life Skills & Independence for Teens) volunteering his time to work with youth in the program using his positive attitude to help make a difference in the lives of those around him.
“Michael’s leadership on the ice and in the community is unparalleled in my tenure in Barrie,” added Head Coach Dale Hawerchuk. “He has been a true team first player and would be a true asset to any organization. Congratulations to Michael on this prestigious award.”
Webster becomes the eighth recipient of the award following Max Domi of the London Knights who received the award last season. Past recipients also include Matt Finn (Guelph Storm 2014), Colin Miller (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2013), Andrew Agozzino (Niagara IceDogs 2012), Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires 2011), John Kurtz (Sudbury Wolves 2010), and Chris Terry of the Plymouth Whalers who won the inaugural award for the 2008-09 season.
Nomination forms are submitted annually by OHL General Managers on behalf of their individual team captains. The selection committee consists of a panel of four, representing media from each OHL division.
The Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy will be formally presented to Webster at the OHL Awards Ceremony on Tuesday June 7 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Now let me clarify. That is to me. That is an opinion. And that will be explained starting now.
I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but something about Jr B I just find… blah. It would be like me watching Jr C… It won’t happen. Well I shouldn’t say that. There is always a chance that I am out somewhere and there is something happening at a rink in their territory. But it is something that I am not actively seeking, and there is something about the GOJHL that has the same effect.
It is very enticing to seek out the OHL because they are one of the three top leagues in the nation. Top two really. Well again that is an opinion. Many think the Q is top while the O would be third. Not to many people think of the W as less than number 2 in the nation.
You then have the OJHL which is the 2nd best Jr A league in the province. The CCHL takes the cake and that will be discussed later. Within the OHL you have the OJHL taking up territory in their footprint, and then moving a few hours west, you have the GOJHL. I would say something about it being the best or second best Jr B league in the province. But I don’t know enough about the CCHL2 to make a judgment.
As far as making judgments though, I have seen enough of the GOJHL to not be a fan. And there is nothing wrong with that. It isn’t for everyone and clearly not for me. I am nowhere near these cities and towns that have a franchise, I barely see or hear anything great about the league out side of the premiere events they hold (Showcases, prospects game) and even though there is a franchise within 20 minutes of where I reside (Brampton Bombers) I don’t hear anything, see anything and it looks like no one has an interest in it. Much like when I was living in Mississauga and no one talked about the Chargers.
But why is there this stigma about Jr B not being a good league, and exciting league or even a proper developmental league. I am certain it is the same for Jr A teams when a player moves up to the OHL, and maybe it is that I hear it more at the Jr A level… but whenever there are players that are moving up from the GOJHL to the OJHL, there seems to be a lot of posturing and delays when a player wants to move up. I recall last year a player was in limbo for up to 3 weeks after the deal was made. Why? Maybe the GOJHL franchise wanted to block the transfer to the Jr A league? In all actuality you cannot block the development by advancement if the player wants to move to a higher level. I believe there is also a set development fee that the franchise gets reimbursed for the time they invested into the player.
And maybe that is it right there. There are no stars. There are ‘star’ franchises. But given that I no longer consider myself a fan, I have no need to like a franchise. Take a look at all the shots I take at teams across the OJHL, or go farther back (if possible) to when I took shots at the OHL. I can no longer get excited about a franchise and root for one. I need the players to stand on their own and make it interesting.
Arguably the only one to do that for me was Connor Murphy who played two seasons with Caledonia, before committing to University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) and off to the USHL to play with the Chicago Steel and the Green Bay Gamblers this season… not to the same statistical success, which tells you how different a Tier 1 league in the US compare to a Tier 3 league in Canada.
Being able to build a Jr A league around star players is difficult enough as you have 16 year olds staying for a single year to take off for the USHL or the OHL, so imagine how difficult it is for a Jr B league to do the same.
If you have no stars to market, what are you marketing to the fans? Well it is clearly the individual franchises in their own towns. And that is great if you are live there. As mentioned, I do not, so there is nothing to hold me to this ‘boring’ league and that is ok.
It isn’t for everyone. And it isn’t for me.
Dominic Tiano adds the following:
I have a great deal of respect for Brandon and very rarely disagree with him. But in this instance I do. I must admit though, that I live in Stratford Ontario, home of the Stratford Cullitons, one of the more successful teams ever in the GOJHL who have several alumni go on to, and have successful NHL careers.
I don’t know that anyone would travel any distance to watch a GOJHL game, but for local residence its great hockey entertainment for the whole family. I for one and glad they exist and support them.
