OHL Grads Claim CIS Major Awards and All-Canadian Honours

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that eight OHL grads were recognized for their achievements when the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Men’s Hockey 2008-09 Major Award Winners and All-Canadian teams were presented Wednesday night in Thunder Bay, Ontario. 

Four-year Belleville Bulls forward Marc Rancourt was named player of the year, Dan McDonald who played five seasons between the Plymouth Whalers, Kingston Frontenacs, and Brampton Battalion was named the most sportsmanlike player, and Andrew Brown who played five season between the Guelph Storm and Belleville Bulls was named the most outstanding student athlete. 

First team All-Canadian OHL grads include Rancourt, defenceman Scott Hotham who played four seasons between North Bay, Saginaw, Mississauga, and Barrie.  Defenceman Kyle Sonnenburg who played four season between Belleville and Brampton.  Second team All-Canadians include defenceman Andrew Hotham who played four seasons with Barrie, Erie, and Saginaw.  Forward Hunter Tremblay played five seasons with the Barrie Colts, and forward Jean-Michel Rizk played five seasons between Saginaw, Kitchener, and Mississauga.

90% of the players currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League are attending high school or post-secondary institutions.

The Ontario Hockey League recently awarded 316 scholarships to current and former OHL players.

A full copy of the CIS news release including all award winners can be found at www.universitysport.ca

Source: CIS

Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy (player of the year): Marc Rancourt (Belleville), Saint Mary’s Huskies

Rancourt was the only player in the country to average over two points per game in the regular season finishing with a CIS-leading 57 points (16-41-57) in 28 contests, the best tally by a Saint Mary’s skater since Craig Teeple amassed 60 points in 1991-92. The six-foot-one, 200-pound team captain was also first in the nation in assists (41) and tied for first in game-winning goals (5). He recorded at least one point in 26 of 28 conference outings, including 16 multiple-point matches and a 19-game point-streak to open the schedule. Eight of his 16 goals were power-play markers.

A three-time first-team AUS all-star, Rancourt was named to the first CIS squad for the first time in his career this season, following a second-team all-Canadian nod in 2007-08. After guiding the Huskies to second place in the Atlantic conference standings with a 20-7-1 mark, the 24-year-old led all scorers in the AUS playoffs with 10 points in seven games as Saint Mary’s captured its first conference title and a first berth in the University Cup tournament since 2001-02.

A gold-medal winner with Team Canada at the 2007 Winter Universiade in Italy under Huskies head coach Trevor Stienburg, Rancourt ranks fifth on the Saint Mary’s all-time scoring list with 175 points (52-123-175) in 109 conference games.

"I’ve been coaching at this level for 12 years and Marc could be one of the most skilled players ever to play CIS hockey," Stienburg said. "He’s a great captain and team leader."

He moved to Halifax following a solid major junior career with the OHL’s Belleville Bulls, for whom he played from 2001-02 to 2004-05, tallying 78 points in 68 outings in his final season and 176 points in 253 career OHL games.

2001-02 Belleville Bulls
OHL 51 3 9 12
2002-03 Belleville Bulls
OHL 68 12 14 26
2003-04 Belleville Bulls
OHL 66 16 44 60
2004-05 Belleville Bulls
OHL 68 26 52 78

R.W. Pugh award (most sportsmanlike player): Dan McDonald (Plymouth, Kingston, Brampton), Ottawa Gee-Gees

McDonald is the second Gee-Gee in history and the second in three years to receive the R.W. Pugh award, following former teammate Ben McLeod in 2006-07.

The fourth-year centre was Ottawa’s top scorer in 2008-09 with a career-high 41 points (14-27-41) over 25 regular-season games, good for fifth-best in the OUA and 12th in the nation. The six-foot-one, 190-pound public administration student had only 40 penalty minutes in conference play, tied for third-place on the Gee-Gees, before he signed a 12-game professional contract with the East Coast League Utah Grizzlies within days of Ottawa losing to McGill in three matches in the OUA Far East playoffs. In 105 conference duels over four campaigns with the Gee-Gees, McDonald had more points (119) than penalty minutes (114).

"Dan has left a strong imprint on our program and more importantly he was a great example to our younger players for how you need to compete at this level," said Ottawa head coach Dave Leger. "We are very proud and fortunate to have had Dan as part of the program and we wish him all the success at the next level."

The 25-year-old scored 175 points (65-110-175) over a four-season career in the OHL with the Plymouth Whalers, Kingston Frontenacs and Brampton Battalion.

2001-02 Plymouth Whalers
OHL 34 4 1 5
2001-02 Kingston Frontenacs
OHL 26 3 7 10
2002-03 Kingston Frontenacs
OHL 68 14 42 56
2003-04 Kingston Frontenacs
OHL 67 28 33 61
2004-05 Brampton Battalion
OHL 60 16 27 43

Dr. Randy Gregg award (outstanding student-athlete): Andrew Brown (Guelph, Belleville), Lakehead Thunderwolves

Brown is the first member of the Thunderwolves to receive the Dr. Randy Gregg award since its inception in 1990-91.

On the ice, the six-foot-three, 215-pound team captain was Lakehead’s sixth best scorer this season with 20 points in 26 conference games, before adding five points in five playoff contests. The 25-year-old was often used on defence when the ‘Wolves blue line was affected by injuries, and even saw double duty as a forward and rearguard in a number of games.

