NOJHL announces 2017-18 award recipients

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Thursday its 2017-18 regular season award winners as well as its CCM Hockey first and second all-star team recipients.

Earning the NOJHL’s Carlo Cattarello Trophy as league Most Valuable Player is Cochrane Crunch defenceman Connor Lovie.

The veteran NOJHL blueliner was also named the league’s Top Defenceman for a second consecutive season as well as being selected a CCM Hockey first team all-star.

The following is the list of the 2017-18 NOJHL award winners:

CARLO CATTARELLO TROPHY – NOJHL MVP: CONNOR LOVIE, (D) COCHRANE CRUNCH – Lovie produced a career single-season high 49 points during the course of the regular season, including 15 goals, with both numbers leading all NOJHL defencemen. … His 24 power play points also topped all league rearguards. … Earlier, the 20-year-old London, Ont., product became the 10th player in league history to play 200 games in his career. … Was also named the NOJHL’s Top Defenceman as well as a CCM Hockey 1st Team All-Star.

NOJHL TROPHY – BEST DEFENCEMAN: CONNOR LOVIE, (D) COCHRANE CRUNCH – This marks the second straight season that Lovie has been recognized at the NOJHL’s Top Defenceman award recipient. … He produced a career single-season high 49 points during the course of the regular season, including 15 goals, with both numbers leading all NOJHL defencemen. … His 24 power play points also topped all league rearguards.

JOHN GRIGNON TROPHY – ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (1ST YEAR PLAYING JR. HOCKEY): HARRISON ISRAELS, (F) POWASSAN VOODOOS – Israels produced a tremendous rookie season with the regular season champion Voodoos. … His 69 points paced all first-year skaters in the NOJHL as he scored 38 times and assisted on 31 others. … The 18-year-old Mississauga, Ont., native also finished tied for sixth in league scoring among all players. … His rookie point total is the highest in league play since Bradley Chenier produced 72 back in 2015-16 for Rayside-Balfour.

GILLES LAPERRIERE TROPHY – MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: JACOB KELLY, (F) ELLIOT LAKE WILDCATS – For Kelly, his second year in the NOJHL marked a stellar improvement over his rookie season. … The 17-year-old forward from Barrie, Ont., produced 43 more points for the Wildcats in 2017-18, picking up 70 in total to pace Elliot Lake offensively. … His 34 goals were 20 more than last season while his 36 assists was an improvement of 23 over 2017-18. … Kelly’s 11 power play markers tied him for fourth in league play.

MITCH TETREAULT MEMORIAL TROPHY – TOP DEFENSIVE FORWARD: MATTHEW NEAULT, (F) RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS – As captain of Rayside-Balfour, the veteran forward produced a strong two-way game for the Canadians in 2017-18. … The 20-year-old from Lively, Ont., also registered career season highs in goals, assists and points with 21, 28 and 49 respectively. … Neault is also the leader in all-time NOJHL games played at 268.

WAYNE CHASE MEMORIAL AWARD – BEST GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE: CARTER MCPHAIL, SOO EAGLES – McPhail’s efforts in his first season in the league saw him record a NOJHL-low 2.27 goals-against average. … The 19-year-old from Fenton, Mich., was second overall in wins with 22 and save percentage and he led the all netminders in shutouts with four.

NOJHL TEAM GOALTENDING AWARD (FEWEST GOALS ALLOWED) – BRANDON GORDON; ERIC SCHUCH, SOO THUNDERBIRDS: The Thunderbirds tandem of Gordon and Schuch helped their side give up the fewest goals against during the course of the regular season, allowing just 134 through 56 games, an average of just 2.39 per outing, which was the best in the entire 12-team league.

JIMMY CONNORS MEMORIAL TROPHY – NOJHL SCORING CHAMPION: KYLE HERBSTER, (F) COCHRANE CRUNCH – The 19-year-old from Cary, Ill., takes the honour with his 86 points pacing all NOJHL skaters as he finished one ahead of the Soo Eagles’ Nick Techel. … Herbster scored 36 times and assisted on 50 others in 55 games played for Cochrane. … His eight shorthanded tallies topped the table in that category. … This marks the second straight year a member of the Crunch has won the league’s top scorer award with Braeden Cross racking up a NOJHL-best 82 points in 2016-17.

DAVID HARRISON TROPHY – MOST GENTLEMANLY PLAYER: SHANE BEAULIEU, (F) POWASSAN VOODOOS – In his final season of Jr. A hockey, the native of Whitby, Ont., was well over a point-per-game player for league-leading Powassan as he registered 67 in all on 21 tallies and 46 helpers, which put him ninth in NOJHL offensive numbers. … Beaulieu’s point totals were the highest of any player in the league who had 15 penalty minutes or less.

