NEWS

The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) is pleased to announce the 2014 Players of the Year for this season.

As selected by the OHA Awards Committee this year’s award winners are listed below.

JUNIOR A (Ontario Junior Hockey League) – Taylor Best, Whitby Fury
(photo credit: Amy Deroche/OJHL Images)
Taylor Best had a remarkable 2013-14 season with the Whitby Fury where he scored an outstanding 37 goals while registering 53 assists. Being named an Assistant Captain with the Fury at the beginning of the season, he committed early on this year to joining Mercyhurst for the 2014-15 season. At 5’10 and weighing 180lbs, this speedy forward represented Team Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge and was also named the OJHL Gongshow Hockey October Player of the Month. Best was also awarded the OJHL Most Improved Player and was named to the first team All-Star Roster. An essential member of the North East team at the Central Canada Cup, Best was a consistent scoring threat all season long.

JUNIOR B (Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League) – Connor Murphy, Caledonia Corvairs
Connor Murphy was perhaps one of the most dynamic players in the entire GOJHL this season. Playing with the Sutherland Cup Champion Caledonia Corvairs, Murphy led the team in almost every category. Netting 32 goals and adding 64 assists, this 5’10, 170lbs forward proved what it took to be a champion. Murphy was named the Golden Horseshoe Conference Player of the Year as well as the Conference’s Top Scorer. With a 97 per-cent average in his studies, Murphy has committed to the University of Michigan where he’ll play for the famous Wolverines.

JUNIOR C (Georgian Bay Junior C Hockey League) – Matt Fischer, Penetang Kings
Matt Fischer was undoubtedly one of the key reasons why the Penetang Kings did as well as they did this season in the Georgian Bay Junior C Hockey League. Scoring 41 goals and adding 49 assists in the regular season for the Kings made Fischer a deadly force for the opposition to face. Named the league’s Most Valuable Player this season, the 6’0, 180lbs Fischer was also named to the league’s All-Star team. Leading his club in points this season he was also named the September Player of the Month for his league. Currently, he’s enrolled at Georgian College in Barrie where his 85 per-cent average has him amongst the top of his class in their Aviation Management course.

SENIOR AAA (Allan Cup Hockey) – Joel Prpic, Brantford Blast
Joel Prpic had a season to remember. The second year member of the Brantford Blast ACH team became a fan favourite for his size, speed and ability to score when needed. In 21 regular season games, Prpic’s 18 goals and 25 assists made him a force each and every game. Standing at 6’7 and weighing 235lbs, his massive frame kept his opponents in check allowing him to use his talent to his advantage. The Native of Sudbury split time in the American Hockey League (Providence Bruins, Hershey Bears, Cleveland Barons) as well as the National Hockey League (Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche) before playing a season in Japan and then three seasons in Austria for the KHL’s Zagreb Medvescak. Prpic is currently a firefighter in the City of Cambridge.

All 2013-14 OHA Award Winners will receive their awards at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday, June 6th.