OJHL ANNOUNCES MVP

Press Release

The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Ryan Demelo of the North York Rangers (photo credit - Izak Westgate/HHOF) has been named the 2010-11 recipient of OJHL Most Valuable Player.

The second year netminder was a pillar between the pipes for the Rangers this season, finishing the year with a 24-17-2 record while playing in 44 of the club’s 50 games throughout the year. Demelo’s play was ultimately the reason the Rangers not only earned a playoff berth, but finished in third place in the South Division, earning the all-important preliminary round bye.

Despite playing the third most games (44) and second most minutes (2,592:59) of any OJHL goaltender this season, Demelo still managed to post impressive numbers that all ranked in the top ten statistically. His 24 win total was tied for sixth best in the league and he would post the seventh best goals against average (2.68), fifth best save percentage (.919%) and third best save total (1,314), as well as recording four shutouts, tied for second best among all goalies.

The 20-year old native of Brampton, Ontario was named first star of the game nine times throughout the year and it is not hard to see why. From October 8 to November 14, Demelo would win nine of 10 games and twice during the course of the season he would record five game winning streaks.

It was in the all-important shootout, perhaps, where he was most effective. The lanky netminder, standing at 6’2”, 170 lbs., would allow only one goal on 16 attempts during four shootouts, winning three of those games. Those totals include, stopping all seven shooters on the South-East Conference champion Wellington Dukes to earn the Rangers a 3-2 victory on October 1, and blanking their division-rival, the Upper Canada Patriots, 1-0 in a shootout on January 29 with playoff positioning on the line.

Along with being named the OJHL’s Most Valuable Player, Demelo was also named a South-East Conference 2nd Team All-Star.


Jordan Ruby of the Wellington Dukes was runner-up in the OJHL award balloting to Demelo. The 20-year old native of Tavistock, Ontario, finished second among netminders with 26 victories this season, while posting the third best save percentage (.932%) and fourth best goals against average (2.21). He was a key member of Team Canada East, capturing a silver medal at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge and was named OJHL December Player-of-the-Month, as well as a South-East Conference 1st Team All-Star.

Below is the complete list of OJHL Award winners for the 2010-11 season:

Awards:
Most Valuable Player Ryan Demelo North York Rangers
Best Defenceman Anthony Mastrodicasa Vaughan Vipers
Rookie-of-the-Year Robert Polesello Vaughan Vipers
Coach-of-the-Year Brian Perrin Newmarket Hurricanes
Most Gentlemanly Player Zach Hyman Hamilton Red Wings
Most Improved Player Matt Neal Stouffville Spirit
Best Goaltender Charlie Finn Kingston Voyageurs
Top Scorer Phil Brewer Burlington Cougars

Congratulations to everyone on a tremendous 2010-11 Ontario Junior Hockey League season.

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