CORIC NAMED MOST GENTLEMANLY
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Nik Coric (photo credit - Shawn Muir/OJHL Images) of the Whitby Fury has been named the recipient of the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Award.
After teammate Ryan Taylor finished as runner-up for the award last season, Coric becomes the first member of the Whitby Fury (Oshawa Legionaires) franchise to be named the league's Most Gentlemanly Player. The five year OJHL veteran and Fury alternate captain led the club in scoring with 79 points, while recording just four penalty minutes in 52 games played.
One of the OJHL's top scorers all season long, Coric's 79 points saw him finish third among all league scorers this season, while his 56 assists were second to only OJHL Top Scorer Award recipient, Jack Jacome of the Georgetown Raiders. Named an OJHL 2nd Team All-Star, the consummate playmaker and power play specialist led the league with 26 assists with the man advantage, while also tying for tops in the circuit with 31 power play points to help the Fury finish with the third best power play unit, firing at a 26.56% efficiency.
The 21-year old native of Newmarket, Ontario is the absolute epitome of fair-play and sportsmanship, having recorded just 58 penalty minutes in 227 combined OJHL regular season and playoff contests over his five seasons. Coric would not record a penalty this year until a November 26 game versus Mississauga for a penalty-free streak of 26 consecutive games, receiving his minor penalty before the game even started in the pre-game warm-up that night. His only minor penalty to actually occur during game action this year took place on December 18 against Orangeville when he was called for an interference minor during the second period. Remarkably, these would be the only two times Coric sat in the box this season and he finished out the year with another penalty-free streak of 19 games entering the post-season.
Helping the Fury set new franchise records with 38 wins and 81 points this season, while also setting a new single season assist record at 56, Coric closed out an impressive Junior 'A' career with a heart-breaking seven game series loss to the Wellington Dukes in the first round of the playoffs.
The OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Award is awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, combined with a high-standard and proficiency of on-ice playing ability throughout the regular season.
Philip Lagunov of the Burlington Cougars is runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Coric.
The veteran 18-year old Mississauga, Ontario native has been a consistent offensive force during his two year tenure in the OJHL, finishing second on the Cougars with 27 goals and third in overall scoring with 55 points this season. One of the league's true gentlemen, Lagunov recorded just 20 penalty minutes this season on 10 minor penalties for an average of just one penalty every 5.1 games played.
The OJHL Top Defenceman Award recipient will be announced on Friday.
2016-17 OJHL Award Winners
Award Winner Runner-Up
Top Scorer Jack Jacome (GEO) Brayden Stortz (WEL)
Top Goaltender Stefano Durante (COB) Josh Astorino (GEO)
Executive Greg Walters (GEO) Brent Tully (COB)
Humanitarian Kyle Clarke (NYR) Josh Maguire (COB)
Trainer Sarah Ditmars (TRE) Amanda Gilroy (WHI)
Volunteer Lorna Burrows (STO) Joe Goldenberg (NYR)
Coach Greg Walters (GEO) Mark Jooris (BUR)
Most Improved Ryan Casselman (COB) Ryan Heeps (WHI)
Scholastic Lee Lapid (PAT) Erik Urbank (BUF)
Gentlemanly Nik Coric (WHI) Philip Lagunov (BUR)
Previous OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2015-16 Brendan Jacome (GEO) Ryan Taylor (WHI)
2014-15 Steve Hladin (GEO) Gabriel Valenzuela (NYR)
2013-14 Michael Prapavessis (TLP) Pat Egan (BUF)
2012-13 Dean Klomp (LIN) Jonah Renouf (OAK)
2011-12 Dylan Goddard (COB) Morgan Bonner (NEW)
2010-11 Zach Hyman (HAM) Blake Sexton (COB)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Lucas Van Natter (AUR) Jeremy Franklin (WEL) Jacob Mooney (NYR)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Jeremy McCarty (PTH) Nathan Pageau (HAM) Jon Whitelaw (HUN) Jeremy Welsh (OAK)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Richard Ryan (STM) Aaron Keaney (LIN) Tyler Swan (COU) Chris Dunham (BUR)
Andrew Fracz (BOW)
2006-07 Phil McIlhone (PIC) Dennis Zak (COB) Dustin Turner (SEG) Matt Ferreira (BRP)
2005-06 Paul Kerins (NYR) Brad Dormiedy (BOW) Randy Johnson (STO) Kyle Zettler (HAM)
Chris Auger (WEL)
2004-05 Vincent Rocco (VAU) Gavin Moore (BAN) Sam Skwarchuk (AUR) Ryan Ellis (OAK)
2003-04 Peder Skinner (STM) Rusty Masters (PTH) Francis Walker (AUR) Sam Campbell (HAM)
2002-03 Oren Eizenman (WEX) Matt Caruana (BOW) Luke Dobbin (COU) Brad Efthimiou (MIL)
2001-02 Matt McIsaac (STM) Darren Doherty (COB) Chris Gill (NEW) Mark Mazzetti (HAM)
2000-01 Matthew Foy (WEX) Shannon McNevin (PET) Jaro Wojcicki (COU) Mike Bibby (BRM)
1999-00 Roberto Orofiamma (VAU) Kurtis McLean (TRE) Pierre Rivard (NEW) Mike Tarantino (OAK)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Ben Blakeley (TRE) Kevin Edgar (STO) Mike Cammalleri (BRM)
Year East West
1997-98 Kevin Edgar (STO) Matt Sirman (STO)
Matt McCrae (BRP)
1996-97 David Deeves (COL) Eric Ellis (BRP)
1995-96 Tavis Morrison (TRE) Glenn Bradbury (MIS)
1994-95 Shawn Allard (COB) Ian McQueen (STR)
1993-94 Ben Gorewich (MAR) Mike Cox (MIL)
1992-93 Justin Cardwell (MAR) Ben Davis (CAL)
