MELCONIAN NAMED ROOKIE OF YEAR
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Mel Melconian (photo credit - Tim Bates/OJHL Images) of the Aurora Tigers has been named the recipient of the OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year Award.
Just two years removed from playing 'AA' hockey with the Mississauga Braves Midget organization, Melconian has made an incredible progression through the ranks that culminates with this award. He becomes just the second member of the Tigers to ever win the award, as well as the second in the past three seasons, joining current University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward, 2017 NCAA Frozen Four participant and Colorado Avalanche draft pick Cameron Morrison (2014-15).
The Toronto, Ontario native not only topped all OJHL rookie scorers this season, but also led the young Tigers in virtually every offensive category. Melconian's 29 goals ranked top 10 among all scorers in the league, while his 59 points in 51 games played ranked him among the top 25 OJHL players in scoring. He was the key to the Tigers power play, notching 6 goals and 12 points with the man advantage, while also adding a pair of points on the penalty kill unit this season.
Making the jump from the Mississauga Rebels Midget 'AAA' squad in 2015-16, Melconian got off to a hot start in his OJHL career, registering three points in an overtime loss to the perennial contending Wellington Dukes on opening night. He went on to record points in 39 of his 51 regular season games played this season and never went more than two games in a row being held off the scoresheet. Other highlights of the season include a pair of six game point scoring streaks, as well as a career-high four point outing, that included his first career hat trick, during a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Jr. Canadiens on January 21. Throughout the year, Melconian would post 14 multi-point efforts, including five multi-goal contests.
Melconian's honour-filled season saw him first named a member of Team OJHL Hawerchuk for the 2016 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Cornwall, Ontario, where he finished third in scoring on the team with three points as they fell in the semi-final to the eventual champion QJHL. He would then be named to Team East for the 2016 CJHL Prospects Game, also held in Cornwall, where he opened the scoring en route to a 4-3 loss to Team West at the event. Just over a month later with the scouts now taking notice, Melconian would confirm his commitment to join the Sacred Heart University Pioneers beginning with the 2017-18 Atlantic Hockey season.
The OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year Award is awarded annually to the player adjudged to be the most proficient in his first year of competition playing in the OJHL throughout the regular season, with the following criteria being met:
• Fewer than 10 games played in other Junior 'A' or Major Junior League (if goaltender, fewer than 6 games played)
• Must be 18-years of age or younger as of December 31 of that season
• Played in a minimum of 50% of teams games
Matthew Kellenberger of the Oakville Blades has been named runner-up in the OJHL award balloting to Melconian.
The 18-year old rookie rearguard led the Blades defensive corps with 10 goals, also ranking among the top 15 blueliners in the entire OJHL, and finished second in scoring among Oakville rearguards with 28 points in 51 games played. Kellenberger was named a member of Team East at the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game and was ranked 165th overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the mid-season rankings. Following the season, he was named to an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect, runner-up for the OJHL Top Prospect Award (as voted by NHL Central Scouting) and is committed to the Princeton University Tigers for the 2018-19 season.
The OJHL Most Valuable Player Award recipient will be announced on Thursday.
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)
Defenceman Brennan Roy (COB) Mark Paolini (STM)
Prospect Nick Campoli (NYR) Matthew Kellenberger (OAK)
Goaltender of Year Josh Astorino (GEO) Connor Ryckman (WEL)
Rookie Mel Melconian (AUR) Matthew Kellenberger (OAK)
Previous OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2015-16 Jack Jacome (GEO) Mark Rozanov (NEW)
2014-15 Cameron Morrison (AUR) Jack LaFontaine (GEO)
2013-14 Jake Walman (TOR) Mason Marchment (COB)
2012-13 Tyler Gjurich (BUF) Jake Evans (STM)
2011-12 Devin Shore (WHI) Michael Giugovaz (GEO)
2010-11 Robert Polesello (VAU) Nelson Armstrong (PET)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Zach Hall (COU) Jackson Teichroeb (BOW) Lucas Lessio (STM)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Ian Watters (AJX) Joel Hanley (NEW) Dalton McGrath (COU) Alex Guptill (BRP)
Dominic Alberga (VIL)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Michael Catenacci (MAR) Josh Shalla (BOW) Ethan Werek (STO) Andrew Bathgate (GEO)
2006-07 Alan Reynolds (TOR) Tavis Holden (BOW) Corey Trivino (STO) Matt Hoyle (OAK)
Nicholas Vasso (ORA)
2005-06 Louie Caporusso (STM) Brian Rufenach (LIN) Matt Milne (COU) Cody Goloubef (MIL)
Bryan Scott (BOW)
2004-05 Russ Brownell (WEX) Josh Gillam (PET) Deron Cousens (HUN) Tim Priamo (BUR)
2003-04 Andrew Cogliano (STM) James Neal (BOW) Darren Machesney (NEW) Aaron Barton (GEO)
2002-03 Oren Eizenman (WEX) Liam Reddox (WEL) Mike Sullivan (STO) Josh Disher (BUR)
2001-02 Wojtek Wolski (STM) Cory Vitarelli (PET) Luke Dubbin (COU) Evan McGrath (OAK)
2000-01 Matt Christie (PIC) Robbie Schremp (SYR) Corey Locke (NEW) Kevin Arruda (MIL)
1999-00 Ashton McLean (WEX) Robert Gherson (WEL) Beau Moyer (COU) Jon Tenute (GEO)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Luc Chiasson (PIC) Daniel Sisca (MAR) Kevin Kurk (NIA)
Year East West
1997-98 Jeremy Van Hoof (LIN) Mike Cammalleri (BRM)
Paul Dowe (COB)
1996-97 Preston Mizzi (NEW) Mark Van Arkel (MIL)
1995-96 Brett Gibson (KIN) Scott Crawford (BRP)
1994-95 Patrick Desrochers (BAR) Adam Cologiacomo (RYR)
1993-94 Rob Fitzgerald (PET) Scott Bertoli (MIL)
1992-93 Jeff Williams (NEW) David Belitski (RYR)
