McDavid wins ’99’ Award as OHL Playoff MVP

Friday May 15, 2015

Erie Otters captain Connor McDavid has been named the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 OHL Playoffs and is the recipient of the Wayne Gretzky ’99’ Award.

The top 2015 NHL Draft prospect led the OHL Playoffs in scoring with 21 goals, 28 assists and 49 points in 20 games, the most points in a postseason since Justin Papineau’s OHL record of 51 in 1999.

Watch the Wayne Gretzky ’99’ Award trophy presentation

McDavid, an 18 year-old centreman from Newmarket, ON, had two goals, four assists and six points in five games during the Rogers OHL Championship Series, leading the Otters deep into the playoffs for the second straight season. He had points in 18 of his 20 playoff contests.

The Otters captain recorded a total of five multi-goal games throughout the 2015 OHL Playoffs, highlighted by a five-goal performance in a 7-3 win over the London Knights on April 10.

McDavid becomes the second Otters player to win the award after Brad Boyes earned the distinction in 2002.

The OHL introduced the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award in 1999 to honour the Most Valuable Player in the OHL Playoffs as selected by the media.  Gretzky, a native of Brantford, graduated from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to become the most prolific scorer in the history of the NHL.  The league created the award in tribute of ‘The Great One’ shortly after he announced his retirement from the NHL in 1999.

Wayne Gretzky 99 Award winners:

2015 – Connor McDavid (Erie Otters)

2014 – Robby Fabbri (Guelph Storm)

2013 – Bo Horvat (London Knights)

2012 – Austin Watson (London Knights)

2011 – Robby Mignardi (Owen Sound Attack)

2010 – Adam Henrique (Windsor Spitfires)

2009 – Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires)

2008 – Justin Azevedo (Kitchener Rangers)

2007 – Marc Staal (Sudbury Wolves)

2006 – Daniel Ryder (Peterborough Petes)

2005 – Corey Perry (London Knights)

2004 – Martin St. Pierre (Guelph Storm)

2003 – Derek Roy (Kitchener Rangers)

2002 – Brad Boyes (Erie Otters)

2001 – Seamus Kotyk (Ottawa 67’s)

2000 – Brian Finley (Barrie Colts)

1999 – Justin Papineau (Belleville Bulls)