Tuesday, March 27, 2012

SHORE NAMED TOP PROSPECT

Press Release

The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Devin Shore (photo credit - Tim Bates/OJHL Images) of the Whitby Fury has been named the first-ever recipient of the OJHL Top Prospect Award as selected in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting.

Recently named the OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year, the 17-year old power forward took the OJHL by storm this season, leading the Whitby Fury with 29 goals, while finishing second on the club in scoring with 58 points, all this despite missing numerous games while attending the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. Shore would consistently fill the stands with scouts wherever he played throughout the season, steadily moving up the NHL Draft rankings as the top-ranked prospect in the entire CJHL.

“Devin Shore is a smart play maker with good offensive instincts,” stated Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr. “He sees the ice well and has a quick read and react game. Not only does he create scoring chances, but he’s a proven goal scorer. It is quite an accomplishment for a first-year player to be an impact player and to win Rookie-of-the-Year. The experience Devin has gained playing in the OJHL will help his future development playing for the University of Maine.”

The 6’0”, 186 lbs. native of Ajax, Ontario joined the Fury this season after playing for The Hill Academy in Vaughan. Shore chose to commit to the University of Maine Black Bears (2013) NCAA Division I program prior to being selected in the 4th round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, 69th overall, by the Barrie Colts, paving his way to make the jump to the OJHL.

Shore has more than lived up to expectations this season with totals of 29 goals and 58 points, placing him 12th and 24th overall respectively among all OJHL players and also played significant minutes on both the power play and penalty kill. He led the Fury with nine power player goals, while also notching 17 power play assists, tied for the sixth best total in the league, to propel the league’s eighth best power play unit at 20.47%. Shore was also an important cog on the penalty kill, notching two shorthanded goals, helping the OJHL’s fourth best unit to an 85.86% ranking. Shore’s season included 17 multi-point games and a 14 game point scoring streak from December 18 to February 3 that helped him win OJHL South-East Conference Gongshow Gear Player-of-the-Month honours for January.

Other highlights of Shore’s impressive rookie campaign include a dominant performance at the 2011 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Langley, B.C. as a member of Team Canada East, where he would record a tournament leading six points in four games played to earn Most Valuable Player honours during a silver medal performance. Shore was also a member of the OJHL East Division All-Stars that competed at the inaugural Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Smiths Falls, Ontario and was named an OJHL 2nd Team All-Star, as well as 1st Team All-Rookie, the only OJHL player named to both squads. All season long, he has been closely followed by NHL Central Scouting, steadily moving up the draft rankings and most recently he was ranked in the 3rd round of their mid-term rankings, 75th overall, among North American Skaters.

The OJHL Top Prospect Award is awarded annually to the player selected in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting as the top-ranked draft eligible prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft.

James De Haas of the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots has been named runner-up to Shore as OJHL Top Prospect. The 17-year old rearguard led all Patriots defencemen in scoring during his rookie season with 29 points in 45 games played. The totals also placed him top 20 among all OJHL defencemen, while his 10 goals was the fifth best total.

The OJHL Most Valuable Player Award recipient will be announced later this week.

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

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