Thursday, March 21, 2013

Exceptional Player Status for Sean Day

Press Release

Cambridge, ON – The Ontario Hockey Federation today announced the results of the review by Hockey Canada in consideration of the application by Sean Day, 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 6, 2013.

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

“Sean Day should be very proud of himself in attaining exceptional player status,” said OHF Executive Director Phillip McKee.  “The evaluation process is very extensive and reviews all aspects of the player's life.  We all look forward to seeing Sean continue his development as a player and person in the OHL next season.”

Born January 9, 1998, in Leuven, Belgium, Day is a Canadian citizen who currently resides with his family in Rochester, Michigan.  The 15-year-old defenceman grew up playing all of his minor hockey in the Detroit Area and competed with the highly ranked Detroit Compuware this season where he scored 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points in 63 games with an impressive plus-minus rating of plus-47.  A 6’02’’, 197lb, dynamic skater, Day and Detroit Compuware competed in several Ontario-based minor midget tournaments this season such as the Whitby Silver Stick where they lost in the Championship Final to the Toronto Marlboros.  Last summer Day also won a North American Roller Hockey Championship title in the Bantam Division competing for Detroit HoneyBaked.

Day becomes the fourth player to be granted “exceptional player” status following Connor McDavid of the Toronto Marlboros, Aaron Ekblad of the Sun County Panthers, and John Tavares of the Marlboros.  Last year McDavid was selected first overall by the Erie Otters and recently completed his rookie season where he scored 25 goals and 41 assists for 66 points in 63 games also representing Team Ontario at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.  In 2011 Ekblad was selected first overall by the Barrie Colts and went on to capture OHL Rookie of the Year honours recording 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 63 games.  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. 

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

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