Six Greyhounds recognized in OHL coaches poll

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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OHL Announces Coaches Poll Winners

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results for the 2007-08 Coaches Poll.

The OHL Coaches Poll provides team coaches with the opportunity to recognize players in several skill categories within their own conference. The top three players in each category from the Eastern and Western Conferences are recognized. Coaches vote for each category within their conference and are not permitted to vote for players on their team. Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.

In the Eastern Conference, Belleville Bulls’ captain Matt Beleskey (pictured) led the way, winning three categories, including hardest worker, best body checker and hardest shot. John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals (most dangerous in the goal area and best stickhandler) and Cory Tanaka of the Bulls (best defensive forward and best penalty killer) were also multiple category winners.

In the Western Conference, Justin Azevedo of the Kitchener Rangers won three categories, including smartest player, best playmaker and best on face-offs while Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting won best stickhandler and best shot. Windsor Spitfires captain Mickey Renaud, who passed away last month, was honoured as the most underrated player and the best defensive forward.

Eastern Conference

Most Underrated Player Jesse Messier, Mississauga (22) Jan Mursak, Belleville (16) Pat Daley, Peterborough (13)

Most Improved Player Mike Murphy, Belleville (20) Alex Hutchings, Barrie (16) Jared Staal, Sudbury (16)

Smartest Player Cody Hodgson, Brampton (29) Logan Couture, Ottawa (17) Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (17)

Hardest Worker Matt Beleskey, Belleville (38) Luca Caputi, Niagara (21) Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (19)

Best Playmaker John Hughes, Brampton (30) Logan Couture, Ottawa (19) Jan Mursak, Belleville (16)

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area John Tavares, Oshawa (35) Luca Caputi, Niagara (20) Shawn Matthias (19)

Best Skater Mike Swift, Niagara (30) Shawn Lalonde, Belleville (18) Yves Bastien, Peterborough (17)

Best Shot Brett MacLean, Oshawa (36) Luca Caputi, Niagara (21) Cody Hodgson, Brampton (12)

Hardest Shot Matt Beleskey, Belleville (26) Kaspars Daugavins, Mississauga (17) Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara (13)

Best Stickhandler John Tavares, Oshawa (41) Jan Mursak, Belleville (20) Logan Couture, Oshawa (13)

Best on Face-Offs Shawn Matthias, Belleville (32) John Armstrong, Peterborough (16) John Tavares, Oshawa (15)

Best Body Checker Matt Beleskey, Belleville (36) Julien Demers, Ottawa (13) Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie; John deGray, Brampton; Zac Rinaldo, Mississauga (10)

Best Defensive Forward Cory Tanaka, Belleville (37) Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (18) Jesse Messier, Mississauga (15)

Best Penalty Killer Cory Tanaka, Belleville (32) Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (19) Thomas Stajan, Brampton (10)

Best Offensive Defenceman Bobby Sanguinetti, Brampton (38) Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (25) Michael Del Zotto, Oshawa (11)

Best Defensive Defenceman Geoff Killing, Belleville (25) tie Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (25) John deGray, Brampton; Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara (13)

Western Conference

Most Underrated Player Mickey Renaud, Windsor (30) Andrew Fournier, Plymouth (20) Matt Pepe, Kitchener (11)

Most Improved Player Jack Combs, Saginaw (33) James Livingston, Sault Ste. Marie (17) Brandon Buck, Guelph (16)

Smartest Player Justin Azevedo, Kitchener (28) Steven Stamkos, Sarnia (21) Chris Terry, Plymouth (19)

Hardest Worker Matt Halischuk, Kitchener (30) Mickey Renaud, Windsor (25) Rafael Rotter, Guelph (13)

Best Playmaker Justin Azevedo, Kitchener (45) Chris Terry, Plymouth (17) Vladimir Nikiforov, Sarnia (14)

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area Ryan McDonough, Saginaw (29) Pat Maroon, London (26) Chris Terry, Plymouth (19)

Best Skater Mikkel Boedker, Kitchener (30) Mark Katic, Sarnia (28) Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie (15)

Best Shot Steven Stamkos, Sarnia (24) Yannick Weber, Kitchener (19) Chris Terry, Plymouth (16)

Hardest Shot Josh Godfrey, Sault Ste. Marie (35) Yannick Weber, Kitchener (21) Ryan Wilson, Sarnia (15)

Best Stickhandler Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting (39) Nazem Kadri, Kitchener (18) Josh Bailey, Windsor (13)

Best on Face-Offs Justin Azevedo, Kitchener (34) Mickey Renaud, Windsor (17) Dustin Jeffrey, Sault Ste. Marie (11)

Best Body Checker Ryan Wilson, Sarnia (27) Mike Duco, Kitchener (25) Leigh Salters, Guelph (15)

Best Defensive Forward Mickey Renaud, Windsor (34) Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie (20) Andrew Wilkins, London (14)

Best Penalty Killer Matt Halischuk, Kitchener (30) Brandon MacLean, Sault Ste. Marie (20) Bradley Snetsinger, Windsor (14)

Best Offensive Defenceman Drew Doughty, Guelph (32) Yannick Weber, Kitchener (18) Ryan Wilson, Sarnia (14)

Best Defensive Defenceman Matt Pepe, Kitchener (23) Drew Doughty, Guelph (20) Andrew Campbell, Sault Ste. Marie (11)

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