OHL Notes: Awards continue to be handed out

Ryan Callahan of the Guelph Storm is the winner of the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as the OHL's Top Overage Player for the 2005-06 season.

In 62 games with the Storm, Callahan recorded 52 goals and 32 assists for a total of 84 points. On seven occassions this year he had three-point games and led the Storm with an impressive + 29 rating. His 52 goals helped him to become the all-time leading scorer in Guelph Storm history with 130 career regular season goals. Callahan, a native of Rochester, New York was drafted in the 4th round by the New York Rangers, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

The Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top overage player of the year as selected by OHL general managers. Teams were not permitted to vote for players from their own hockey club.

Callahan received 67 total votes, Mike Angelidis of the Owen Sound Attack was the runner-up with 48 total votes, and Adam Dennis of the London Knights finished third with 36 total votes.

Former winners of the trophy include Iain Fraser (Oshawa, 1989-90), Zac Bierk (Peterborough, 1996-97) and Bill Bowler (Windsor, 1994-95). Andre Benoit of the Kitchener Rangers was last year’s recipient of the Leo Lalonde Trophy.

*** Wolski Named Most Sportsmanlike Player:

Wojtek Wolski of the Brampton Battalion won the William Hanley Trophy as the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player for the 2005-2006 season. Wolski was a first round NHL draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, in 2004.

Wolski led the Battalion with 47 goals and 81 assists for 128 points, in 56 games this season all of which are team records. He also posted a +21 rating this season while totaling only 46 minutes in penalties. Wolski was named the OHL Player of the Month for four straight months this season winning the award from December through March. He was also the MVP for the Eastern Conference All-Stars at this year’s OHL All-Star Classic, in Belleville.

The 20 year-old native of Zabrze, Poland and Mississauga resident has amassed 130 goals, 198 assists and 328 points during his four year career with Brampton. These numbers have rewritten the Battalion record book as Wolski now owns the team career record for goals, assists, and points.

Wolski received 67 points in the voting while Cal O’Reilly of the Windsor Spitfires was runner-up with 44 points and Cory Emmerton of the Kingston Frontenacs was third with 28 points.

Wolski joins some elite company with former winners of the William Hanley Trophy including last year’s recipient Jeff Carter, as well as Wayne Gretzky, Sault Ste. Marie, Kirk Muller, Guelph, Andrew Cassels, Ottawa, Jason Allison, London and Brad Boyes, Erie.

*** Dennis named Top Goaltender:

Adam Dennis of the London Knights is the OHL's Goaltender of the Year.

Dennis posted a 44-9-1-3 record, along with a 2.82 goals against average, a .915 save percentage and 1 shutout, in 57 games this season. The 44 regular season wins set a new OHL record for goaltenders.

Dennis, a 19-year-old native of Toronto, is a 2005 draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres. Adam was named OHL Goalie of the Month for the month of November and represented the Western Conference in the 2006 Bell All-Star Classic, in Belleville.

Dennis received 74 points in the voting process, followed by runner-up Dan Turple of the Kitchener Rangers, who had 40 points and Kevin Lalande of the Belleville Bulls was third with 29 points.

Adam will now be the OHL nominee for the CHL Goaltender of the year, presented by ADT.

*** Barr named Coach of the Year:

Dave Barr of the Guelph Storm is the 2005-2006 Matt Leyden Trophy winner as the OHL's Coach of the Year.

Barr, a 46 year old native of Toronto Ontario is a graduate of the Canadian Hockey League and the National Hockey League. In only his second season behind the bench in Guelph, Barr led the Storm to a record of 40-24-1-3, for 84 points. He spearheaded the turn around of a team that won only 23 games and had 57 points the previous season. The 27 point increase from last season that the Storm enjoyed was among the largest improvements in the Ontario Hockey League.

Barr received 65 points in the voting process, followed by Dale Hunter of the London Knights with 44 points and Dick Todd of the Peterborough Petes, with 27 points.

Barr is the Ontario Hockey League nominee for the Brian Kilrea CHL Coach of the Year Award.

*** New Ownership Groups in Windsor and Barrie:

The Ontario Hockey League announced the approval of new ownership groups for two of the League’s franchises.

The transfer of ownership of the Windsor Spitfires, as well as the transfer of majority interest in the Barrie Colts was unanimously approved by the Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors on Thursday April 6, 2006.

The Barrie Colts are pleased to introduce Howie Campbell as the new majority owner of the franchise. Campbell is an entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience as an owner and executive in the electrical distribution business. In 1994, in partnership with his brother Rick, Campbell purchased Superior Electric Supply (SESCO), one of Toronto’s oldest electrical distributors.

James Massie the Chairman of the Barrie Colts will remain in that position with the organization. Massie will also retain his minority ownership stake in the franchise along with fellow minority owners Larry Stuart and Ward Seymour.

The Windsor Spitfires are excited to introduce the franchise’s new ownership group of Bob Boughner, Warren Rychel and Peter Dobrich.

Boughner, who will assume the roles of President and CEO of the Spitfires, is a native of Windsor and product of the Windsor minor hockey association. He was drafted 6th overall by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and was the Captain of the Greyhounds 1991 OHL Championship team that won the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

Boughner was drafted into the National Hockey League by the Detroit Red Wings and is in the midst of a 10 year NHL career, currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche. He presently holds the position of Executive Vice President of the National Hockey League Players Association.

Rychel grew up in the Windsor area is a product of what is now known as the Tecumseh Minor Hockey Association, just outside of Windsor. He played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, prior to embarking on lengthy professional hockey career. He was a member of the 1996 Stanley Cup Champion, Colorado Avalanche. Warren has been employed as a professional scout by the Phoenix Coyotes for the past five years.

Dobrich is a local entrepreneur and lifelong Windsor area resident. He is also a graduate of what is now the Tecumseh Minor Hockey Organization. He earned an honours degree, in Commerce, from the University of Windsor, while enjoying a successful playing career with the University of Windsor Lancers Hockey Team.

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(Compiled from news releases by the Ontario Hockey League)