NOJHL TROPHY – BEST OVERALL TEAM PLAYER: NICK TECHEL, (F), EAGLES – The talented Techel was impressive all season long for the Eagles. … The 19-year-old from Wausau, Wis., led his club in offensive production with 85 points in 56 outings on 29 goals and a league-best 56 assists. … Finishing a close second in overall scoring, Techel produced 27 power play points, six more while shorthanded and a half dozen game-winning markers.

MIRL “RED” MCCARTHY MEMORIAL AWARD – NOJHL COACH OF THE YEAR: JOHN PARCO, SOO THUNDERBIRDS: In his first season behind the bench for the Thunderbirds, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., product guided his club to a 36-16-3-1 record, boasting a line-up that featured 12 rookies on their roster as well as others who were in their first year in the league.

THE JOE DRAGO TROPHY – NOJHL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR: DARREN SMYL, SOO THUNDERBIRDS – In his first-year at the helm of the Thunderbirds’ organization, Smyl helped stabilize the fortunes of the club on and off the ice.

JAMES ASPIN TROPHY – NOJHL REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS: POWASSAN VOODOOS – This marks the second straight year Powassan finished first overall in the NOJHL standings. … They boasted a 45-7-1-3 overall record. … They join the Soo Thunderbirds as the only two organizations in league history to produce 45 or more victories in a season. … They racked up 46 wins in 2016-17. … The Voodoos were also tabbed fourth in the final Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 rankings for 2017-18.

GARY HALL MEMORIAL AWARD – NOJHL EAST CHAMPION: POWASSAN VOODOOS – The Voodoos claimed their second consecutive East Division title with an impressive 45-7-1-3 record. … This is the second year in a row the club has claimed the crown in the East.

WILLIAM SIDNEY JONES MEMORIAL TROPHY – NOJHL WEST CHAMPION: RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS – The Canadians secured the NOJHL West title with a win in their final regular season contest, a road triumph over the Soo Thunderbirds. … Rayside-Balfour wrapped up the campaign with 37-14-4-1 record. … Their 79 points put an end to the Thunderbirds’ four-year run as divisional title holders.

The NOJHL also announced Thursday its CCM Hockey first and second all-star team recipients with the players and team staff members being recognized for their achievements, efforts and contributions with their respective clubs this season.

CCM HOCKEY 1ST ALL-STAR TEAM

CENTRE: TYSON GILMOUR, POWASSAN VOODOOS – A great year for Gilmour saw him lead the regular season champion Voodoos in offensive production. … Suiting up in 55 contests, the 19-year-old from East York, Ont., was a guiding force for Powassan during the 2017-18 campaign in which he recorded career season highs in goals, assists and points with 25, 53 and 78 along the way. … He wrapped up the regular season on a 10-game point streak and produced 23 multi-point contests. … The son of Hockey Hall of Fame Honoured Member, Doug Gilmour, finished third in league scoring.

LEFT WING: HARRISON ISRAELS, POWASSAN VOODOOS – Israels produced a tremendous rookie season with the regular season champion Voodoos. … His 69 points paced all first-year skaters in the NOJHL as he scored 38 times and assisted on 31 others. … The 18-year-old Mississauga, Ont., native also finished tied for sixth in league scoring among all players. … His rookie point total is the highest in league play since Bradley Chenier produced 72 back in 2015-16 with Rayside-Balfour.

RIGHT WING: NICK TECHEL, SOO EAGLES – The talented Techel was impressive all season long for the Eagles. … The 19-year-old from Wausau, Wis., led his club in offensive production with 85 points in 56 outings on 29 goals and a league-best 56 assists. … Finishing a close second in overall scoring, Techel produced 27 power play points, six more while shorthanded and a half-dozen game-winning markers.

DEFENCE: CONNOR LOVIE, COCHRANE CRUNCH – Lovie produced a career single-season high 49 points during the course of the regular season, including 15 goals, with both numbers leading all NOJHL defencemen. … His 24 power play points also topped all league rearguards. … Earlier, the 20-year-old London, Ont., product became the 10th player in league history to play 200 games in his career. … Lovie also named the NOJHL’s Most Valuable Player and its Top Defenceman award winner.

DEFENCE: AUSTIN ANSELMO, HEARST LUMBERJACKS – Anselmo was a stabilizing force for first-year Hearst in 2017-18 on both ends of the ice. … The 20-year-old from Trail, B.C. led all Lumberjacks’ defencemen in scoring this season with 41 points in just 46 games on nine goals and 32 assists. … Anselmo’s offensive totals tied him for second among all NOJHL rearguards.

