Six Storm players named in 2019-20 OHL Coaches Poll

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2019-20 OHL regular season.

The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference.

In the Western Conference, defending OHL Champion Guelph Storm featured six different players in the results. The Storm had three players involved in three different categories headlined by Nico Daws who was voted Most Improved, Best Puckhandling Goaltender and second-best Shootout Goaltender, while Pavel Gogolev and captain Cam Hillis were also part of three separate fields.Fedor Gordeev was voted third best shot blocker while Keegan Stevenson was voted third best penalty killer. Top 2020 NHL Draft prospect Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit led all OHL players with first place finishes in four different categories including Smartest Player, Best Playmaker, Best Stickhandler and Best Shootout Shooter. Teammate Damien Giroux placed first in two different categories including Hardest Worker and Best Defensive Forward. Windsor Spitfires captain Luke Boka was voted the Conference’s Best Shot Blocker for the third consecutive year. Flint Firebirds defenceman Tyler Tucker was voted the West’s Best Body Checker after earning the same distinction in the Eastern Conference last season.

In the Eastern Conference, the first place Ottawa 67’s led the way with eight players spread out over an impressive 17 different categories. Top 2020 NHL Draft prospect and OHL scoring champion Marco Rossi was included in six different fields, being voted the Conference’s Smartest Player, Best Playmaker and Best Shootout Shooter. Teammate Noel Hoefenmayer was a two-time first place finisher, being recognized with the East’s Hardest Shot and as the Top Offensive Defenceman. The Peterborough Petes featured seven different players in the final results covering 15 different categories. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and OHL goal-scoring leader Nick Robertson was included in six different fields, placing first as the Conference’s Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and Best Shot. Petes captain Zach Gallant was voted Best in Faceoffs, finishing in the top-three in that field for the fourth straight season. Overage Oshawa Generals captain Kyle MacLean also had a strong showing in the poll, being included in four different categories while being voted the East’s Best Defensive Forward and Top Penalty Killer. Mississauga Steelheads forward Keean Washkurak was voted the East’s Hardest Worker for a second straight year while teammate Thomas Harley took Best Skater recognition after placing second in 2018-19.

The Coaches Poll is tabulated when each team submits one nominee per category, and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference.  Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  Clubs are not permitted to vote for players from their own team allowing for a maximum of 45 possible points for each winner.

All 20 categories are listed below with Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners including their final point totals in brackets.

Most Underrated Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Luke Moncada, North Bay Battalion (28)
2. James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads (22)
T-3. Austen Keating, Ottawa 67’s (15)
T-3. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (15)

Western Conference:
1. Chad Yetman, Erie Otters (33)
2. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (20)
3. Eric Uba, Guelph Storm (11)

Most Improved Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (29)
2. Tyson Foerster, Barrie Colts (28)
3. Zayde Wisdom, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (45)
2. Tyler Angle, Windsor Spitfires (19)
3. Luke Evangelista, London Knights (16)

Smartest Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (41) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Shane Wright, Kingston Frontenacs (17)
3. Akil Thomas, Peterborough Petes (10)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (31)
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (27)
3. Connor McMichael, London Knights (22)

Hardest Worker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Keean Washkurak, Mississauga Steelheads (24) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (19)
3. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (15) – finished second in 2018-19

Western Conference:
1. Damien Giroux, Saginaw Spirit (37)
2. Luke Boka, Windsor Spitfires (22)
3. Vladislav Kolyachonok, Flint Firebirds (11)

Best Playmaker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (45)
2. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Peterborough Petes (17)
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (16)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (40)
2. Ryan Merkley, London Knights (22)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (15)

Most Dangerous in Goal Area:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (36)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (27) – finished second in 2018-19
3. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (21)

Western Conference:
1. Connor McMichael, London Knights (36)
2. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (35)
3. Jonathan Yantsis, Kitchener Rangers (7) – finished third in 2018-19

Best Skater:

Eastern Conference:
1. Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads (30) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Brett Neumann, Oshawa Generals (19) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Declan Chisholm, Peterborough Petes (16)

