PRAPAVESSIS NAMED MOST GENTLEMANLY
The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Michael Prapavessis (photo credit - Tim Bates/OJHL Images) of the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots has been named the recipient of the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Award.
Prapavessis becomes the first defenceman to win the Most Gentlemanly Player Award after recording just two penalty minutes in 47 regular season games played this season, while leading all rearguards in scoring with 54 points.
Entering his second season with the Patriots and first full year in the OJHL, Prapavessis was one of the best blueliners in the entire league and was instrumental in the club's most successful season in franchise history. The Patriots captured both their first Division and Conference regular season titles, finishing third overall in the league with a 35-12-6 record for 76 points and a .717 winning percentage.
The 6'1", 180 lbs. native of Oakville, Ontario finished second among all skaters with 49 assists and 25 power play assists, both were also tops among defencemen, while his 54 points topped all blueliners and ranked third overall on the Patriots. Prapavessis accomplished all this while recording just a single minor penalty this season; a hooking penalty during the club's fifth game of the season on September 16 versus Cobourg. Remarkably, the up-and-coming star has received just three minor penalties in his OJHL career during the course of 85 career regular season and playoff contests. .
Prapavessis was a member of Team Canada East that competed at the 2013 World Junior 'A' Challenge held in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, recording two assists in four games played, and led all OJHL rearguards in scoring with four points at the 2013 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, helping the South-West Conference All-Star Team finish as runner-up in Terrebonne, Quebec. Following the season, Prapavessis became just the second player in four years to be named both a 1st Team All-Star and 1st Team All-Prospect in the same season. He was ranked 137th overall among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings for the 2014 NHL Draft and is committed to join the RPI Engineers next season.
The OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Award is awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, combined with a high-standard and proficiency of on-ice playing ability throughout the regular season.
Pat Egan of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres is runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Prapavessis.
The second-year member of the Jr. Sabres was the club's leading scorer this season, while also finishing third in overall league scoring with 78 points in 51 games played. Egan, who was also named an OJHL 2nd Team All-Star, accomplished this while recording only 15 penalty minutes all season.
The OJHL Baycon Construction Top Defenceman and Goaltender-of-the-Year Award recipients will be announced later this week.
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)
Gentlemanly Michael Prapavessis (TLP) Pat Egan (BUF)
Previous OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2013-14 Michael Prapavessis (TLP) Pat Egan (BUF)
2012-13 Dean Klomp (LIN) Jonah Renouf (OAK)
2011-12 Dylan Goddard (COB) Morgan Bonner (NEW)
2010-11 Zach Hyman (HAM) Blake Sexton (COB)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Lucas Van Natter (AUR) Jeremy Franklin (WEL) Jacob Mooney (NYR)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Jeremy McCarty (PTH) Nathan Pageau (HAM) Jon Whitelaw (HUN) Jeremy Welsh (OAK)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Richard Ryan (STM) Aaron Keaney (LIN) Tyler Swan (COU) Chris Dunham (BUR)
Andrew Fracz (BOW)
2006-07 Phil McIlhone (PIC) Dennis Zak (COB) Dustin Turner (SEG) Matt Ferreira (BRP)
2005-06 Paul Kerins (NYR) Brad Dormiedy (BOW) Randy Johnson (STO) Kyle Zettler (HAM)
Chris Auger (WEL)
2004-05 Vincent Rocco (VAU) Gavin Moore (BAN) Sam Skwarchuk (AUR) Ryan Ellis (OAK)
2003-04 Peder Skinner (STM) Rusty Masters (PTH) Francis Walker (AUR) Sam Campbell (HAM)
2002-03 Oren Eizenman (WEX) Matt Caruana (BOW) Luke Dobbin (COU) Brad Efthimiou (MIL)
2001-02 Matt McIsaac (STM) Darren Doherty (COB) Chris Gill (NEW) Mark Mazzetti (HAM)
2000-01 Matthew Foy (WEX) Shannon McNevin (PET) Jaro Wojcicki (COU) Mike Bibby (BRM)
1999-00 Roberto Orofiamma (VAU) Kurtis McLean (TRE) Pierre Rivard (NEW) Mike Tarantino (OAK)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Ben Blakeley (TRE) Kevin Edgar (STO) Mike Cammalleri (BRM)
Year East West
1997-98 Kevin Edgar (STO) Matt Sirman (STO)
Matt McCrae (BRP)
1996-97 David Deeves (COL) Eric Ellis (BRP)
1995-96 Tavis Morrison (TRE) Glenn Bradbury (MIS)
1994-95 Shawn Allard (COB) Ian McQueen (STR)
1993-94 Ben Gorewich (MAR) Mike Cox (MIL)
1992-93 Justin Cardwell (MAR) Ben Davis (CAL)
