Wednesday, March 6, 2013

AJHL Announces 2013 League Award Winners

Press Release

The Alberta Junior Hockey League, in partnership with The RBC Play Hockey Project, today announced the 2012-2013 League Award Winners.  The award recipients will be presented with their respective trophies by AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk throughout the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs.

Most Valuable Player - Alberta Old Time Hockey Players Trophy
Cam Maclise of the Brooks Bandits is the 2012-2103 AJHL MVP.  Maclise and the Bandits captured the regular season title for a second consecutive season in a record breaking campaign.  Maclise (Lacombe, AB) led the Bandits in scoring with 83 points and averaged 1.4 points per game.

Forward Cam Maclise scored a league leading 6 game winning goals for the Bandits and was selected as the Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game seven times.  His 56 assists led the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the regular season, and he was 3rd overall in the AJHL Scoring Race.

Cam Maclise was the sole unanimous selection to the 2012-2013 AJHL South Division All League team.  Maclise is in his third and final AJHL season, during which time he has amassed 216 points in 171 regular season games.   Maclise has set new franchise records for Career Assists (131) and Career Points (216), both previously held by 2008-2009 AJHL Co-MVP Jarret Granberg.
AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk will present Maclise with the Alberta Old Time Hockey Players Trophy on March 15th when the Brooks Bandits open Round Two of the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs.
  • 2012-2013 Award Finalists: Cam Maclise, Brooks Bandits; Brennan Baxandall, Drumheller Dragons; Jerome Raymond, Whitecourt Wolverines; Dylan Richard, Spruce Grove Saints
  • 2011-2012 Award Winner: Peter Quenneville, Sherwood Park Crusaders

Scoring Champion - Ernie Love Trophy
Whitecourt Wolverines forward Mathieu Guertin has captured the Ernie Love Trophy as the Top Scorer in the AJHL with 95 points in the regular season.  Guertin averaged 1.6 goals per game after scoring 42 goals and 53 assists in 57 games.  Guertin also led the league with 6 game winning goals and 28 powerplay assists.

Guertin was a consistent contributor for the Wolverines.  He recorded four 4-point games, compiled a 17 game point streak throughout October and November 2012, and never went more than one game without recording a point.  Guertin was awarded the Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game Award 10 times in the regular season.

Guertin was chased in the AJHL Scoring Race by teammate Jerome Raymond, who finished the season with 90 points and an average of 1.5 points per game.

Mathieu Guertin (Repentigny, QC) was selected to the 2012-2013 AJHL North Division All League Team by the league’s Coaches and General Managers.  AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk will present the Ernie Love Trophy to Mathieu Guertin on March 5th as the Wolverines host the Oil Barons in the opening round of the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs.
  • 2011-2012 Award Winner: Matt Wilkins, Brooks Bandits

Top Goaltender - Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey League Trophy
Nick Kulmanovsky of the Grande Prairie Storm is the recipient of the Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey League Trophy as the Top Goaltender in the AJHL.  The Top Goaltender Award is awarded to the goalie who demonstrated the greatest ability in his position throughout the season as voted on by the league’s General Managers and Coaches.

Kulmanovsky (Fairbanks, Alaska) posted a 2.49 GAA and .918 Save Percentage in the regular season alongside his winning record of 24-12-0.  Kulmanovsky was third amongst AJHL goaltenders for wins and received the Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game 8 times in the regular season.  He compiled an 8 game winning streak mid-season and completed the regular season with 5 consecutive victories.

Nick Kulmanovsky becomes the third Storm goaltender to capture the AJHL Top Goaltender Award in franchise history.
  • 2012-2013 Award Finalists: Jared D'Amico, Okotoks Oilers; Ty Swabb, Canmore Eagles; Nick Kulmanovsky, Grande Prairie Storm; Marc Olivier-Daigle, Drayton Valley Thunder
  • 2011-2012 Award Winner: Tyler Briggs, Lloydminster Bobcats

Top Team Goaltenders – Reebok / CCM Top Team Goaltenders Award
The Top Team Goaltenders award is presented annually to the goaltenders of the team with the lowest goals against average (GAA) in the regular season.  The 2012-2013 winners are Brooks Bandits goaltenders Devon Fordyce (Cochrane, AB) and Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, AB).
The impressive goaltending duo and the Bandits posted a stingy 1.88 GAA on their way to capturing a second straight regular season title.  The Bandits allowed just 113 goals against and lost just 4 games in regulation time (53-4-3).  Fordyce and Fredrick combined for 5 Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game Awards, and Fredrick also held the honour of the Alberta Dodge Dealers AJHL Player of the Month in October 2012.

Michael Fredrick led all AJHL goaltenders with a 1.90 GAA, 7 shutouts and a record of 42-2-2.  He has set new franchise records for Best Goals Against Average in a Single Season, Most Shutouts in a Single Season, and Most Career Shutouts (8) – all records previously set by Jan Obernesser in 2011-2012.  Fordyce held a record of 10-2-1 and a 1.61 GAA.

The Reebok / CCM Top Team Goaltenders Award will be presented to Devon Fordyce and Michael Fredrick on March 15th when the Brooks Bandits open Round Two of the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs.
  • 2011-2012 Award Winner: Brody Hoffman and Tanner Jaillet, Fort McMurray Oil Barons

Rookie of the Year - Dick White Trophy, Presented by Canalta Hotels
Camrose Kodiaks rookie forward Tanner MacMaster is the 2012-2013 AJHL Rookie of the Year.  In his exceptional rookie season, MacMaster led all rookies in scoring with 48 points and the Kodiaks with 24 goals.  He also scored 6 game winning goals for the Kodiaks and recorded his first AJHL hat trick.

