7 CHL Graduates Earn OUA Men’s Hockey Awards
Seven CHL graduates have earned major year-end OUA Men’s Hockey Awards following the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. An additional 27 CHL graduates were named to OUA East and West Division All-Star and All-Rookie teams.
Defencemen Derek Sheppard (York/Gatineau Olympiques) and Martin Lefebvre (UQTR/Quebec Remparts) took Most Valuable Player honours in their respective divisions while newcomers in goaltender Mack Shields (York/Medicine Hat Tigers) and winger Anthony DeLuca (Concordia/Rimouski Oceanic) were named Rookie of the Year recipients.
In addition, long-time OHL forward Andrew Fritsch (Laurier/Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) was named the OUA West Division Most Sportsmanlike Player while QMJHL graduate Michael McNamee (Carleton/Sherbrooke Phoenix) took home the honours in the OUA East Division.
Off the ice, former Detroit Red Wings draft pick Philippe Hudon (Concordia/Victoriaville Tigers) claimed Dr. Randy Gregg Award honours. The 23-year-old is an advocate for various mental health initiatives and is more than generous with his time off the ice, speaking out on the topic whenever he’s given the opportunity.
Here’s a closer look at this year’s OUA Men’s Hockey Award Winners coming out of the Canadian Hockey League.
OUA West Division Awards:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER / DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR: Derek Sheppard, York:
CHL Team(s): Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL, 2012-14)
Sheppard becomes just the fourth York player to be named OUA MVP since 1988 and the first since former Lion Derek Dolson captured the award following the 2002-03 season.
The 6-foot-1, 215 lbs defenceman led his position with 32 points while appearing in all 28 games during the regular season with the Lions. Hailing from nearby Ajax, Ont., Sheppard also finished first in goals (12) and second in assists (20) by a defenceman.
Now in his second year of studying History at York University, Sheppard also led all blueliners with four game-winning goals for the Lions this season.
Sheppard was also named an OUA first-team all-star for a second consecutive season.
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ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Mack Shields, York
CHL Team(s): Calgary Hitmen/Prince George Cougars/Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL, 2012-16)
In just his first season in the OUA, York Lions goaltender Mack Shields led the league with a 1.78 goals against average and finished tied for second with a .930 save percentage.
Shields, an Administrative Studies student-athlete, appeared in 20 of the Lions 28 games during the regular season and finished second in the conference with 13 wins. The Saskatoon, Sask. native also picked up a pair of shutouts this season and led the Lions to a 18-6-4 record and a second place finish in the division.
Prior to joining York, the 6-foot-3, 195 lbs goaltender played with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL. Shields joins the aforementioned Dolson as the only Lions player to be named OUA West Division Rookie of the Year and first since he won the award in 2003.
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MOST SPORTSMANLIKE: Andrew Fritsch, Laurier
CHL Team(s): Niagara IceDogs/Owen Sound Attack/Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL, 2009-14)
Laurier Golden Hawks forward Andrew Fritsch has been selected as the OUA West Division Most Sportsmanlike Player after he finished the season with just one minor penalty.
Fritsch, who transferred from St. Thomas University prior to the start of the season, established himself as one of the most disciplined players in the conference while playing on Golden Hawks team that committed the fourth fewest penalties during the regular season.
Over the course of his three-year U SPORTS career, Fritsch has only spent eight minutes total in the penalty box since the 2014-15 season.
In his first season in the OUA, Fritsch was also named an OUA second-team all-star after he led the Golden Hawks with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 28 games this season.
The Brantford, Ont. native becomes the first Laurier player to win the honours since former Golden Hawk Matt Grennier was recognized following the 2007-08 season.
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OUA West Division All-Stars:
First-Team All-Stars:
F – Michael Fine (Ryerson) – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds/Kingston Frontenacs/Saginaw Spirit (2007-12)
D – Derek Sheppard (York) – Gatineau Olympiques (2012-14)
D – Alex Basso (Ryerson) – Belleville Bulls/Sarnia Sting/London Knights (2009-14)
G – Mack Shields (York) – Calgary Hitmen/Prince George Cougars/Medicine Hat Tigers (2012-16)
Second Team All-Stars:
F – Andrew Fritsch (Laurier) – Niagara IceDogs/Owen Sound Attack/Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (2009-14)
F – Trevor Petersen (York) – Niagara IceDogs (2011-13)
D – Michael Moffat (Waterloo) – London Knights/Kingston Frontenacs (2010-14)
D – Mac Nichol (Guelph) – Guelph Storm (2009-12)
G – Charlie Graham (Ryerson) – Belleville Bulls/Hamilton Bulldogs/Sarnia Sting (2011-16)
All-Rookie Team:
F – Matt Mistele (Ryerson) – Plymouth Whalers/Oshawa Generals/Sarnia Sting (2011-16)
F – Josh Sterk (Ryerson) – Kitchener Rangers/Oshawa Generals/London Knights/Owen Sound Attack (2011-16)
D – Patrick Murphy (Lakehead) – Erie Otters/Sudbury Wolves (2011-16)
G – Mack Shields (York) – Calgary Hitmen/Prince George Cougars/Medicine Hat Tigers (2012-16)
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OUA East Division Awards:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER / DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR: Martin Lefebvre, UQTR
CHL Team(s): Quebec Remparts (QMJHL, 2008-13)
Lefebvre, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, becomes the ninth Patriotes player to win the award since 1991-92 and the second consecutive from UQTR after forward Guillaume Asselin earned the honours a season ago.
