Maggio Named Alliance Player of the Year
2017-18 Minor Midget Player of the Year Awards.
Congratulations to Matthew Maggio for being selected as Alliance Player of the Year.
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.
Six of the seven Player of the Year award winners are currently competing at the 2018 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour including Matthew Maggio of the Sun County Panthers (ALLIANCE), Jamie Drysdale of the Toronto Marlboros (GTHL), Michael Stubbs of the Thunder Bay Kings (HNO), Pacey Schlueting of the North Bay Trappers (NOHA), Quinton Byfield of the York Simcoe Express (OMHA ETA), and Cameron Tolnai of the Oakville Rangers (OMHA SCTA). Josh Barnes of the Cornwall Colts (HEO) was also recognized among the Minor Midget recipients.
“Congratulations to all seven award winners, their families, coaches, and teammates for a tremendous hockey season,” said Daniel Broussard, the OHL’s Director of Recruitment, who presented the awards on Thursday night. “I’ve had the privilege of getting to know these young men and the awards are a true testament to their hard work and leadership. The OHL is proud to help recognize the achievements of great players from across Ontario and wish all young men the best of luck as they prepare for the next step in their hockey and academic careers.”
The award recipients consist of five forwards and two defencemen. Up front and down the middle, Byfield led all winners as well as the OMHA’s ETA in points with 92 in 34 games scoring 48 goals and 44 assists helping the Express capture an OMHA championship. In the OMHA’s SCTA, Tolnai was second in league scoring with 80 points in 35 games including 31 goals and 49 assists as the Rangers played to an undefeated regular season. Playing in HEO’s Midget AAA league, Barnes finished second in scoring with 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 39 games, while Stubbs produced 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points in 17 games to lead the HNO Kings. Maggio finished tied for second in ALLIANCE scoring with 44 points in 33 games on the wing with 20 goals and 24 assists. On defence, Drysdale tied for the province lead in scoring from the back end with 50 points in 57 games including eight goals and 42 assists for the GTHL champion Marlboros, while Schlueting finished second in scoring at his position in the Great North Midget League tallying 34 points in 24 games with 13 goals and 21 assists for the Trappers.
The awards were presented at the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Banquet for the eighth 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:
2018 – Matthew Maggio, Sun County Panthers
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:
2018 – Jamie Drysdale, Toronto Marlboros
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:
2018 – Josh Barnes, Cornwall Colts
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:
2018 – Michael Stubbs, Thunder Bay Kings
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:
2018 – Pacey Schlueting, North Bay Trappers
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:
2018 – Quinton Byfield, York Simcoe Express
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:
2018 – Cameron Tolnai, Oakville Rangers
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*