DaSILVA NAMED NE PLAYER OF MONTH
The OJHL announced today that Stouffville Spirit defenceman Ryan DaSilva (photo credit - Ed McPherson/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month for December after tying for the team lead in scoring with nine points in just five games played.
The second defenceman (joining Patrick Kudla of the Oakville Blades) to win Player-of-the-Month honours in the OJHL this season, DaSilva helped lead a Spirit resurgence after being dealt to the club from the Orangeville Flyers on October 9. Sitting fourth in scoring on the club at more than a point-per-game pace, the rearguard notched eight assists in December (shortened schedule due to the World Junior 'A' Challenge), including back-to-back multi-point games to finish the month. DaSilva registered three helpers in a victory over Mississauga and then set a career-high with four points to close-out 2015 versus Pickering. A key member of the club's special teams units, his eight power play assists are the second highest total, while his three game-winners are tops in that category.
The 17-year old native of Newmarket, Ontario grew-up playing for his hometown minor hockey association before joining the local York-Simcoe Express 'AAA' organization, where he would play through to his minor midget season in 2013-14. Selected that summer by the OMHA to play in the OHL Gold Cup, DaSilva captured the tournament title as a member of Team OMHA White, registering two points in five games played, and would be selected by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 6th round, 117th overall, of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. Choosing the OJHL option, DaSilva joined the nearby Orangeville Flyers as a 16-year old rookie in 2014-15 and acquitted himself well, notching 14 points in 52 regular season contests to finish third among blueliners on the club in scoring. He added three points in a seven game, first round post-season loss to Oakville, finishing tied for the scoring lead among the Flyers d-men. His efforts throughout the season would see him receive the most votes among Flyer players in OJHL Fan Favourite Award balloting. After recording five points in his first seven games to open this season, DaSilva was moved to the Spirit and has been the backbone of the club's blueline since his acquisition, leading the team to within reach of a playoff position.
Mark Rozanov of the Newmarket Hurricanes was runner-up to DaSilva as the North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month. The St. Petersburg, Russia native, who was picked up from the Aurora Tigers early in the season, recorded a league-high 6 goals and 13 points during the month.
