BROWN NAMED MOST IMPROVED
The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Luc Brown (photo credit - Ed McPherson/OJHL Images) of the Wellington Dukes has been named the 2015-16 recipient of the OJHL Most Improved Player Award.
The OJHL Top Scorer with 91 points this season, as well as a 1st Team All-Star, Luc Brown more than doubled both his goal and point output from the 2014-15 season, while recording more points this year than his previous three seasons combined (85). He becomes the first member of the Dukes to win the award since Darcy Murphy was named Most Improved in 2011-12.
A four year member of the Dukes, Brown tallied 8 points in 41 games for the club in 2012-13 as a 16-year old rookie. Over the next two seasons, he improved his offensive production from 12 goals and 33 points in 51 games during 2013-14, to 16 goals and 44 points in 52 games played last season. One of the club's alternate captains this season, Brown's breakout was immediate as he buried a hat trick and five points during the first game of the season, and never looked back. Along with leading the league in scoring, Brown was also tops with 42 goals and tied for second with 49 assists. He led all scorers with 14 power play goals and 33 power play points for the league's second best unit with the man advantage (24.64%), and his 11 game-winning goals was tied for the OJHL's highest total since the 2005-06 season. Brown's incredible campaign saw him record a league high 8-game goal scoring streak from November 21 to January 6, in which he fired home 14 goals, and a 15-game point scoring streak, third best this season, from November 5 to January 10, notching 36 of his 91 points on the season.
The impressive streaks saw Brown capture the OJHL Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month Award in both November and January. Earlier in the season, he was named a member of Team OJHL Oates, recording two goals in four games played at the 2015 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Cornwall, Ontario. Brown continued this impressive play through into December, earning a spot on Team Canada East for the 2015 World Junior 'A' Challenge that was held down the road in Cobourg and Whitby, Ontario. He impressed many with his play, finishing tied for second in scoring on the team with five points in five games played during a fourth place finish at the event. Brown is committed to join the Union College Dutchmen beginning with the 2016-17 ECAC season.
The OJHL Most Improved Player Award is awarded annually to the player adjudged to have shown the greatest improvement in his on-ice performance from the previous OJHL regular season(s).
Ryan DaSilva of the Stouffville Spirit was runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Brown.
The defenceman was named both an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect, as well as an OJHL 2nd Team All-Star this season after an October 9 trade saw him moved from Orangeville to man the point for the Stouffville Spirit. Posting 14 points as a rookie with the Flyers in 2014-15, DaSilva's game took off this season, finishing third on the Spirit and third among all OJHL rearguards with 51 points in 50 games played. The North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month in December, his 17 goals was second in the league, while his 8 power play goals and 5 game-winning goals were tops among all blueliners.
The OJHL Coach-of-the-Year Award recipient will be announced on Friday.
2015-16 OJHL Award Winners
Award Winner Runner-Up
Top Scorer Luc Brown (WEL) Zach Evancho (BUF)
Top Goaltender Daniel Urbani (TRE) Andrew Masters (GEO)
Executive John McDonald (TRE) Mark Jooris (BUR)
Volunteer Jodi Lanzarotta (MAR) Vivienne Bridgeford (AUR)
Trainer Joe Aiello (COB) Sarah Ditmars (TRE)
Humanitarian Stefano Durante (COB) n/a
Improved Luc Brown (WEL) Ryan DaSilva (STO)
Previous OJHL Most Improved Player Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2014-15 Gabriel Valenzuela (NYR) Brady Wiffen (TRE)
2013-14 Taylor Best (WHI) Alex Tonge (KIN)
2012-13 John Carpino (NYR) Corey Kalk (NYR)
2011-12 Darcy Murphy (WEL) Chris Porter (STO)
2010-11 Matt Neal (STO) Khaled Alli (PIC)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Spencer FInney (TRE) Jordan Reed (AJX) Phil Brewer (BUR)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Cody Rosen (KIN) Giancarlo Iuorio (MAR) Josh Cousineau (COU) Dorian Peca (VAU)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Martin Lee (VAU) Matt Gray (PET) Matt Milne (NEW) Adam Beveliqua (MIS)
2006-07 Richard Schofield (PIC) Matt Baxter (BOW) Jeff Henderson (NEW) Chase Langerap (OAK)
2005-06 Matt Martello (VAU) Nathan Longpre (PET) Jody Halas (COL) Kyle Zettler (HAM)
2004-05 Nathan Morris (MAR) Kyle Hughey (PET) Matt Whitehead (NEW) Chris Moran (BUF)
2003-04 Matt Harris (AJX) Ted Cook (BAN) Cory Konecny (NEW) Jonathan Ornelas (MIL)
Dave Mahoney (PET)
2002-03 Brian Ihnacek (STM) Travis Kauffeldt (BAN) Kevin Jarman (STO) Rob Tarantino (OAK)
2001-02 Tyler McGregor (AJX) Mike Della Mora (PET) Chris Gill (NEW) Mark Mazzetti (HAM)
2000-01 Dan Iliakis (THO) Matt Chafe (COB) Brock Radunske (NEW) Jeff Szwez (STR)
Andrian Kremblewski (STM)
1999-00 Kevin Tompkins (MAR) Kevin Rainey (COB) Will Crothers (AUR) Mike Knoepfli (GEO)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Scott Gordon (LIN) Dominic Moore (AUR) Stace Page (GEO)
Year East West
1997-98 Kevin Edgar (STO Kevin O'Flaherty (MIL)
1996-97 Darcy King/Rick White (STO) Martin Milijko (BRP)
1995-96 David Deeves (COL) Jeff Haydar (MIL)
1994-95 Otto Hlincik (COB) Corey Waring (OAK)
1993-94 Adam Lamarre (MAR) Kent Williams (OAK)
1992-93 Kris Stockdale (ORL) Tom Johnson (BUR)