Western Conference:
1. Liam Foudy, London Knights (35)
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (28) – finished tied for third in 2018-19
3. Jean-Luc Foudy, Windsor Spitfires (18) – finished tied for third in 2018-19

Best Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (38)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (25) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (18)

Western Conference:
1. Connor McMichael, London Knights (39)
2. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (31)
3. Jacob Perreault, Sarnia Sting (15)

Hardest Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Noel Hoefenmayer, Ottawa 67’s (41)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (24) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (13)

Western Conference:
1. Brady Lyle, Owen Sound Attack (35)
2. Bode Wilde, Saginaw Spirit (22)
3. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (14)

Best Stickhandler:

Eastern Conference:
1. Joseph Garreffa, Ottawa 67’s (35) – finished second in Western Conference in 2018-19
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (17) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (16)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (31)
2. Evgeniy Oksentyuk, Flint Firebirds (24)
3. Aidan Dudas, Owen Sound Attack (15)

Best on Face-Offs:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (36) – finished second in 2018-19, second in 2017-18 and first in 2016-17
2. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (23)
3. Cole Schwindt, Mississauga Steelheads (12)

Western Conference:
T-1. Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds (29) – finished first in 2018-19
T-1. Jason Willms, London Knights (29) – finished first in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Greg Meireles, Kitchener Rangers (9)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (8)

Best Body Checker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Navrin Mutter, Hamilton Bulldogs (29) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (18)
3. Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (14)

Western Conference:
1. Tyler Tucker, Flint Firebirds (23) – finished first in Eastern Conference in 2018-19, third in Eastern Conference in 2017-18
2. Kelton Hatcher, Sarnia Sting (15) – finished second in 2018-19
3. Mark Woolley, Owen Sound Attack (14)

Best Shot Blocker:

Eastern Conference:
T-1. Nikita Okhotyuk, Ottawa 67’s (21) – finished third in 2018-19
T-1. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (21)
2. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (18) – finished tied for first in 2018-19
3. Mason Howard, Niagara IceDogs (10)

Western Conference:
1. Luke Boka, Windsor Spitfires (25) – finished first in 2018-19 and 2017-18
2. Tyler Tucker, Flint Firebirds (19)
3. Fedor Gordeev, Guelph Storm (14)

Best Defensive Forward:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (24) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (21)
3. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (19)

Western Conference:
1. Damien Giroux, Saginaw Spirit (25) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Liam Foudy, London Knights (21)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (15)

Best Penalty Killer:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (24)
2. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (16)
3. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (15)

Western Conference:
1. Liam Foudy, London Knights (41) – finished first in 2018-19
2. DJ Busdeker, Saginaw Spirit (12)
3. Keegan Stevenson, Guelph Storm (9)

Best Offensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Noel Hoefenmayer, Ottawa 67’s (45) – finished third in 2018-19
2. Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads (22) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Declan Chisholm (Peterborough Petes (18)

Western Conference:
1. Ryan Merkley, London Knights (41) – finished second in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (22)
3. Brady Lyle, Owen Sound Attack (15)

Best Defensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (45)
2. Nico Gross, Oshawa Generals (19)
3. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (17) – finished first in 2018-19

Western Conference:
1. Alec Regula, London Knights (28)
2. Michael Vukojevic, Kitchener Rangers (20)
3. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (17)

Best Puck-Handling Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kai Edmonds, Mississauga Steelheads (26)
2. Zachary Roy, Hamilton Bulldogs (17)
3. Christian Propp, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (35)
2. Jacob Ingham, Kitchener Rangers (33)
3. Tristan Lennox, Saginaw Spirit (8)

Best Shootout Shooter:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (29)
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (23)
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (12)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (25)
2. Liam Hawel, Kitchener Rangers (21)
3. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (18)

Best Shootout Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Cedrick Andree, Ottawa 67’s (32)
2. Hunter Jones, Peterborough Petes (23)
3. Marco Costantini, Hamilton Bulldogs (14)

Western Conference:
1. Jacob Ingham, Kitchener Rangers (39) – finished third in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (23)
3. Anthony Popovich, Flint Firebirds (8)