Monday, February 13, 2012

RAIDERS WIN OJHL REGULAR SEASON TITLE

Press Release

The Ontario Junior Hockey League’s 2011-11 regular season officially wrapped up this weekend with its first award winners being announced.

OJHL Regular Season Champion – Georgetown Raiders
OJHL Top Scorer – Christian Finch, Stouffville Spirit
OJHL Top Goaltender – James Prigione, Oakville Blades

The Georgetown Raiders, Newmarket Hurricanes, St. Michael’s Buzzers and Trenton Golden Hawks were champions of their respective divisions, while the Georgetown Raiders brought home the regular season crown on the strength of a 39-9-1 record for 79 points. The Raiders tied the defending regular season champion Newmarket Hurricanes with 79 points and an .806 winning percentage, but took home the title on the strength of having one more overtime victory than Newmarket. This marked the first time the Raiders finished first overall in the OJHL since 2008-09 and third time in eight seasons.

Christian Finch of the Stouffville Spirit had a season for the ages in capturing the OJHL scoring title, finishing 18 points clear of his nearest competitor, Darcy Murphy of the Wellington Dukes, and as the only 100 point scorer in the league this season. The two-time Player-of-the-Month finished the season with a league-leading 67 assists and 104 points, while helping the Spirit to the best finish in franchise history.

Runner-up Darcy Murphy would win the goal scoring title, notching a hat trick on the final night of the season to become the OJHL’s only 50 goal scorer this season. Murphy more than tripled his output of a year ago, finishing the year with 52 goals, also a new franchise record for the Dukes, breaking the previous mark of 47 goals held by Brent Varty. Meanwhile the Dukes continued to be one of the OJHL’s most consistent and successful franchises, recording their 13th consecutive 30+ win season.

Murphy’s teammate Elliott Richardson would win the scoring title among defencemen, recording 57 points, including 50 assists, which was the third best total among all OJHL players. Paul Geiger of the Stouffville Spirit would finish as runner-up to Richardson with 13 goals and 54 points, while Kent McPherson of the Trenton Golden Hawks led all rearguards with 18 goals.

James Prigione of the Oakville Blades takes home Top Goaltender honours this season, finishing the year with a 2.04 goals against average in 28 games played. Prigione’s totals included 17-7-2 record, six shutouts and a league-leading .932 save percentage in leading the Blades to a second place finish in the West Division and a first round playoff bye. Matthew Wintjes of the Newmarket Hurricanes finishes as runner-up with a 2.09 goals against average.

The 2011-12 OJHL playoffs begin on Monday, February 13, 2012 and the preliminary round match-ups are as follows:

North Division:
Byes – (1) Newmarket, (2) Stouffville
(3) Aurora vs. (6) Orangeville
(4) Markham vs. (5) Huntsville

West Division:
Byes – (1) Georgetown, (2) Oakville
(3) Buffalo vs. (6) Hamilton
(4) Burlington vs. (5) Milton

South Division:
Byes – (1) St. Michael’s, (2) Vaughan
(3) Toronto Lakeshore vs. (6) Pickering
(4) North York vs. (5) Toronto Jr. Canadiens

East Division:
Byes – (1) Trenton, (2) Cobourg
(3) Wellington vs. (6) Kingston
(4) Whitby vs. (5) Lindsay

Follow all the OJHL playoff action at www.ojhl.ca or watch it all on OJHL Live, http://ojhl.neulion.com/ojhl/.

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

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