HLADIN NAMED MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Steve Hladin (photo credit - Shawn Muir/OJHL Images) of the Georgetown Raiders has been named the recipient of the OJHL Most Valuable Player Award.
Steve Hladin led the OJHL scoring race virtually from start to finish, kicking-off the year with a 14 game point scoring streak, in a dominant performance during his fourth full OJHL season. He led all scorers with 63 assists and 104 points in 52 regular season games played to also take home the 2014-15 Top Scorer Award.
The 20-year old Mississauga, Ontario native became one of the greatest scorers in OJHL history, reaching a trio of impressive career milestones this season, including 100 career goals, 150 career assists and 250 career points, as well as more than 300 career points with regular season and playoffs combined. The consummate playmaker, Hladin was in on more than 50% of the Raiders 204 goals scored during the season, helping the club capture both the West Division and South-West Conference crowns for the first time since 2011-12, while also keying the league's second best power play unit (23.24%), scoring or assisting on more than 65% of the club's 43 power play goals.
The Raider captain's season included the 14 game scoring streak to start the season and finished with a 12 game point streak. Along the way Hladin posted a six point outing, a five point outing and 32 multi-point contests throughout the season. Spending more time on the ice than in the penalty box, he would register just six penalty minutes all season long to also be voted as the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player.
The runner-up as the OJHL Gongshow Gear South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month in both September and December, Hladin would win the award in January after recording 22 points in 10 games played during the month. He was a member of Team OJHL Oates during the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Toronto, notching three points in five games played as Team Oates captured the tournament title over Team OJHL Nieuwendyk. He is committed to join the Sacred Heart University Pioneers beginning with the 2015-16 Atlantic Hockey Conference, NCAA Division I 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.
Brady Wiffen of the Trenton Golden Hawks has been named runner-up in the OJHL award balloting to Hladin.
Also the runner-up as the OJHL's Most Improved Player and Top Scorer, the 1st Team All-Star finished second to Hladin in the scoring race with 92 points, while being the only OJHL player to reach the 50 goal milestone. Wiffen led all OJHL scorers with 53 goals on the season and was twice named the Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month.
The Ontario Junior Hockey League will continue the tradition of honouring its year-end award winners with the 5th Annual OJHL Awards Ceremony prior to game one or two of the 2015 OJHL Championship Series 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)
Scholastic Sam Hu (NEW) Kamil Tkaczuk (OAK)
Top Prospect Will Reilly (NYR) Callum Fryer (AUR)
Rookie Cameron Morrison (AUR) Jack LaFontaine (GEO)
MVP Steve Hladin (GEO) Brady Wiffen (TRE)
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)