Ontario – Today is a dawning of a new day. Today is the first day for a brand new Junior League that is prepared to reinvent the wheel and provide top opportunities to players worthy of lacing up in this new league.
In The O… (ITO) is on the verge of launching a new Junior League that is hoping to play its first game in the fall. The Junior League will plan a province wide footprint but start small and local in great communities who will embrace and support a fledgling league.
A representative from ITO… had this to say about the new start up league, “It is very important that we don’t make the mistakes of previous non sanctioned leagues trying to make money from, give players a chance for advancement that they would not normally have.”
The basic setup of the league will have a Western and an Eastern Conference when play begins, but
there is already interest from the USA and the new league will not refuse entrance into the league because of ‘imaginary boundaries’.
ITO discussed naming this new league, “The biggest thing for this league is a name that sets it apart. While we were discussing what this league should be about, we thought of a few names. You have small market minor league names like Mississauga Hockey League and Greater Toronto Hockey League, and since we were going to encompass the greater province of Ontario, we thought of ‘Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’… but when we looked it up, it was already taken. We then thought about simplifying it to ‘Ontario Junior Hockey League’ but that too is taken. We found out just naming the league is hard and we decided to focus on other facets of our new league.”
The new Junior League will have a draft, as well as free agent tenders and be teaming up with local minor hockey leagues to create a feeder system for all the players who are over looked. Although not a lot of information about the league can be given at this time, there is one clear message that the league wants to stress, “If you want to say you played Junior Hockey no matter what level, we will gladly take your money, have a spot for you to play on our team, in our league.”
Expect more news and announcements in the next few weeks.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Ottawa Senators prospect Francis Perron of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the CHL Player of the Week for the playoff week ending May 15 after scoring once with four assists for five points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-1.
Perron recorded back-to-back multi-point performances last week for the QMJHL Champion Huskies who captured their first President Cup in a 4-1 series win over the Shawinigan Cataractes. In Game 4 of the series last Tuesday he scored once with an assist despite a 6-4 loss, then tallied three assists earning first star honours in the 7-2 victory in Thursday’s Game 5. The Huskies captain claimed the Guy Lafleur Trophy as MVP of the QMJHL Playoffs and will now compete in the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Red Deer opening competition on Saturday May 21 against the WHL Champion Brandon Wheat Kings.
A 20-year-old from Rosemère, QC, Perron is playing in his fourth career QMJHL season with the Huskies. He led the QMJHL Playoffs in scoring with 33 points in 18 games including 12 goals and 21 assists after earning QMJHL Player of the Year honours with 108 points in 62 games during the 2015-16 regular season campaign. Perron was selected by the Senators in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Draft.
Also considered for the award this week was defenceman Jacob Graves of the London Knights who recorded five assists in the final two games of the OHL Championship Series against the Niagara IceDogs, and Edmonton Oilers prospect defenceman Ethan Bear of the Seattle Thunderbirds who scored once with four assists for five points in three games of the WHL Championship Series against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
2015-16 CHL Post-Season Players of the Week:
May 9 – May 15: Francis Perron (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
May 2 – May 8: Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights)
Apr. 25 – May 1: Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Apr. 18 – Apr. 24: Scott Eansor (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Apr. 11 – Apr. 17: Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Apr. 4 – Apr. 10: Mitch Marner (London Knights)
Mar. 28 – Apr. 3: Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights)
Mar. 21 – Mar. 27: Timo Meier (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2016 NHL Draft prospect Tyler Parsons of the London Knights is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the playoff week ending May 15 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including one shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 2.44 and save percentage of .896.
Parsons made 43 saves in two games of the OHL Championship Series last week backstopping the Knights to their fourth Robertson Cup in franchise history following a 4-0 series win over the Niagara IceDogs. He stopped 25 shots in Game 3 last Monday helping the Knights earn a 6-5 overtime victory, then stopped all 18 shots he faced in Wednesday’s Game 4 earning second star honours in the 1-0 shutout win. Parsons and the Knights will now compete in the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Red Deer opening competition on Friday May 20 against the host Rebels.
Tyler Parsons of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.
An 18-year-old from Chesterfield, Michigan, Parsons is playing in his second career OHL season with the Knights and is ranked third among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting for the 2016 NHL Draft. During the 2016 OHL Playoffs, Parsons led all netminders with a 16-1-1-0 record along with a goals-against-average of 2.15 and save percentage of .925.
