Nick Plastino named OHL defenseman of the month

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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OHL Announces Players of the Month for March Toronto - The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Performers of the Month for March.

OHL Player of the Month - John Tavares, Oshawa Generals. Tavares was named the OHL Player of the Month after leading the league in scoring during the month of March with 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in 15 games. The 16-year-old Oakville native recorded at least one point in all 15 games and had 10 multi-point games. Tavares enjoyed a five-point night on March 9 scoring four goals and one assist and was named the game’s first star in a 5-1 win over the visiting Belleville Bulls. Tavares also scored two goals and added two assists in a 7-4 loss to the hometown Ottawa 67’s on March 16. Tavares had a five-point night in game two of their first round playoff series with the Kingston Frontenacs, scoring a goal and adding four assists in a come from behind 7-6 overtime victory. Tavares led the Generals with four multi-point nights in their five playoff games versus the Frontenacs with the Generals winning the opening-round series 4-1. Tavares was also recognized as the OHL Player of the Month back in January.

OHL Defenceman of the Month - Nick Plastino, Barrie Colts Plastino was named the OHL Defenceman of the Month after scoring three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 12 games, while finishing the month with a plus-18 rating. The 20-year-old Sault Ste. Marie native registered at least one point in 10 of the 12 games played in March. Plastino recorded three assists in his last regular season game in a 9-1 victory over the visiting Peterborough Petes. Plastino scored two goals and added two assists for four points in Barrie’s first-round playoff sweep of the Brampton Battalion. Plastino is currently ranked third in playoff scoring amongst defencemen.

OHL Rookie of the Month - Patrick Kane, London Knights Kane was named the OHL Rookie of the Month after scoring 15 goals and adding 17 assists for 32 points in 12 games. Kane registered a five-point night on March 4 versus the Kingston Frontenacs resulting in a 6-2 victory. The 18-year-old native of Buffalo, NY scored four goals and three assists for seven points on March 16 in a 9-3 victory over the visiting Erie Otters. In London’s final regular season game, Kane scored a goal and three assists for four points in a 6-4 road victory over the Erie Otters. Kane scored three goals and two assists for five points in game four of London’s first-round playoff sweep over the Owen Sound Attack. Kane concluded the regular season winning the Ontario Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League scoring titles recording 62 goals and 83 assists for 145 points in 58 games.

OHL Goaltender of the Month - John Murray, Kitchener Rangers Murray was named the OHL Goaltender of the Month after posting a 2.30 goals against average and a .919 save percentage in Kitchener’s final six regular season games. On March 8, Murray made 24 saves and was named the game’s first star in a 4-1 victory over the hometown London Knights. The following night, Murray made 42 saves in a 5-4 win over the visiting Saginaw Spirit. The 19-year-old recently backstopped the Ranger’s to a first-round playoff sweep over the Sarnia Sting. Murray is currently riding a 10-game winning streak heading into the second-round of the playoffs versus the Plymouth Whalers.

Past OHL Performers of the Month

Player of the Month

October – Bryan Little, Barrie Colts November – Steve Downie, Peterborough Petes December – Evan Brophey, Plymouth Whalers January – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals February – Sergei Kostitsyn, London Knights March – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals

Rookie of the Month

October – Sam Gagner, London Knights November – Patrick Kane, London Knights December – Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting January – Thomas McCollum, Guelph Storm February – Patrick Kane, London Knights March – Patrick Kane, London Knights

Defenceman of the Month

October – Ryan Wilson, Sarnia Sting November – Michael Del Zotto, Oshawa Generals December – Patrick McNeill, Saginaw Spirit January – Drew Doughty, Guelph Storm February – Drew Doughty, Guelph Storm March – Nick Plastino, Barrie Colts

Goaltender of the Month

October – Ryan Daniels, Saginaw Spirit November – Steve Mason, London Knights December – Andrew Perugini, Barrie Colts January – Michal Neuvirth, Plymouth Whalers February – Ryan Daniels, Saginaw Spirit March – John Murray, Kitchener Rangers

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