In his fourth season with the Patriotes, Lefebvre finished third amongst defencemen with 25 points in 22 games. The Terrebonne, Que. native finished also finished third on the Patriotes in scoring with eight goals and 17 assists.
One of the most disciplined players in the conference, Lefebvre only picked up one minor penalty this season, but found the back of the net four times while on the man-advantage.
Lefebvre was also selected as an OUA first-time all-star for the first time in his career after being named to the second-team last year.
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ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Anthony DeLuca, Concordia
CHL Team(s): Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL, 2012-15)
After leading the league in goals, De Luca becomes the first Stingers players to be named OUA East Division Rookie of the Year since Steve Sonoski received the honours following the 1989-90 season.
The freshman phenom scored 24 goals in his first campaign and finished second overall with 43 points this season for Concordia. Appearing in all 28 games, De Luca, who split time between the Wichita Thunder and Alaska Aces of the ECHL last year, was the most dangerous player in the province with the man-advantage, as he scored a league-high 13 goals on the power-play.
The 5-foot-10, 210 lbs De Luca finished his rookie year with a pair of hat tricks and ranked tied for sixth overall with four game winning goals. He was also named an OUA first-team all-star and a member of the OUA all-rookie team.
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RANDY GREGG AWARD: Philippe Hudon, Concordia
CHL Team(s): Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL, 2011-14)
From one Stinger to another, Concordia forward Philippe Hudon has been recognized for his achievements both on and off the ice.
An advocate for various mental health initiatives, Hudon is more than generous with his time off the ice, and speaks out on the topic whenever he’s given the opportunity.
After being drafted in the 5th round of the NHL Draft back in 2011 out of Cornell University, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder took Hudon’s life in a different direction. Moving back home, Hudon joined the Stingers and since then has been a Bell Let’s Talk spokesperson and an advocate for several mental health initiatives in the local community.
The 6-foot-1, 210 lbs has made a huge commitment to the initative and has made regular media commitments in the past, speaking on the topic with TSN, RDS, CTV, Radio 98.5, Radio Canada and several student media outlets as well.
Following the suicide of a student at a local Montreal high school, Hudon spoke about his past and helped those who were grieving.
For additional information on Hudon’s inspiring story, click here.
On the ice, the Stingers assistant captain recorded three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 21 games this season.
Hudon becomes the second consecutive Stingers player to earn the prestigious award after Concordia captain Olivier Hinse was recognized following each of the past three seasons.
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MOST SPORTSMANLIKE: Michael McNamee, Carleton
CHL Team(s): Quebec Remparts/Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL, 2011-13)
For the second year in a row, Carleton Ravens forward Michael McNamee has been named the OUA East Division Most Sportsmanlike Player.
McNamee, a fourth-year psychology major, was penalized just twice while playing for a Ravens team that committed 135 penalties, the fifth-most by any team in the conference.
Following the season, the Ravens captain was rewarded for his strong years as the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch signed the 6-foot-2 forward to an amateur try-out contract. In 24 games this season with the Ravens, the Perth, Ont. native led the team with 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists).
McNamee, who was also named an OUA first-team all-star, becomes the first player to repeat as the OUA East Division Most Sportsmanlike Player since former Gee-Gees player Ben McLeod earned the award in back-to-back seasons from 2005-07.
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OUA East Division All-Stars:
First Team All-Stars:
F – Michael McNamee (Concordia) – Quebec Remparts/Sherbrooke Phoenix (2011-13)
F – Pierre-Olivier Morin (UQTR) – Lewiston Maineiacs/Shawinigan Cataractes (2007-12)
F – Anthony DeLuca (Concordia) – Rimouski Oceanic (2012-15)
D – Martin Lefebvre (UQTR) – Quebec Remparts (2008-13)
D – Spencer Abraham (Queen’s) – Brampton Battalion/Erie Otters (2010-14)
G – Philippe Cadorette (Concordia) – Baie-Comeau Drakkar/Shawinigan Cataractes (2011-16)
Second Team All-Stars:
F – Slater Doggett (Queen’s) – Kingston Frontenacs/Windsor Spitfires (2012-15)
F – Olivier Hinse (Concordia) – Victoriaville Tigres/Quebec Remparts/Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2008-12)
D – Nathan Chiarlitti (McGill) – Sarnia Sting/Owen Sound Attack (2008-13)
D – Dominic Talbot-Tassi (McGill) – Drummondville Voltigeurs/Sherbrooke Phoenix/Blainville-Boisbriand Armada/Moncton Wildcats (2011-15)
G – Sebastien Auger (UQTR) – Saint John Sea Dogs (2011-15)
All-Rookie Team:
F – Anthony DeLuca (Concordia) – Rimouski Oceanic (2012-15)
F – Kevin Domingue (Ottawa) – Sherbrooke Phoenix (2012-15)
F – Adam Chapman (Carleton) – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds/Gatineau Olympiques/Acadie-Bathurst Titan/Quebec Remparts/Drummondville Voltigeurs (2010-15)
D – Jacob Sweeney (Ottawa) – Moncton Wildcats (2011-16)
D – Alexandre Gosselin (Concordia) – Acadie-Bathurst Titan/Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (2011-16)
G – Philippe Cadorette (Concordia) – Baie-Comeau Drakkar/Shawinigan Cataractes (2011-16)