Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the seven recipients of Minor Hockey Player of the Year Awards for players representing the four Ontario Hockey Federation Member Partners including the ALLIANCE, Greater Toronto Hockey League, Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and both the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s ETA and SCTA regions, along with Hockey Eastern Ontario, and Hockey Northwestern Ontario.
Five of the seven Player of the Year award winners are currently competing at the 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour including Ryan Suzuki of the London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE), Nick Porco of the Vaughan Kings (GTHL), Alexandre Hogue of the Cumberland Grads U18 (HEO), Christian Cicigoi of the Thunder Bay Kings (HNO), and Camaryn Baber of the Soo Midget Greyhounds (NOHA). Additional award recipients include Alex Newhook of the York Simcoe Express (OMHA ETA), and Matthew Dunsmoor of the Guelph Jr. Gryphons (OMHA SCTA).
“The Ontario Hockey League is proud to support minor midget hockey and help recognize the achievements of great players from across Ontario,” said Daniel Broussard, the OHL’s Director of Recruitment, who presented the awards on Thursday night alongside OHL Cup graduates and banquet guest speakers Alex Basso, Adam Mascherin, and Riley Damiani. “Congratulations to all seven award winners and to their families, coaches, and teammates for a tremendous hockey season, and best of luck to all players as they prepare for the next step in their hockey and academic careers.”
The award recipients consist of five forwards, one defenceman, and two goaltenders. Up front, Newhook led all winners and the OMHA’s ETA division in points with 82 including 44 goals and 38 assists in 40 games, followed by Baber who scored a goal-per-game with 32 along with 30 assists for 62 points in 32 contests leading all 2001-born GNML players and finishing fifth overall in league scoring. Suzuki follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Nick Suzuki, of the Owen Sound Attack who earned the award in 2015. The younger Suzuki led the ALLIANCE with 59 points in 32 games including 19 goals and 40 assists. Porco led the Kings in scoring with 41 points in 33 games including 22 goals and 19 assists and becomes the first Vaughan player to win since award presenter and current Kitchener Ranger Adam Mascherin in 2014. On the back end, Hogue led all defencemen in scoring playing in HEO’s Midget U18 league recording 47 points including 14 goals and 33 assists in 44 games. This marks the first time that two goaltenders were recognized in an awards season with Cicigoi and Dunsmoor recording goals-against-averages of 2.63 and 1.80 respectively.
The awards were presented at the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Banquet for the seventh straight year recognizing the achievements of the top minor midget aged players from across Ontario. The awards are presented annually to honour the minor midget players who best exemplify outstanding ability and the qualities of sportsmanship and leadership as voted by the minor hockey coaches, managers and organizations of each respective league.
Past Award Winners:
ALLIANCE Player of the Year:
2017 – Ryan Suzuki, London Jr. Knights
2016 – Owen Lalonde, Windsor Jr. Spitfires
2015 – Nick Suzuki, London Jr. Knights
2014 – Anthony Salinitri, Windsor Jr. Spitfires
2013 – Travis Konecny, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
2012 – Jared McCann, London Jr. Knights Gold
2011 – Bo Horvat, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
GTHL Player of the Year:
2017 – Nick Porco, Vaughan Kings
2016 – Ryan Merkley, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
2015 – Ryan McLeod, Toronto Marlboros
2014 – Adam Mascherin, Vaughan Kings
2013 – Dylan Strome, Toronto Marlboros
2012 – Connor McDavid, Toronto Marlboros
2011 – Nick Ritchie, Toronto Marlboros
HEO Player of the Year:
2017 – Alexandre Hogue, Cumberland Grads U18
2016 – Paul Larabie, Nepean Raiders
2015 – Gabriel Vilardi, CIH Academy
2014 – William Bitten, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
2013 – Andrew Peski, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
2012 – Andrew Abou-Assaly, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
2011 – Nicholas Baptiste, Ottawa Senators
HNO Player of the Year:
2017 – Christian Cicigoi, Thunder Bay Kings
2016 – Quintin Loon-Stewardson, Thunder Bay Kings
2015 – Kyle Auger, Thunder Bay Kings
2014 – Brad Belisle, Thunder Bay Kings
2013 – Zach Grzelewski, Thunder Bay Kings
2012 – Bryce Martyn, Thunder Bay Kings
2011 – Nolan Nicholas, Thunder Bay Kings
NOHA Player of the Year:
2017 – Camaryn Baber, Soo Midget Greyhounds
2016 – Damien Giroux, Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves
2015 – Cayse Ton, New Liskeard Cubs
2014 – Zach Dorval, Soo Thunder
2013 – Blake Speers, Soo Thunder
2012 – Michael Amadio, Sault Ste. Marie North Stars
2011 – Ryan Kujawinski, Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves
OMHA ETA Player of the Year:
2017 – Alex Newhook, York Simcoe Express
2016 – Aidan Dudas, North Central Predators
2015 – Brady Gilmour, Quinte Red Devils
2014 – Chris Paquette, Greater Kingston Jr Frontenacs
OMHA SCTA Player of the Year:
2017 – Matthew Dunsmoor, Guelph Jr. Gryphons
2016 – Adam McMaster, Niagara North Stars
2015 – Liam Stevens, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
2014 – Rylee St Onge, Niagara North Stars
*prior to 2014 there was a single OMHA Player of the Year award recipient
Past OMHA Players of the Year:
2013 – Matt Spencer, Oakville Rangers*
2012 – Nik Coric, York Simcoe Express*
2011 – Alex Yuill, Quinte Red Devils*
For more information please visit www.ohlcup.ca.
OHL Writers 