WALMAN NAMED ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Jake Walman (photo credit - Shawn Muir/OJHL Images) of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens has been named the recipient of the OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year Award.
The 18-year old defenceman was one of the biggest surprises on the Jr. Canadiens blueline this season and shot up the scouting radar throughout the course of his rookie OJHL season with a smooth-skating blend of both offensive and defensive two-way play. His play led him to be the top-ranked OJHL player for the 2014 NHL Draft, most recently named winner of the OJHL Top Prospect Award as selected by NHL Central Scouting.
The 6'1", 175 lbs. native of Toronto, Ontario was counted on to play in all situations including key minutes on special teams and against the other team’s top lines. A huge part of the Jr. Canadiens offence, Walman recorded 7 goals, 26 assists and 33 points in 43 regular season games played, ranking him second on the club among rearguards. The impressive rookie totals also ranked him among the league's best defenders, including 16th in goals, 13th in assists and 14th overall in scoring. Not one to shy away from the physical game, Walman recorded 87 penalty minutes to finish fifth on the team.
Other highlights of Walman’s impressive rookie campaign included being named a member of Team Canada East and competing at the 2013 World Junior 'A' Challenge held in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He was also a member of the OJHL South-East Conference All-Star Team that would finish as runner-up to the host QJAAAHL at the 2013 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Terrebonne, Quebec. Following the season, Walman was named an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect and in January he was the top-ranked OJHL player, 60th among North American skaters, by NHL Central Scouting in the mid-term ranking for the 2014 NHL Draft. Walman is committed to join the Providence College Friars beginning with the 2014-15 Hockey East season.
The OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year Award is awarded annually to the player adjudged to be the most proficient in his first year of competition playing in the OJHL throughout the regular season, with the following criteria being met:
• Fewer than 10 games played in other Junior 'A' or Major Junior League (if goaltender, fewer than 6 games played)
• Must be 18-years of age or younger as of December 31 of that season
• Played in a minimum of 50% of teams games
Mason Marchment of the Cobourg Cougars has been named runner-up in the OJHL award balloting to Walman.
The 18-year old native of Uxbridge, Ontario joined the Cougars this season and led the team with 22 goals, while finishing third in overall scoring on the club with 43 points in 51 regular season games played. Marchment's totals included a 13 goal, 20 point performance in January that earned him OJHL Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month honours in January.
The OJHL Most Valuable Player Award recipient 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)
Defenceman Michael Prapavessis (TLP) Nick Desimone (BUF)
Goaltender Kevin Entmaa (AUR) Alex Brooks-Potts (KIN)
Prospect Jake Walman (TOR) Jake Evans (STM)
Scholastic Richard Court (GEO) Kamil Tkaczuk (OAK)
Rookie Jake Walman (TOR) Mason Marchment (COB)
Previous OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2013-14 Jake Walman (TOR) Mason Marchment (COB)
2012-13 Tyler Gjurich (BUF) Jake Evans (STM)
2011-12 Devin Shore (WHI) Michael Giugovaz (GEO)
2010-11 Robert Polesello (VAU) Nelson Armstrong (PET)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Zach Hall (COU) Jackson Teichroeb (BOW) Lucas Lessio (STM)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Ian Watters (AJX) Joel Hanley (NEW) Dalton McGrath (COU) Alex Guptill (BRP)
Dominic Alberga (VIL)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Michael Catenacci (MAR) Josh Shalla (BOW) Ethan Werek (STO) Andrew Bathgate (GEO)
2006-07 Alan Reynolds (TOR) Tavis Holden (BOW) Corey Trivino (STO) Matt Hoyle (OAK)
Nicholas Vasso (ORA)
2005-06 Louie Caporusso (STM) Brian Rufenach (LIN) Matt Milne (COU) Cody Goloubef (MIL)
Bryan Scott (BOW)
2004-05 Russ Brownell (WEX) Josh Gillam (PET) Deron Cousens (HUN) Tim Priamo (BUR)
2003-04 Andrew Cogliano (STM) James Neal (BOW) Darren Machesney (NEW) Aaron Barton (GEO)
2002-03 Oren Eizenman (WEX) Liam Reddox (WEL) Mike Sullivan (STO) Josh Disher (BUR)
2001-02 Wojtek Wolski (STM) Cory Vitarelli (PET) Luke Dubbin (COU) Evan McGrath (OAK)
2000-01 Matt Christie (PIC) Robbie Schremp (SYR) Corey Locke (NEW) Kevin Arruda (MIL)
1999-00 Ashton McLean (WEX) Robert Gherson (WEL) Beau Moyer (COU) Jon Tenute (GEO)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Luc Chiasson (PIC) Daniel Sisca (MAR) Kevin Kurk (NIA)
Year East West
1997-98 Jeremy Van Hoof (LIN) Mike Cammalleri (BRM)
Paul Dowe (COB)
1996-97 Preston Mizzi (NEW) Mark Van Arkel (MIL)
1995-96 Brett Gibson (KIN) Scott Crawford (BRP)
1994-95 Patrick Desrochers (BAR) Adam Cologiacomo (RYR)
1993-94 Rob Fitzgerald (PET) Scott Bertoli (MIL)
1992-93 Jeff Williams (NEW) David Belitski (RYR)
