NEWS

The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Andrew Masters (photo credit - Tim Bates/OJHL Images) of the Georgetown Raiders 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 20-year old Kitchener, Ontario native was a rock between the pipes for the Raiders during his first season in the OJHL, helping lead the club to a second consecutive West Division and South-West Conference regular season title, while also finishing as runner-up for the overall OJHL crown to the Trenton Golden Hawks.  Not only is Masters the first Raider netminder to win the new award (first presented in 2012-13), but also the first goaltender from the South-West Conference, breaking the North-East Conference's three-year run.

Twice named the OJHL Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month, back-to-back in December and January, Masters was also named runner-up for the award in September.  He posted a 28-9-3 record for the league's second best win total, along with four shutouts, which was tied for the third best total.  The 2nd Team All-Star also ranked second with 43 games, 2,485:47 minutes played and a 2.00 goals against average.  Stopping the third most shots in the league with 1,180 saves, Masters posted the OJHL's best save percentage at .934%.

Twice during the season Masters posted five game winning streaks, kicking-off his OJHL career by winning eight of his first ten games this season, and he finished strong by winning 14 of his last 18 games to help clinch the number one seed throughout the South-West Conference post-season.  His efforts throughout the season helped the Raiders post the league's second best home record, 20-4-2, as well as tie for the OJHL's third best road record, 17-9-1.  Masters was at his best this season under pressure and this was never more evident than when down a man as the Raiders posted the league's second best penalty killing unit, allowing just 27 goals in 222 opportunities for an 87.84% success rate.

The runner-up for the OJHL Top Goaltender Award with his sparkling 2.00 goals against average, Masters' efforts would earn him a spot on Team OJHL Coffey for the 2015 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Cornwall, Ontario.  He posted a 1-1 record at the tournament with a 1.51 goals against average and .929 save percentage.

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.

Daniel Urbani of the Trenton Golden Hawks is runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Masters.  

Twice named the OJHL Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month during the regular season, Urbani led the Golden Hawks to the regular season crown with a league-best 1.69 goals against average; the fourth best GAA in league history.  The OJHL 1st Team All-Star also led the league with 34 wins and 5 shutouts, while posting the third best save percentage at .930%, in backstopping Trenton to a league-low 102 goals against.

The OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year and Most Valuable Player Award recipients will be announced next week.

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
Most Improved    Luc Brown (WEL)        Ryan DaSilva (STO)
Coach            Mark Jooris (BUR)        Greg Walters (GEO)
Scholastic        Andrew Court (GEO)        Ryan Garvey (OAK)
Top Prospect        Matthew Cairns (GEO)    Josh Dickinson (GEO)
Gentlemanly        Brendan Jacome (GEO)    Ryan Taylor (WHI)
Defenceman        Patrick Kudla (OAK)        Brennan Roy (COB)
Goaltender        Andrew Masters (GEO)    Daniel Urbani (TRE)

Previous OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Year Recipients
Year            Winner                Runner-Up                        
2014-15        Justin Kapelmaster (GEO)    Andy Munroe (AUR)
2013-14        Kevin Entmaa (AUR)        Alex Brooks-Potts (KIN)
2012-13        Charlie Finn (KIN)        Parker Gahagen (BUF)