Also considered for the award this week was Landon Bow of the Seattle Thunderbirds who posted a 1-1-1-0 record in the final week of the WHL Championship Series against the Brandon Wheat Kings with a goals-against-average of 3.33 and save percentage of .903, and Chase Marchand of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies who won once in two starts with a goals-against-average of 3.37 and save percentage of .828.
2015-16 Vaughn CHL Post-Season Goaltenders of the Week:
May 9 – May 15: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
May 2 – May 8: Jordan Papirny (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Apr. 25 – May 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Apr. 18 – Apr. 24: Landon Bow (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Apr. 11 – Apr. 17: Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Apr. 4 – Apr. 10: Alex Nedeljkovic (Niagara IceDogs)
Mar. 28 – Apr. 3: Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Mar. 21 – Mar. 27: Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
2015-16 Vaughn CHL Regular Season Goaltenders of the Week:
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that defenceman Will Petschenig of the Saginaw Spirit is the 2015-16 recipient of the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the OHL’s Humanitarian of the Year.
Petschenig, a 21-year-old from Manotick, ON, made an immediate and lasting impact in the Saginaw community as a member of the Spirit during the 2015-16 campaign creating the program “A Heart Like Mine” with the hope of reaching out to children and families who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Will Petschenig of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
“On behalf of the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region and the Saginaw Spirit, I am honoured to receive the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy for OHL Humanitarian of the Year,” said Petschenig. “I would like to thank Charley Porter and the Spirit staff for sharing my vision with “A Heart Like Mine” and Camille Nitschky from Children’s Grief Center for giving me the opportunity to meet some great kids. When we started “A Heart Like Mine”, I wanted to do something to honour my dad, and making kids happy was the best way I could do that. I will continue to stay in contact with the kids and be there for them if they need me. Seeing the kids happy and smiling is what makes me happiest.”
In October, 2013, Petschenig lost his father, Dan, who passed away suddenly at the age of 50. To honour his father, “A Heart Like Mine” was started to share and create memories with others by offering families the opportunity to enjoy a Spirit game. Throughout 2015-16, Petschenig personally invited over 30 families to share a unique VIP experience that included free tickets, a pregame dinner with Will, watching warmup from the Spirit bench, access to a behind the scenes tour, Zamboni ride, and a post-game meet-and-greet with Will and his teammates. Petschenig developed friendships and memories with over 50 kids, ‘Will’s Warriors’, sharing an unfortunate common bond through his program and in his countless hours volunteering at the Great Lakes Bay Region Grief Center.
“Will Petschenig’s “A Heart Like Mine” program with the Saginaw Spirit has been invaluable to our kids at the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Camille Nitschky, Director, Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region. “He is one of the most outstanding young men I have ever met. He has connected with our kids at the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region in a way that has lifted their spirits, mentored good team building character, taught them how to thrive as an athlete and person and to never give up on their dreams.”
A four-year OHL veteran, Petschenig joined the Spirit in September and was named alternate captain after playing three seasons with the Oshawa Generals where he captured a Memorial Cup title in 2015. He finishes his OHL career having played in 233 regular season games collecting 11 goals and 48 assists for 59 points including a career-high 22 points in 68 games with the Spirit. As a member of the Generals, Petschenig was a two-time nominee for the Dan Synder Memorial Trophy.
“On behalf of the entire Saginaw Spirit family, we congratulate Will and his courageous Warriors for winning this award,” said Spirit President and Managing Partner Craig Goslin. “Will exhibits his passion for helping others in so many things he does and has strong values in the overall manner that he makes decisions in his life. We are all very proud of Will and look forward to working with him well into the future, to pass on and continue to help the “Will’s Warriors” kids and “A Heart Like Mine” project.”
Each year the OHL awards a player that has demonstrated outstanding qualities as a positive role model in the community with the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy. The Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors announced in 2004 that the OHL Humanitarian of the Year award would be renamed in recognition of the former Owen Sound Platers captain, who was twice named his team’s Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of his tremendous efforts in supporting community activities.
Petschenig becomes the first member of the Spirit to earn the award. Past recipients include Chris Terry and Ryan Hayes who represented the Plymouth Whalers with back-to-back awards in 2009 and 2010 respectively, before Jack Walchessen and Andrew D’Agostini of the Peterborough Petes won in 2011 and 2012. Ben Fanelli (Kitchener 2013), Scott Simmonds (Belleville 2014), and Nick Paul (North Bay 2015) are the most recent award recipients.
