NEWS

(pictured - Aurora Tigers forward & OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year, Cameron Morrison, headlines the OHA All-Prospect Team for the 2014-15 season - photo credit:  Brian Watts/OJHL Images)

The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) is pleased to announce the six 2015 Top Prospects as selected by the OHA Awards Committee.

OHA TOP PROSPECT DEFENCEMAN – Eric Williams, Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

Eric Williams led OJHL defenceman with 22 goals on the season, which was the eighth best goal total by a defenceman in league history. The Newmarket native tallied 17 power play goals, not only leading defenceman in that category, but also finishing second among all OJHL skaters. He added 11 power play assists and was the top blueliner with 28 power play points, also tied for second best among all players in the league. The OJHL 1st Team All-Star finished second in scoring among rearguards with 50 points, as well as three game-winning goals, in 52 regular season games played. Williams' efforts throughout the 2014-15 season earned a second consecutive appearance at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, earning a spot on Team OJHL Coffey for the 2014 event in Toronto, where he would tie for the tournament lead in scoring among defencemen with four points in three games played. Williams is slated to join the NCAA Division I, Northeastern University Huskies beginning with the 2015-16 season.

OHA TOP PROSPECT DEFENCEMAN -  Derek Topatigh. Orangeville Flyers (OJHL)

The 18-year old native of Mississauga joined the OJHL Orangeville Flyers this season. He helped lead the Flyers resurgence this season that helped them get into the OJHL post-season for the first time since 2010-11. Topatigh led his team's blueline in scoring with 23 assists and 26 points in 52 games played, with his assist total ranking fifth among all Flyers players and tied for the sixteenth best mark among all OJHL rearguards. Topatigh would log significant minutes for the club, including power play time, and would register 13 points on the man advantage, the fourth best total on the team. Playing with a blend of a physical presence and an offensive touch has suited Topatigh's game well in transitioning to the junior ranks and tasting immediate success.  Following the season, Topatigh was named a 1st Team All-Prospect Defenceman. Beginning in the 2016-2017 season, Topatigh will join the Princeton University Tigers as a member of their hockey team.

OHA TOP PROSPECT FORWARD – Cameron Morrison, Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

A highly recruited minor midget prospect in 2013-14, the 16-year old chose the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) route and NCAA option in joining his hometown Aurora Tigers for his rookie junior season. Morrison did not disappoint and the big, strong winger used his 6'3" frame to dominate the opposition at times. Despite his young age, he became the youngest player (16 years, 7 months) to capture the OJHL Rookie-of-the-Year Award since Josh Shalla (16 years, 6 months) in 2007-08.  Despite missing time due to appendicitis in early November, his 31 goals not only led the Tigers, but was the sixth best total among all OJHL players, while his 53 points placed him fourth in scoring on the club during the regular season. Morrison notched eight power play goals, third best on Aurora, as well as seven game-winning goals, which tied for second best total in the OJHL. Throughout the year, Morrison would post 13 multi-point games. Following the season, Morrison was also named an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect. He is committed to join the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish beginning with the 2016-17 season.

OHA TOP PROSPECT FORWARD – Michael Laidley, Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

This season, the OJHL Aurora Tigers named returning forward Michael Laidley of Little Current, Ontario as their team Captain. He was no stranger to the leadership role. Laidley was the Captain for Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves of the Great North Midget League in 2012-13. It was Laidley’s quiet leadership that helped 15 new players transition to the OJHL this season, and every new Tiger saw Laidley as an outstanding leader. Players saw how hard he worked, scoring 10 goals and adding 15 assists in the regular season, and they followed his example. All his hard work paid off as he was named to Team Canada East for the World Junior A Challenge, he was also named Captain of the team where he netted two assists in five games. As a member of Team OJHL Nieuwendyk in the Central Canada Challenge, he managed to score 1 goal in five games. Looking forward, Laidley has committed to St. Lawrence University for next season and is preparing for the transition.

OHA TOP PROSPECT FORWARD – Adam Brady, Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL)

Despite playing up to six fewer games than most of the league's leading scorers, Adam Brady scored at a torrid pace during his fourth OJHL season, finishing second in the goal scoring race with 43 goals in just 46 games played. The Voyageurs alternate captain would not only lead his club in scoring with 77 points, but would also finish fourth overall for the league scoring title. Brady, a native of Delhi, was the league's top power play specialist as well, leading the league with both 19 goals and 30 points with the man advantage, while also scoring in the clutch with a league-high 11 game-winning goals, four more than his closest competition. Brady's play would ultimately earn a spot on Team Canada East at the 2014 World Junior 'A' Challenge, where he also wore an 'A' on his chest, and later on Team OJHL Oates, capturing the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge title. He is committed to join the Robert Morris University Colonials next season.

OHA TOP PROSPECT GOALTENDER – Matthew Robson, Toronto Patriots

19-year-old Matthew Robson moved to the OJHL Toronto Patriots during last off-season from the Lindsay Muskies and was instrumental in the club capturing a second consecutive OHA Buckland Cup Championship. With a regular season record of 21-12-0-2, a save percentage of .916 and a 2.50 goals against average, Robson was tough for any team to face. His excellent play continued in the post season where the Mississauga native managed to post a 16-6 record while allowing just 38 goals against and a .937 save percentage and 1.77 goals against average. He was a member of Team OJHL Nieuwendyk at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge as well. 

Other OHA Award winners will be announced over the coming days. All 2014-15 OHA Award Winners will received their awards at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday, June 5th.