Thursday, March 15, 2012

GODDARD NAMED MOST GENTLEMANLY PLAYER

Press Release

The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Dylan Goddard (photo credit - Brian Watts/OJHL Images) of the Cobourg Cougars has been named the recipient of the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Award.

Dylan Goddard’s fourth season in the OJHL turned out to be his most productive, leading the Cougars in scoring with 68 points during 2011-12, while being tabbed with only two minor penalties throughout the entire regular season.

Goddard, who had previously played in the OJHL for the Trenton Hercs and Whitby Fury, as well as in the OHL for the Belleville Bulls, joined Cobourg midway through last season. This year, the 19-year old native of Courtice, Ontario, was counted upon as one of the club’s leaders and helped them to one of the most successful years in franchise history. The Cougars finished with a record of 37-9-3 for 77 points to finish second in the East Division and fifth overall in the entire OJHL.

The 5’9”, 170 lbs. forward not only led Cobourg with 34 goals and 68 points, but his totals would rank him sixth and seventh respectively in the OJHL. Goddard also led or was near the top of the Cougars roster with 34 assists, 11 power play assists and 5 power play goals. Playing heavy minutes for the club, the model of athletic integrity would not record a penalty until a December 10 game in Vaughan, a tripping minor during a 3-2 victory. A couple of weeks later, Goddard recorded his second penalty of the season, a boarding minor during a 4-3 overtime victory over Whitby. Remarkably, that is an average of just one penalty every 24 ½ games he played this season and throughout his OJHL career, he has earned just 29 total penalty minutes in 171 career regular season games played.

Highlights of Goddard’s season include being named the OJHL’s South-East Conference Gongshow Gear Player-of-the-Month for November after recording 17 points in 9 games played throughout the month, and in December he was named a member of the OJHL’s East Division All-Stars that competed at the inaugural Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

The OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Award is awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, combined with a high-standard and proficiency of on-ice playing ability throughout the regular season.

Morgan Bonner of the Newmarket Hurricanes is runner-up in the OJHL award balloting to Goddard. The 20-year old native of Aurora, Ontario led the Hurricanes in scoring with 36 goals and 64 points, while recording only 16 penalty minutes during 46 regular season games played.

The OJHL Top Defenceman and Rookie-of-the-Year Award recipients will be announced next week.

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

No comments: