BEST NAMED MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Taylor Best (photo credit - Amy Deroche/OJHL Images) of the Whitby Fury has been named the recipient of the OJHL Most Valuable Player Award.
Taylor Best put forth a dominant performance from start to finish in his third full OJHL season, leading all scorers with 90 points in 48 regular season games to take home the Top Scorer Award, while also leading the entire league with 53 assists.
The 19-year old Whitby, Ontario native who stands at 5'10", 168 lbs. reached several milestones this season, playing in his 100th career regular season game, while also recording his 100th career regular season assist and 150th career point, finishing just short of 200 career points (199) with regular season and playoffs combined. The offensive dynamo keyed the Fury power play that led the OJHL with 71 man advantage goals and ranked third overall with a 25.27% success rate. Best would lead the OJHL with 29 power play assists and 40 power play points, contributing to more than 56% of the club's special team goals.
Best's totals in 2013-14 represented a significant increase from the previous year, jumping from 87th overall in league scoring during 2012-13 to winning the scoring title this season. The performance also saw him voted as the league's Most Improved Player, but more impressively, he led the league's second best offensive unit that compiled 227 goals, while his 90 points represented nearly 40% of the Fury's total offensive production in 2013-14.
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 Valuable Player Award is awarded annually to the player adjudged to be the most valuable player to his club’s success throughout the course of the regular season.
Kevin Entmaa of the Aurora Tigers has been named runner-up in the OJHL award balloting to Best.
The third-year netminder was named both OJHL Top Goaltender, with a league-leading 2.16 goals against average, and OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Year, as well as a 1st Team All-Star. Twice named Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month during the season, Entmaa posted a 28-5-0 record, while also leading all goaltenders in wins (28), shutouts (5) and save percentage (.925%).
The Ontario Junior Hockey League will continue the tradition of honouring its year-end award winners with the 4th Annual OJHL Awards Ceremony prior to game one or two of the 2014 OJHL Championship Series next 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)
Fan Favourite Stuart Fierheller (LIN) Michael Casale (KIN)
MVP Taylor Best (WHI) Kevin Entmaa (AUR)
Previous OJHL Most Valuable Player Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2013-14 Taylor Best (WHI) Kevin Entmaa (AUR)
2012-13 Tyler Gjurich (BUF) Charlie Finn (KIN)
2011-12 Christian Finch (STO) Adrian Ignagni (STM)
2010-11 Ryan Demelo (NYR) Jordan Ruby (WEL)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Matt Smyth (COU) Kori Coelho (STO) Greg Carey (BUR)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Gregg Riggs (PIC) Jeremy Franklin (WEL) Dominic Monardo (AUR) Andrew Hare (BUR)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Paul Rodrigues (VAU) Andrew Marcoux (KIN) Jeff Dawson (HUN) Matt Ferreira (BRP)
Todd Hosmer (NEW)
2006-07 David Kostuch (MAR) Scott Freeman (BOW) Akos Agardy (COL) Cameron Talbot (HAM)
2005-06 Mike McKenzie (STM) Chris Auger (WEL) Dan McWhinney (STO) Matt Beca (OAK)
2004-05 Andrew Cogliano (STM) Steve Hynes (PTH) Josh Sturrock (NEW) Ryan Angelow (OAK)
Shane Hart (HAM)
2003-04 Ben Cottreau (MAR) Brent Varty (WEL) Chris Whitley (AUR) Tudor Petkov (STR)
2002-03 Luchiano Aquino (WEX) Ryan Woodward (WEL) Chris Whitley (AUR) Josh Soares (HAM)
2001-02 Jesse Boucher (MAR) Darren Doherty (COB) Anthony Minicucci (STO) Jeff Hristovski (BRP)
2000-01 Scott Misfud (THR Ben Crosswell (PET) David Wrigley (COU) Stace Page (GEO)
Kevin Tompkins (MAR)
1999-00 Mark Aggio (VAU) Tristan Senior (PET) Mike Brito (COL) Andy Rozak (STR)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Brian Pettipas (BAN) Jonathan Forrest (COL) Kyle Amyotte (BRM)
Year East West
1997-98 Ryan Penny (BOW) Darren Haydar (MIL)
1996-97 Ryan Vince (KIN) Travis Riggin (MIL)
1995-96 Trent Walford (NEW) Chris Heron (BRM)
1994-95 Brian Morrison (NEW) Jamie Janievich (MIL)
1993-94 Francois Charlesbois (ORI) Matt Turek (HAM)
1992-93 Steve Walker (BAR) Matt Murray (MIL)
