NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Wellington Dukes forward Brayden Stortz (photo credit - Ed McPherson/OJHL Images) has been named the Bardown North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month for September after leading the entire OJHL with 26 points in just 9 games played.

The 20-year old, who previously had stops in both the CCHL and NOJHL, has been on a tear since joining the Dukes this past off-season, recording a nine game point scoring streak to kick-off his OJHL career.  Stortz's impressive month saw him score a goal, seven in total, during each of the first five games, while notching 10 goals during the month, including three game-winners.  He recorded multiple points in seven of the nine September contests, highlighted by three separate four point outings and an impressive five point effort during a key divisional victory over Cobourg.  Keying the club's offensive attack, all but six of his points came at even strength or shorthanded, and Stortz was in on 68.4% of the Dukes' goals during the month.

The native of Welland, Ontario was a member of the Southern Tier Admirals Minor Midget 'AAA' organization in 2011-12 before making the jump to junior hockey the following season with the Chippewa Riverhawks Junior 'C' squad.  Tasting offensive success in Junior 'C' with 44 points in 39 games played, Stortz moved on again in 2013-14, joining his hometown Welland Canadians of the GOJHL.  Nearly a point-per-game player once again in Welland, Stortz earned a tryout with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, but prior to the start of the 2014-15 regular season, he was on the move once again, joining the CCHL's Carleton Place Canadians.  After playing only two Junior 'A' games in the CCHL, he returned to his hometown and was one of the club's top scorers.  Stortz's offensive prowess earned him another look in the CJHL, this time joining the NOJHL's Kirkland Lake Gold Miners for the 2015-16 season.  Named the club's captain, he led the NOJHL with 62 assists and 100 points to take home the Jimmy Conners Memorial Trophy as the league's top scorer, while also being named a 2nd Team All-Star and representing the NOJHL on their All-Star Team at the 2015 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Cornwall, Ontario.  As hosts of the 2016 Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canadian Junior 'A' Championship, Stortz added three points in four tournament games.

Lucas Brown of the Trenton Golden Hawks was runner-up to Stortz as the North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month.  Named co-captain of the defending champions entering the 2016-17 season, Brown has not disappointed as he led the OJHL with 11 goals in September, while finishing second to Stortz with 21 points.