Wednesday, March 21, 2012

OHF Announces Exceptional Player Status for Connor McDavid

Press Release

Cambridge, ON – The Ontario Hockey Federation today announced the results of the review by Hockey Canada in consideration of the application by Connor McDavid, determining that the player is to be granted “exceptional player” status and therefore is eligible for the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection on Saturday April 7, 2012.

The process was administered by Hockey Canada with a Special Evaluation Panel assembled to evaluate McDavid’s hockey and academic documentation and assess his level of maturity in reaching their decision.

“What a great accomplishment it is for Connor to achieve exceptional player status,” said OHF Executive Director Phillip McKee. “The process established for the exceptional player is very extensive in examining all aspects of a player’s life. Connor should be very proud, just as the OHF is of him, for achieving the exceptional player status.”

Born January 13, 1997, the 15-year-old McDavid is a 5’11, 170 pound forward who plays for the minor midget Toronto Marlboros where he scored 33 goals and 39 assists for 72 points in 33 games as GTHL Player of the Year.  McDavid also led the 2012 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament in scoring with 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points in seven games and was the recipient of the Tim Adams Memorial Trophy as tournament MVP, recording the most points in an OHL Cup since Sam Gagner’s 17 points in five games for the Marlboros in 2005.

McDavid becomes just the third player to be granted “exceptional player” status following Sun County Panthers’ defenceman Aaron Ekblad and Marlboros forward John Tavares.  Last season Ekblad was selected first overall by the Barrie Colts in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection and recorded 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 63 games this season for the Colts and represented Team Ontario winning a bronze medal at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, ON.  Tavares, the first player to ever be granted “exceptional player” status was later selected first overall by the Oshawa Generals in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection and played four OHL seasons recording 433 points in 247 career games before being selected with the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders.

McDavid will be one of 80 skaters that will participate in the 2012 OHL Development Combine powered by Under Armour this weekend March 23-25 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, ON.  A full schedule for this weekend’s Development Combine will be released later this week.


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

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