Honoring the top defensemen in Otters history
This is the fifth part of a multi-part series describing the some of the award winners by the Otters over their 16-season history. The Otters will hand out their awards for the 2011-2012 season Sunday, April 29 at the Bayfront Convention Center.
The Defenseman of the Year award honors an Erie Otters blueliner who has made the best contribution at both ends of the ice. The winner of the award is also the team’s nominee for the OHL’s Max Kaminsky Trophy.
1996-1997 to 1998-1999 – Arvid Rekis – The native of Latvia was a rock on the Otters blue line for four seasons, evidenced by winning the trophy as the top defenseman in his first three seasons. Selected in the CHL Import Draft after playing a season in the USHL in Dubuque, Iowa, Rekis collected 138 points in 242 games and has since been a staple on Latvia’s national team.
1999-2000 – Darren McMillan – A free signing pickup from the previous season, McMillan provided excellent two-way play and won the award over teammate Rekis with a +2 rating en route to Erie’s first Midwest Division crown.
2000-2001 – Carlo Colaiacovo – The first of three Defenseman of the Year awards for Colaiacovo, but the only season in which he was the sole winner. His +46 rating from this season is a team record.
2001-2002 – Carlo Colaiacovo and Chris Eade – An acquisition from North Bay early in the season, Eade shared the award with Colaiacovo. Eade led Otters defensemen with 29 assists and a +34 rating, while Colaiacovo collected 40 points and had a +30 rating.
2002-2003 – Carlo Colaiacovo and Chris Campoli – This time two future NHL players shared the trophy as the top two scorers from the blue line took the trophy. Campoli collected eight goals and 40 assists while Colaiacovo tallied 35 points in 35 games in an injury-shortened season.
2003-2004 – Chris Campoli – In his final OHL season, Campoli had an impressive 20 goals and 46 assists in 67 games. His goals, assists and point totals from the season are all Otters records for a defenseman.
2004-2005 – Brian Lee – The overage player won the award after earning a team-high +9 rating and accumulating 34 points to lead Erie defensemen.
2005-2006 – Andrew Hotham – A native of Barrie, he was traded by his hometown Colts to Erie the previous year, and showed terrific offensive ability. Hotham scored 10 goals and added 39 assists in 60 games, and he was traded to Saginaw the following season.
2006-2007 – Josh Kidd – Towering defenseman led Otters defenseman with 27 points and 96 penalty minutes. Kidd recently completed his third season with the University of New Brunswick.
2007-2008 – Robyn Sertic – A promising player whose career was cut short due to injury, Sertic finished the season tied for sixth in scoring among OHL rookie defensemen with four goals and 16 assists in 20 games. The season also featured a four-game point scoring streak, a franchise record for rookie defensemen.
2008-2009 – Paul Cianfrini – An acquisition from Belleville the previous season, the veteran stay-at-home defenseman finished with the second best plus-minus on the team at +11. He played 17 games with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye this season after completing his second season at Nipissing University.
2009-2010 – Derek Holden – Traded from Peterborough early in the season, Holden broke out offensively and led Otters defensemen with 11 goals during the season.
2010-2011 – David Shields – Voted as the top defensive defensemen in the Western Conference in the coaches poll, Shields led the Otters with a +29 rating.