GOALTENDER: BRANDON GORDON, SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Hailing from across the border in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., the veteran Thunderbirds netminder had another solid year for his club. … His final year in Jr. A, saw Gordon pick-up 21 wins while registering a 2.31 goals-against average with a young Soo squad along with a .926 save percentage and a pair of shutouts. … In 92 career contests, Gordon has produced 60 victories and 11 shutouts for the Thunderbirds.

GENERAL MANAGER: BRUNO BRAGAGNOLO, SOO EAGLES – The veteran hockey man continued his diligent efforts in building the Eagles’ roster once again this season. … He is also a key cog in an organization that is always near the top in attendance in league play as well as one that is heavily involved in a multitude of community endeavours.

COACH: JOHN PARCO, SOO THUNDERBIRDS – In his first season behind the bench for the Thunderbirds, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., product guided his club to a 36-16-3-1 record, boasting a line-up that featured 12 rookies on their roster as well as others who were in their first year in the league.

TRAINER/EQUIPMENT MANAGER: J.J. JOHNSON, POWASSAN VOODOOS – Earns CCM Hockey first team all-star laurels for a second straight season with his impressive efforts for with league-leading Powassan. …Johnson also served as one of the trainers/equipment managers for Team NOJHL at the Eastern Canada Challenge Cup this past November in Trenton, Ont.

CCM HOCKEY 2ND ALL-STAR TEAM

CENTRE: KOBE KELLER, SOO EAGLES – Another solid contributor to the Eagles’ success this season was the play of Keller. … Hailing from Stevens Point, Wis., the 19-year-old scored 20 times in just 40 games played while doling out 30 assists along the way. … Finishing with at a 1.25 point-per-game pace, Keller also picked up 17 power play points while offering a solid two-way game for the Eagles.

LEFT WING: OWEN ROBINSON, BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – Set to turn 18 on Friday, the Orangeville, Ont., product was second among all NOJHL rookies in scoring during the 2017-18 campaign. … In 51 contests, the Blind River Beavers forward notched 22 goals and helped set-up 34 others for 56 points in total. … He also tied for top spot among all league rookies in power play points with 17. … Robinson was also recognized by the Canadian Junior Hockey League earlier this season as he was selected, in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting, to participate in the CJHL Prospects Game in Mississauga, Ont., back in January.

RIGHT WING: KYLE HERBSTER, COCHRANE CRUNCH – The 19-year-old from Cary, Ill., produced 86 points this season to lead all NOJHL players. … Herbster scored 36 times and assisted on 50 others in 55 games played for Cochrane. … His eight shorthanded tallies topped the table in that category. … He also had 24 multi-point games to his credit.

DEFENCE: ERIC NAGY, POWASSAN VOODOOS – Bolstering the back-end for Powassan, Nagy was once again pivotal in the club’s success in 2017-18. … His strong play defensively anchored the Voodoos D-corps. … The 20-year-old from Queensville, Ont., also contributed offensively by tallying twice and chipping in with 17 assists along the way.

DEFENCE: RYAN O’BONSAWIN, RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS – Helping bolster Rayside-Balfour enroute to winning the NOJHL’s West Division title was the play of O’Bonsawin. … The 18-year-old rookie D-man from Azilda, Ont., produced 25 points in 34 games for the Canadians on six goals and 19 assists while turning in solid contributions defensively.

GOALTENDER: CARTER MCPHAIL, SOO EAGLES – McPhail’s efforts in his first season in the league saw him record a NOJHL-low 2.27 goals-against average. … The 19-year-old from Fenton, Mich., was second overall in wins with 22 and save percentage at .930 and he led the all netminders in shutouts with four.

GENERAL MANAGER: RYAN LEONARD, COCHRANE CRUNCH – Continuing to do an impressive job of recruiting, Leonard’s work has seen him bring in some high-end talent up to Cochrane while building a roster that competes at a high level on a yearly basis. … Leonard’s team commitment to education has also seen the Crunch send a solid of amount of players to the next level, including 18 to the NCAA & U-Sports ranks the past three campaigns.

COACH: KEN STRONG, FRENCH RIVER RAPIDS – In his first year behind the bench, Strong helped the French River franchise improve their win margin during the course of the regular season. … Under the tutelage of the former NHLer, the Rapids picked up 10 more victories than they had in 2016-17. … That total was the highest win-improvement ratio in the league compared to last season.

TRAINER/EQUIPMENT MANAGER: JAY THOMAS, SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Thomas earns his initial league all-star honours for his efforts with the Soo Thunderbirds program as the club’s equipment manager.

ABOUT CCM HOCKEY: CCM is the legendary hockey brand that has been rooted in performance for over a century. CCM Hockey offers the innovation and performance that will help write the next chapter in the history of the game. Your legend starts here. For more information on CCM Hockey, visit their website at ccmhockey.com or on social media at twitter.com/CCMHockey or facebook.com/CCMHockey.

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