Brown also excels in the classroom having maintained an 80-percent academic average over his five years at Lakehead and achieving CIS Academic All-Canadian status. After graduating with an Honours Degree in geography in 2007-08, he is currently doing his bachelor of education and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in geography.

Very involved in the Thunder Bay community, the list of Brown’s volunteering experiences is extensive. Among others, he gathers donations to deliver medical supplies to a clinic in Kenya, visits with primary school children, is part of the Adopt-A-Wolf program, talks to kids as part of Lakehead’s anti-tobacco campaign, participates in the Home Depot Backyard Rink initiative, is a head instructor at Lakehead’s hockey school, and took part in the Terry Fox Run.

"Coaching brings many rewards and in many different ways. The opportunity to work and develop a relationship with some outstanding individuals would definitely rank near the top. Andrew Brown is one of these special individuals," said Lakehead head coach Don McKee. "His excellence both as an athlete and a student is evident in his performance over five years at Lakehead University. As a captain of the team, he led his teammates on and off the ice. He was committed to the university, the hockey team and the fabulous Wolves fans. His legacy will live on at Lakehead."

Brown scored 36 goals and 35 assists for 71 points in 302 OHL games.

1999-00 Guelph Storm
OHL 59 5 3 8
2000-01 Guelph Storm
OHL 35 2 4 6
2000-01 Belleville Bulls
OHL 25 0 2 2
2001-02 Belleville Bulls
OHL 60 3 7 10
2002-03 Belleville Bulls
OHL 63 11 9 20
2003-04 Belleville Bulls
OHL 60 15 10 25

OHL 2008-09 CIS MEN’S HOCKEY ALL-CANADIANS

First Team

Position – Athlete – University – Year – Hometown – Faculty

Defence – Scott Hotham (North Bay, Saginaw, Mississauga, Barrie) – Saint Mary’s – 4 – Barrie, Ont. – Commerce

OHL Totals – 249 games with 21 goals and 96 assists for 117 points.

2001-02 North Bay Centennials
OHL 60 3 12 15
2002-03 Saginaw Spirit
OHL 1 0 1 1
2002-03 Mississauga IceDogs
OHL 63 2 9 11
2003-04 Mississauga IceDogs
OHL 10 0 2 2
2003-04 Barrie Colts
OHL 53 5 33 38
2004-05 Barrie Colts
OHL 62 11 39 50
                                                               
Defence – Kyle Sonnenburg (Belleville, Brampton) – Waterloo – 2 – Waterloo, Ont. – Arts

OHL Totals – 264 games with 13 goals and 70 assists for 83 points

2003-04 Belleville Bulls
OHL 37 2 6 8
2004-05 Belleville Bulls
OHL 39 1 8 9
2004-05 Brampton Battalion
OHL 19 0 2 2
2005-06 Brampton Battalion
OHL 64 2 21 23
2006-07 Brampton Battalion
OHL 68 8 33 41
      

Forward – Marc Rancourt (Belleville) – Saint Mary’s – 4 – Gloucester, Ont. – Commerce

OHL Totals – 253 games with 57 goals and 119 assists for 176 points.

2001-02 Belleville Bulls
OHL 51 3 9 12
2002-03 Belleville Bulls
OHL 68 12 14 26
2003-04 Belleville Bulls
OHL 66 16 44 60
2004-05 Belleville Bulls
OHL 68 26 52 78

Second Team

Defence – Andrew Hotham (Barrie, Erie, Saginaw) – Saint Mary’s – 2 – Barrie, Ont. – Commerce

OHL Totals – 187 games with 36 goals and 101 assists 137 points.

2003-04 Barrie Colts
OHL 4 0 1 1
2004-05 Barrie Colts
OHL 21 2 12 14
2004-05 Erie Otters
OHL 43 7 14 21
2005-06 Erie Otters
OHL 60 10 39 49
2006-07 Erie Otters
OHL 35 9 16 25
2006-07 Saginaw Spirit
OHL 24 8 19 27

Forward – Hunter Tremblay (Barrie) – UNB – 2 – Timmins, Ont. – BBA

OHL Totals – 317 games with 115 goals and 159 assists for 274 points.

2002-03 Barrie Colts
OHL 56 6 13 19
2003-04 Barrie Colts
OHL 67 13 14 27
2004-05 Barrie Colts
OHL 62 30 32 62
2005-06 Barrie Colts
OHL 68 31 46 77
2006-07 Barrie Colts
OHL 64 35 54 89

Forward – Jean-Michel Rizk (Saginaw, Kitchener, Mississauga) – Laurier – 2 – Dunham, Que. – French

OHL Totals – 317 games with 50 goals and 90 assists for 140 points.

2002-03 Saginaw Spirit
OHL 63 9 24 33
2003-04 Saginaw Spirit
OHL 68 10 18 28
2004-05 Saginaw Spirit
OHL 41 6 9 15
2004-05 Kitchener Rangers
OHL 26 2 3 5
2005-06 Kitchener Rangers
OHL 58 8 19 27
2006-07 Kitchener Rangers
OHL 32 8 7 15
2006-07 Mississauga IceDogs
OHL 29 7 10 17