KAPELMASTER NAMED GOALTENDER-OF-YEAR
The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Justin Kapelmaster (photo credit - Amy Deroche/OJHL Images) of the Trenton Golden Hawks has been named the recipient of the OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Year Award, as voted on by the OJHL Award Committee (Top Goaltender Award is for the goaltender with the lowest goals against average during the regular season).
The Coral Springs, Florida native was the epitome of consistency throughout his first season in the OJHL, leading the Golden Hawks to their third East Division regular season title in four seasons, as well as finishing as runner-up to the Aurora Tigers for the overall title. In winning Goaltender-of-the-Year honours, Kapelmaster continues a run that has seen the award's recipient come from the North-East Conference in each of the three seasons it has been in competition. He becomes the first goaltender to win the award which is voted on by the OJHL Awards Committee, while not winning Top Goaltender honours for the lowest goals against average.
Although never winning monthly honours, Kapelmaster was twice named the runner-up for the OJHL Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month Award, taking home the honours in both September and October. He posted a 29-7-1 record for the league's second best win total, along with three shutouts. The 1st Team All-Star netminder allowed just 78 goals in 40 regular season games played for a 2.09 goals against average, tied for the third best among all OJHL goaltenders, while stopping 956 shots for a .925 save percentage, also the league's third best mark.
Four times during the season Kapelmaster posted winning streaks of five games or more to solidify the club's position in the standings. Included in the streaks was a seven game win streak from December 19 to January 16 with four key divisional victories, and an eight game win streak from October 18 to November 17, again with four East Division wins. His efforts helped the Golden Hawks post the league's best record at home, 22-4-1, along with the league's third best penalty killing unit, stopping the opposition 86.87% of the time.
Joining the OJHL this season after being named an All-Star in the EHL, Kapelmaster would earn a mid-season spot on Team OJHL Hawerchuk at the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge in Toronto, allowing just four goals in winning both his appearances.
The OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Year Award is awarded to the goaltender adjudged to have demonstrated the greatest all-round ability at his position throughout the regular season.
Andy Munroe of the Aurora Tigers is runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Kapelmaster.
Twice named the OJHL Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month during the regular season, Munroe led the Tigers to the regular season crown with a league-high 30 wins this year. He posted a 30-10-0 record with 4 shutouts and tied for the league's third best goals against average, with Kapelmaster, at 2.09 while backstopping Aurora to the fewest goals allowed, 112, in the OJHL.
The OJHL Scholastic Player-of-the-Year and OJHL Top Prospect Award recipients will be announced next week.
2014-15 OJHL Award Winners
Award Winner Runner-Up
Top Scorer Steve Hladin (GEO) Brady Wiffen (TRE)
Top Goaltender Stefano Durante (COB) Daniel Mannella (OAK)
Executive Rob Campbell (OAK) James Richmond (AUR)
Trainer Drew Laskoski (NEW) Sarah Dittmers (TRE)
Humanitarian Sean Kohler (OAK) Stefano Durante (COB)
Volunteer John McDonald (TRE) Kim Anderson (NEW)
Coach James Richmond (AUR) Jamie Caruso (ORA)
Most Improved Gabriel Valenzuela (NYR) Brady Wiffen (TRE)
Most Gentlemanly Steve Hladin (GEO) Gabriel Valenzuela (NYR)
Top Defenceman Eric Williams (AUR) Niko Kovachis (PAT)
Goaltender-of-Year Justin Kapelmaster (TRE) Andy Munroe (AUR)
Previous OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Year Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2013-14 Kevin Entmaa (AUR) Alex Brooks-Potts (KIN)
2012-13 Charlie Finn (KIN) Parker Gahagen (BUF)
