BEST NAMED MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Taylor Best (photo credit - Amy Deroche/OJHL Images) of the Whitby Fury has been named the 2013-14 winner of the Coach Canada Most Improved Player Award.
The Fury alternate captain became one of the OJHL's premier forwards during his third season in the league, capturing the scoring title by recording 90 points in 48 games played; the first player in franchise history to be OJHL leading scorer. Best also led all scorers with 53 assists, 29 power play assists and 40 power play points.
His impressive totals marks a significant jump and improvement from his offensive output during the first two seasons of his OJHL career. Firing home 37 goals represents a 21 goal improvement from the 16 he scored in 2012-13, jumping from 74th to 3rd among all scorers, while his league-leading assist total more than doubled from 24 helpers to place 87th overall last season to 53 this year. Winning the scoring race this year with 90 points, Best went up 40 points after finishing with 50 points last year, also ranking him 87th in the league. The key component of the league's third best power play unit, Best factored in on 40 of the club's 71 power play markers, more than doubling his man advantage totals this season from 5 to 11 goals, 11 to 29 assists and 16 to 40 power play points.
The runner-up as the OJHL Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month in both September and January, Best won the award in October after notching 21 points in 10 games played during the month. The playmaker would record one goal and one assist as a member of Team Canada East at the 2013 World Junior 'A' Challenge that was held in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, while also participating for the second consecutive year in the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, finishing second in scoring for the OJHL North-East Conference All-Star Team with three points. Immediately following the season, Best was named an OJHL 1st Team All-Star and he is committed to join the Mercyhurst University Lakers beginning with the 2015-16 Atlantic Hockey 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).
Alex Tonge of the Kingston Voyageurs was runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Best.
After playing a small, part-time role with the club during the previous two seasons, Tonge became the club's leader in 2013-14, finishing the year with 72 points, sixth best in the OJHL and 64 points better than his previous best total.
Next week the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player, Baycon Construction Top Defenceman and the Goaltender-of-the-Year Awards will be announced.
2013-14 OJHL Award Winners
Award Winner Runner-Up
Top Scorer Taylor Best (WHI) Steve Hladin (GEO)
Top Goaltender Kevin Entmaa (AUR) Andy Munroe (AUR)
Executive Mike Tarantino (TLP) James Richmond (AUR)
Humanitarian Kevin Shier (TLP) n/a
Trainer Rob Crawford (WHI) Jason Izraelski (NYR)
Volunteer Hal Gies (MIL) n/a
Coach James Richmond (AUR) Jason Fortier (TLP)
Improved Taylor Best (WHI) Alex Tonge (KIN)
Previous OJHL Most Improved Player Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2013-14 Taylor Best (WHI) Alex Tonge (KIN)
2012-13 John Carpino (NYR) Corey Kalk (NYR)
2011-12 Darcy Murphy (WEL) Chris Porter (STO)
2010-11 Matt Neal (STO) Khaled Alli (PIC)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Spencer FInney (TRE) Jordan Reed (AJX) Phil Brewer (BUR)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Cody Rosen (KIN) Giancarlo Iuorio (MAR) Josh Cousineau (COU) Dorian Peca (VAU)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Martin Lee (VAU) Matt Gray (PET) Matt Milne (NEW) Adam Beveliqua (MIS)
2006-07 Richard Schofield (PIC) Matt Baxter (BOW) Jeff Henderson (NEW) Chase Langerap (OAK)
2005-06 Matt Martello (VAU) Nathan Longpre (PET) Jody Halas (COL) Kyle Zettler (HAM)
2004-05 Nathan Morris (MAR) Kyle Hughey (PET) Matt Whitehead (NEW) Chris Moran (BUF)
2003-04 Matt Harris (AJX) Ted Cook (BAN) Cory Konecny (NEW) Jonathan Ornelas (MIL)
Dave Mahoney (PET)
2002-03 Brian Ihnacek (STM) Travis Kauffeldt (BAN) Kevin Jarman (STO) Rob Tarantino (OAK)
2001-02 Tyler McGregor (AJX) Mike Della Mora (PET) Chris Gill (NEW) Mark Mazzetti (HAM)
2000-01 Dan Iliakis (THO) Matt Chafe (COB) Brock Radunske (NEW) Jeff Szwez (STR)
Andrian Kremblewski (STM)
1999-00 Kevin Tompkins (MAR) Kevin Rainey (COB) Will Crothers (AUR) Mike Knoepfli (GEO)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Scott Gordon (LIN) Dominic Moore (AUR) Stace Page (GEO)
Year East West
1997-98 Kevin Edgar (STO Kevin O'Flaherty (MIL)
1996-97 Darcy King/Rick White (STO) Martin Milijko (BRP)
1995-96 David Deeves (COL) Jeff Haydar (MIL)
1994-95 Otto Hlincik (COB) Corey Waring (OAK)
1993-94 Adam Lamarre (MAR) Kent Williams (OAK)
1992-93 Kris Stockdale (ORL) Tom Johnson (BUR)