Tanner MacMaster was a unanimous selection to the AJHL South Division All-Rookie team and represented the AJHL as a member of Team Pacific at the 2013 World Junior Under 17 Hockey Challenge.   MacMaster was selected as the Canalta Hotels AJHL Player of the Week in February 2013, and was a seven time recipient of the Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game Award.

MacMaster (Calgary, AB) has accepted a scholarship offer from Boston College.

Tanner MacMaster will receive the Dick White Trophy from AJHL Commissioner and Camrose native, Ryan Bartoshyk, on March 6th in Camrose when the Kodiaks host the Calgary Mustangs in the opening round of the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs.
  • 2012-2013 Award Finalists: Tanner MacMaster, Camrose Kodiaks; Colin Cooper, Calgary Canucks; Luc Lalor, Fort McMurray Oil Barons; Carson Soucy, Spruce Grove Saints
  • 2011-2012 Award Winner: Anthony Petruzzelli, Brooks Bandits

Outstanding Defenceman - W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy
Josh Healey of Sherwood Park Crusaders is the recipient of the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy as the 2012-2013 AJHL Outstanding Defenceman.   The award is given annually to the defensive player who demonstrates the greatest all-round ability in the position throughout the season.

Josh Healy represented the AJHL at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge and won a silver medal as a member of Team West.   Healey was recently selected to the 2012-2103 AJHL North Division All League Team.  He was also awarded the Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game Award three times in the regular season, and scored 23 points and 3 game winning goals for the Cru.

Josh Healey (Edmonton, AB) has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2013-2014 season.
AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk will award the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy to Healey in a pre-game ceremony on March 8th in Sherwood Park.
  • 2012-2013 Award Finalists: Jonathan Lashyn, Camrose Kodiaks; Mitchell Gartner, Drumheller Dragons; Josh Healy, Sherwood Park Crusaders; Dustin Fostvelt, Spruce Grove Saints
  • 2011-2012 Award Winner: Blake Leask, Bonnyville Pontiacs
     
Most Dedicated Player - Don McNabb Memorial Trophy
The Most Dedicated Player in the AJHL and winner of the Don McNabb Memorial Trophy is Dylan Hubbs of the Olds Grizzlys.  The Don McNabb Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged the most dedicated to his team.

“Dylan is a player who competes everyday both in practice and in games,” said Grizzlys Head Coach Brett Hopfe.  “His will to win, tenacity and passion has helped him achieve this award and it is obvious that other organizations around the league have noticed it too.  The Olds Grizzlys are very proud of Dylan and his accomplishments so far this year!”

Dylan Hubbs (Beaumont, AB) was selected as the Canalta Hotels AJHL Player of the Week in November 2012 and received the Pro Hockey Life Player of the Game Award six times in the regular season. The AJHL veteran recorded 50 points in his third and final season with the Grizzlys and is within the Top 20 of AJHL Scorers.

Dylan Hubbs will pursue his education and further his hockey career at the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2013-2014.

On March 9th, Hubbs will be awarded with the Don McNabb Memorial Trophy prior to the AJHL Playoff game between the Okotoks Oilers and Olds Grizzlys.
  • 2012-2013 Award Finalists: Jonathan Lashyn, Camrose Kodiaks; Dylan Hubbs, Olds Grizzlys; Luke Madill, Drayton Valley Thunder; Tim Nolte, Spruce Grove Saints
  • 2011-202 Award Winner: Carson Cooper, Fort McMurray Oil Barons

Coach of the Year
Brooks Bandits Head Coach and General Manager Ryan Papaioannou is the 2012-2013 AJHL Coach of the Year.  Papaioannou and the Bandits have enjoyed a phenomenal season on top of the AJHL.

The Brooks Bandits won the Dave Duchak Trophy as the 2012-2013 AJHL Regular Season Champions for the second consecutive season after completing a record breaking regular season with a record of 53-4-3 and 109 points.  The Bandits set new AJHL records for Most Wins in a Single Season and Most Points in a Single Season and also tied the League Record for Fewest Losses in a Single Season.
The Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 Weekly Rankings posted the Brooks Bandits at number one since October 1st, 2012.

"It's a great honour to be recognized as the Coach of the Year”, said Ryan Papaioannou.  “This is a little unexpected as there were three other very good coaches nominated this year. Anytime an award is voted on by your peers it comes with a certain distinction and I am grateful to our fellow coaches throughout the league.”

“I view this as a team award with plenty of credit going to my Assistant Coach, Brent Gunnlaugson, for his work with our players in all facets of our game. Our players deserve a significant amount of recognition for their ability to accept roles and give us a solid work ethic which is what has allowed us as coaches to lead them in the direction we have gone."

Brooks will enjoy a first round bye in the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs after finishing the regular season at number one in the AJHL South Division.  League Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk will present the Coach of the Year award to Ryan Papaioannou on March 15th when the Brooks Bandits host their first playoff game of the 2013 AJHL Gas Drive Playoffs.
  • 2012-2013 Award Finalists: Ryan Papaioannou, Brooks Bandits; Boris Rybalka, Camrose Kodiaks; Gord Thibodeau, Fort McMurray Oil Barons; Jason McKee, Spruce Grove Saints
  • 2011-2012 Award Winner: Brian Curran, Lloydminster Bobcats


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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