KUDLA NAMED SW PLAYER-OF-MONTH
The OJHL announced today that Oakville Blades defenceman Patrick Kudla (photo credit - Kevin Sousa/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month for October after leading the OJHL with 15 assists in 11 games played.
Rejoining the OJHL this season, Kudla's offensive instincts from the point have been nothing short of astounding. He finished one point off of the scoring lead in the South-West Conference during November, registering points in all but one of the club's 11 games for 18 points in total, while marching the Blades to the top of the South Division standings with a 9-2 record. Kudla's month included four multi-point efforts, topped by a five point night in a 7-3 victory over division rival St. Michael's on October 9. Kudla finished off his impressive month by notching his third goal in November that proved to be the game winner during yet another key divisional victory, 3-2 over the North York Rangers.
The 19-year old native of Guelph, Ontario was selected by the Plymouth Whalers in the 11th round, 221st overall, in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection out of the Guelph Jr. Storm Minor Midget 'AAA' organization. Originally a forward, Kudla would spend the following season in the GOJHL with his hometown Hurricanes, before joining the Wellington Dukes to kick-off the 2013-14 OJHL season. After notching a goal and an assist in 10 games played, Kudla returned to the GOJHL Hurricanes for the next season-and-a-half, where he would be converted into a defenceman, before joining the Blades this season. Most recently, Kudla was named a member of Team OJHL Hawerchuk that will compete at the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge taking place from November 16-18, 2015 in Cornwall, Ontario and he currently sits fourth overall in league scoring with 28 points on the season.
Zach Evancho of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres was runner-up to Kudla as the South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month. The Sabres' captain spearheaded the club's resurgence during the month, registering 16 points in 12 games played, including three game-winning goals.