The 2016 OHL Awards Ceremony takes place on Tuesday June 7 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto where Petschenig will be formally presented with the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy. He will also be the OHL’s nominee for Humanitarian of the Year at the annual CHL Awards presented on Saturday May 28 at the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Red Deer.
2015-16 Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Nominees:
Barrie Colts – Michael Webster*
Erie Otters – Patrick Fellows
Flint Firebirds – Alex Peters
Guelph Storm – Marc Stevens
Hamilton Bulldogs – Niki Petti
Toronto – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is pleased to announce the appointment of longtime OHL General Manager and Coach George Burnett as General Manager of the Flint Firebirds and Joe Stefan as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development. Each have signed three year contracts.
“The League is entrusting George Burnett with the hockey operations of the Flint Firebirds and we believe his experience will provide the players, parents, billets and team staff with stability and expertise,” said David Branch OHL Commissioner. “Burnett will be backed by a strong team in hockey operations, including Joe Stefan who is well known to Flint Firebirds players and families.”
George Burnett named General Manager of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
George Burnett, 54, is a native of Port Perry, ON and has spent his life managing, coaching and playing hockey. His junior hockey coaching career began with the Oshawa Generals in 1989 and has included coaching in both the AHL and the NHL. Most recently, Burnett was the Coach and General Manager of the Hamilton Bulldogs and which followed 9 years with the Belleville Bulls. He played for the OHL’s London Knights and the CIS’s McGill Redmen.
“I am excited to be joining the Flint Firebirds organization and dedicating 100% of my time to the management of the team,” said George Burnett. “The Flint Firebirds have a bright and promising future and I look forward to being part of the team and the Genesee County community.”
In addition, the League announced that Joe Stefan is returning to the role of Assistant General Manager of the Firebirds with the added responsibility of Director of Player Development.
Joe Stefan, 50, a native of Brantford, ON began his OHL coaching career with the Plymouth Whalers as an assistant in 2007 after joining the club’s staff as a scout in 2005. He worked seven seasons behind the Whalers’ bench also holding the title of associate coach. As a player, Stefan competed for the OHL’s Brantford Alexanders and the Hamilton Steelhawks from 1983-86 before a minor pro career that included four seasons in the IHL and more than 10 seasons in the British National League.
“It is great to be returning to the Flint Firebirds and having the opportunity to work with George Burnett,” said Joe Stefan. “I look forward to continuing to work with the team, players and families on their ongoing player development.”
An announcement on coaching is expected imminently.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that New Jersey Devils prospect Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts is the 2015-16 recipient of the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year award.
Blackwood played in 43 games this season posting a record of 28-13-0-0 with three shutout victories along with a goals-against-average of 2.72. He also tied for the league-lead with a .921 save percentage while backstopping the Colts to their second straight Central Division title.
Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.
“It is an honour to receive this award considering the amount of great goalies throughout the league,” said Blackwood. “I would like to thank my teammates who battled in front of me all year, my coaches for helping me develop into the player I am today, and the whole Barrie Colts organization for the great opportunities that they have allowed me to experience over the past three seasons.”
The 19-year-old from Thunder Bay, ON, was chosen by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection. He played three full seasons in Barrie and accumulated 84 career wins which ranks second in franchise history behind Brian Finley’s 88 recorded between 1997-2001. Blackwood becomes the third Colts goaltender to win the award following Finley in 1999, and Paulo Colaiacovo in 2004.
“This is a substantial accolade for Mackenzie; something that he worked hard to achieve over the past three seasons with the Colts,” said General Manager Jason Ford. “He was a virtual unknown; off the radar when we drafted him in 2012, and he has worked on his game on and off the ice diligently to make himself a world class junior goaltender. As an organization we are extremely happy for him and it’s nice to see him honoured this way.”
During the 2015-16 campaign Blackwood made at least 30 saves in 28 of his games including a season-high 49-save performance on March 4 in a 6-3 road win over the Niagara IceDogs. The 6’4’’ netminder earned Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month honours during November, and was recognized in the annual Eastern Conference Coaches Poll as the second Best Shootout Goalie, while tying for first in the Best Puck-Handling Goalie vote. This season Blackwood also competed for Team OHL in the CHL Canada Russia Series earning a 25-save shutout before representing Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. Selected by the Devils in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft, Blackwood signed his entry-level contract with the club in December.
The OHL Goaltender of the Year is awarded to the league’s most outstanding goaltender as selected by OHL General Managers. Teams were not permitted to vote for a goaltender from their own hockey club. Goaltenders received five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.
