NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Trenton Golden Hawks alternate captain Brady Wiffen (photo credit - Amy Deroche/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month for February after recording 16 points in 6 games played during the month.

After winning the same award in January, Wiffen continued his torrid scoring pace that saw him become the first player since 2013 to hit the 50 goal milestone, notching 10 goals in 6 February contests to finish with a league-leading 53 goals on the season.  Finishing the regular season with a six game point streak, to also finish as runner-up for the OJHL Top Scorer Award with 92 points, Wiffen's month included five multi-point games, a hat trick and a five point effort.  He scored the game-winner with his hat trick performance in a 5-4 victory over Burlington and tallied a pair of points in key victories over Kingston and Georgetown.  Most recently, the RPI commit was named to the OJHL 1st All-Star Team.

"I'm so honoured to be recognized by the OJHL and to be named North-East Player-of-the-Month for February," said Wiffen upon hearing of his second consecutive honour.  "I owe most of my success to my teammates. With the playoffs upon us, I hope I can continue to help my team be successful."

"Scoring more than a goal-per-game (53 in 52 games) in such a competitive league is not an easy feat," said Golden Hawks General Manager and Head Coach Jerome Dupont, "and 'Wiff' did it while playing sound defensive hockey, as well as being up against other top players.  The line of Wiffen, de Concilys and Liscio are real potent when they want to be and Brady owes some of his success and the accolades to his linemates and other teammates."

Abbott Girduckis of the Wellington Dukes was runner-up to Wiffen as the North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month.  The forward recorded a league-high 11 goals during the month, including 18 points in 9 games played.

Born on June 9, 1994, Brady Wiffen is a native of St. Marys, Ontario and grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown until Pee Wee, capturing the OMHA Championship in 2005-06.  The following year, Wiffen made the jump to the Huron-Perth Lakers ‘AAA’ organization and never looked back.

He would spend four years as a Laker, playing three games as a call-up to the minor midgets during his bantam season in 2008-09.  Wiffen then became one of the team’s leaders in 2009-10, finishing second on the team with 13 goals and fourth in overall scoring with 25 points, while helping the club earn a spot in the prestigious OHL Cup tournament that spring.  When the season ended, Wiffen would be selected by the Kingston Frontenacs in the 9th round, 170th overall, of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.

The 20-year old kicked-off his junior career that season as well with his hometown Junior 'B' Lincolns as an affiliate, notching his first junior goal during a two game stint.  After a productive rookie campaign that saw him record 21 points in 50 games played, Wiffen broke out in 2011-12.  He would lead the Lincolns with 27 goals, while finishing second with 53 points, and participate in both the GOJHL Top Prospects Game that was held in LaSalle, Ontario, as well as for the Western Conference All-Star Team at the All-Star Game held in St. Thomas.

He would then be recruited by the Golden Hawks and has not disappointed during his two year tenure in Trenton.  As an OJHL rookie, Wiffen notched a respectable 12 goals and 26 points in 53 games as a rookie, helping Trenton capture the OJHL regular season crown, before taking his game to another level last year.  Wiffen led the Hawks with 28 goals, while finishing third on the club with 54 points in 52 regular season contests.  His efforts earned selection as a member of the North-East Conference All-Star Team that competed at the 2013 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Terrebonne, Quebec.  After hitting a dry-spell with only 3 points in 14 post-season contests last year, Wiffen looks to be a leader on a veteran Golden Hawks squad and has started the 2014-15 season on a tear with 7 goals and 13 points in 6 games played to sit among the league leaders in scoring.

Thus far this season, Wiffen has been at or near the top of the league’s scoring charts all season long, looking to cap-off his junior career in style.  Early in the season, he officially committed to RPI for next year, and he would participate as a member of Team OJHL Hawerchuk at the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Toronto.