Sault native named OHL's most sportsmanlike player

Sault Ste. Marie native Mike Amadio has been honoured by the Ontario Hockey League as its most sportsmanlike player earning the William Hanley Trophy.

The North Bay Battalion forward finished ninth in OHL scoring with 50 goals and 98 points in 68 games. The 19-year-old forward had 40 penalty minutes, which included just 12 in the final 32 games of the season.

“It’s an honour and a great feeling,” Amadio said in a release.

Amadio’s 50 goals are a Battalion record. The veteran also set a new Battalion record with eight shorthanded goals, which tied him for the league. Amadio also set a North Bay record with five goals in a game against the Kingston Frontenacs on Feb. 13. He is fourth all time in scoring with 226 career points with the Battalion.

Amadio was a third round pick of the Los Angeles Kings and signed an entry-level contract with the team in March.

“I’m happy for Mike, he’s a player that plays by the rules and also plays hard,” said North Bay Director of Hockey Operations/Coach Stan Butler. “He shows that you can be a good offensive player and compete and still play in a way that you can win an award like that.”

The award is voted on by the general managers around the OHL and they are not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Each team nominates one player.

Amadio will be presented the William Hanley Trophy at the OHL awards banquet in June and will be the league’s nominee for the Sportsman of the Year at the CHL Awards banquet in May at the Memorial Cup.

Christian Dvorak of the London Knights finished second in voting while Spencer Watson of the Kingston Frontenacs was third.

Other players honoured by the league as it announced its year-end awards included Alexander Nylander of the Mississauga Steelheads who was named rookie of the year and Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts who was named the OHL’s top overage player.