OHL Top Performers of the Month

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the top OHL Performers of the Month for March, 2011.

OHL Player of the Month – Michael Sgarbossa, Sudbury Wolves

Michael Sgarbossa tied for the league-lead with 27 points in 13 games this Month for the Sudbury Wolves. He scored 10 goals and added 17 assists and recorded a league-high plus-minus rating of plus-15. He finished the month with eight multi-point games and is currently on an eight-game point streak which includes at least a point in each of the Wolves’ four playoff wins in their first round series victory over the Ottawa 67’s. In that series, Sgarbossa had a career-high six-point game with a goal and five assists as third star of an 8-7 overtime win in Game one of the series last Saturday. He was also named third star of the 5-3 win in Game two with a goal and two assists, and capped the series off with a two-goal effort as first star of the 5-3 win on Thursday night.

Sgarbossa, an 18-year-old from Campbellville, ON, is playing in his third OHL season and was acquired by the Wolves from the Saginaw Spirit earlier this season. He finished the last 37 games of the season with the Wolves scoring 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points and currently leads the OHL in playoff scoring with 12 points in four games. Undrafted in 2010, Sgarbossa signed as a Free Agent with the San Jose Sharks in September.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Josh McFadden, Sudbury Wolves

Josh McFadden of the Sudbury Wolves led all OHL defencemen in scoring with 18 points in 13 March games scoring eight goals and 10 assists. He began the month with a career-high five assists on March 1 as first star of a 6-2 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and finished the regular season on a five-game point streak. He helped lead the Wolves to a first round playoff series sweep over the Ottawa 67’s highlighted by his first career hat-trick as first star of a 5-4 overtime win in Game three of the series on Tuesday. He also scored the game-winner as third star of the 5-3 Game four win on Thursday night.

McFadden, a 19-year-old from Guelph, ON, is playing in his third OHL season. He finished the 2010-11 regular season ranked third among OHL defencemen in scoring with a career-high 19 goals and 53 assists for 72 points in 67 games.

Kal Tire OHL Rookie of the Month – Sean Monahan, Ottawa 67’s

Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67’s tied for the rookie-lead in scoring in March with 18 points in 12 games. He finished tied for second in the OHL with 11 goals this month and added seven assists along with a plus-minus rating of plus-9. He began the month with back-to-back three-point games where he scored the game-winning goal and was named first star of both contests beginning March 2 when he recorded his first career hat-trick in a 5-4 win over the Belleville Bulls. Two nights later he scored twice and added an assist in a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts on March 4. He recorded six multi-point games including five in the final eight games of the regular season to help the 67’s capture their second straight East Division title.

Monahan, a 16-year-old from Brampton, ON, finished his first OHL season ranked 10th in rookie scoring with 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points in 65 games. Selected 16th overall by the 67’s in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, he is not eligible for the NHL Entry Draft until 2013. Monahan won gold earlier this season as a member of Team Ontario at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – JP Anderson, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

JP Anderson of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors claims the monthly award for the second time this season after posting an impressive March record of 10-0-0-0 including a league-high five shutouts. He also posted league-best numbers with a 0.90 goals-against-average and a .961 save percentage. He finished the regular season with six straight victories and helped the Majors secure their first Hamilton Spectator Trophy in franchise history. He then backstopped the club to a first round playoff series sweep over the Belleville Bulls including a 4-0 shutout win in the Game four finale on Tuesday night where he was named first star of the game with 21 saves. Anderson allowed just one goal in the four games and has a playoff shutout streak of 215 minutes and 47 seconds which is the longest since Ray Emery went 155 minutes and 21 seconds without allowing a goal for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2000 playoffs.

Anderson, an 18-year-old from Toronto, ON, is playing in his third OHL season with the Majors. A San Jose Sharks prospect, Anderson finished the 2010-11 OHL regular season with a 38-10-0-1 record with a league-low 2.36 goals-against-average and a .911 save percentage along with a league-best six shutouts.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)