Blackwood received 49 points in the voting process ahead of runner-up Devin Williams of the Erie Otters who finished with 47 voting points, followed by Carolina Hurricanes prospect Alex Nedeljkovic of the Niagara IceDogs who received 46 voting points.
The award was first presented in 1987-88 to Rick Tabaracci (Cornwall) with other notable winners including Manny Legace (Niagara Falls 1993), Ray Emery (Sault Ste. Marie 2002), Steve Mason (London 2007), the league’s only back-to-back winner Mike Murphy (Belleville 2008-09), Mark Visentin (Niagara 2011), Michael Houser (London 2012), Jordan Binnington (Owen Sound 2013), Alex Nedeljkovic (Plymouth 2014), and Lucas Peressini (Kingston 2015).
Blackwood will be formally presented with the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year Award on Tuesday June 7 at the OHL Awards Ceremony held at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He is also the OHL’s nominee for CHL Goaltender of the Year to be announced on Saturday May 28 at the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Red Deer.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Kris Knoblauch of the Erie Otters is the 2015-16 recipient of the Matt Leyden Trophy awarded annually to the OHL’s Coach of the Year.
Knoblauch guided the Otters to an OHL-best 52-15-1-0 record earning a second straight Midwest Division crown along with the club’s first Hamilton Spectator Trophy as regular season champions since 2001.
Kris Knoblauch of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever won this award without a general manager or scouting staff gathering a lot of talent, but also more importantly is having good leadership within your room,” Knoblauch said. “I think our older players who have been with us a long time, Nick Betz and Devin Williams, or our captains like Dylan Strome, they are probably more responsible for the team having the success that we had this year.”
With Knoblauch at the helm, the Otters became the first team in OHL history to amass three consecutive 50-win campaigns. The 2015-16 Otters tied the 2013-14 franchise mark of 52 wins in a season, and set a new franchise record with 27 road wins surpassing the 2014-15 mark of 23. Since joining the Otters midway through the 2012-13 season, Knoblauch has accumulated a record of 166-68-7-4 for 343 points and a winning percentage of .700.
“This is a well-deserved honour,” said Otters General Manager Dave Brown. “Kris is a great teacher, excellent mentor and exceptional communicator and I think the results speak for themselves with what he has accomplished during his tenure with the Otters.”
Prior to joining the Otters, the 37-year-old from Imperial, Saskatchewan, served behind the bench for the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice as an assistant coach from 2007-10 before taking over head coaching duties from 2010-12 winning the WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions in 2011. He began his major junior coaching career in 2006-07 serving as an assistant coach for the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders. Knoblauch’s playing career included four years in the WHL from 1995-99 before competing five seasons with the University of Alberta from 1999-2004 winning a CIS National Championship in 2000. Knoblauch was a seventh round pick of the New York Islanders in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
The Matt Leyden trophy has been awarded annually to the OHL’s Coach of the Year as selected by his peers since 1972. The award is in recognition of the contributions of Matt Leyden, past President of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1965-67, and former manager of the Oshawa Generals who spent more than 50 years with the team.
In a first round of balloting, teams vote for the top coaches, within their own conference. The top three nominees from both the Eastern and Western conferences are declared finalists. A second round of voting is then conducted on a league wide basis where teams vote for any of the six finalists. At no time during the voting can a team vote for their own candidate. Coaches receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.
Knoblauch finished first in the voting process with 73 points, ahead of first year OHL head coaches Rocky Thompson of the Windsor Spitfires who finished in second place with 36 voting points, and Mike Van Ryn of the Kitchener Rangers who finished in third place with 22 voting points.
The first Otters coach to earn the award, Knoblauch follows a list of past Matt Leyden Trophy recipients that includes Sheldon Keefe (Sault Ste. Marie 2015), D.J Smith (Oshawa 2014), Mike Vellucci (Plymouth 2013), Greg Gilbert (Saginaw 2012), Mark Reeds (Owen Sound 2011), Dale Hunter (London 2010), and Bob Boughner (Windsor 2009). Boughner, Hunter, and Vellucci are among the list of 10 coaches who have won the award multiple times along with Brian Kilrea, Bert Templeton, George Burnett, Peter DeBoer, Gary Agnew, Terry Crisp, and Craig Hartsburg.
The Matt Leyden Trophy will be formally presented to Knoblauch at the 2015-16 OHL Awards Ceremony taking place on Tuesday June 7 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He will be the OHL’s nominee for Canadian Hockey League Coach of the Year to be announced on Saturday May 28 as part of the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
OHL Writers 