CARPINO NAMED MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Press Release

The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that John Carpino (photo credit - Jay Johnston/OJHL Images) of the North York Rangers has been named the 2012-13 winner of the Coach Canada Most Improved Player Award.

The second year forward joined the league's elite offensive talents this season, teaming with Corey Kalk to form one of the most dangerous combinations in the OJHL.  The native of Vaughan, Ontario finished fourth overall in the league's scoring race with 83 points and his totals represent a 52 point improvement from his rookie campaign last year, spent with his hometown Vaughan Vipers as a 17-year old.

His impressive statistics this season include 42 goals and 41 assists, while all of his offensive numbers represent significant jumps from last year's totals in Vaughan.  Carpino notched 28 more goals, jumping from 120th overall in 2011-12 to third this season, 24 more assists to move from 201st last year to 12th this year, and 52 more points to go from 162nd overall in the scoring race as a rookie to fourth in 2012-13.  Receiving considerable time on the power play, Carpino keyed the club's attack with the man advantage, recording 23 power play points, 14 more than the previous year, and he also notched five game-winning goals to help the Rangers finish with their best record since returning to Junior 'A' action in the early 1990's.

The runner-up as OJHL South-West Conference Gongshow Gear Player-of-the-Month in November after recording 19 points in 10 games played, Carpino tied for the team lead in scoring with four points for the South Division All-Stars at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Wellington, Ontario and was named an OJHL 1st Team All-Star following the season.  Earlier this year, Carpino would accept an offer to attend Western Michigan University beginning with the 2014-15 National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) season.

The OJHL Most Improved Player Award is awarded annually to the player adjudged to have shown the greatest improvement in his on-ice performance from the previous OJHL regular season(s).

Corey Kalk of the North York Rangers was runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Carpino.

Similar to his teammate and linemate Carpino, Corey Kalk saw significant increases in his offensive production this past season, finishing seventh in the scoring race with 76 points, a 45 point improvement on his 2011-12 totals.

Next week the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player, Baycon Construction Top Defenceman and first-ever Goaltender-of-the-Year Awards will be announced.

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