THREE ALUMNI WIN CIS AWARDS
Three former OJHL players - Dan LaCosta (UNB), Ryan Daniels (WLU) and Justin Larson (WAT) - all won CIS year-end awards recently for their performances throughout the 2012-13 season.
Dan LaCosta - University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds
CIS University Cup - All-Tournament Team Goaltender
Wellington Dukes, 2001-02
(photo courtesy of UNB Athletics)
The native of Labrador City, Newfoundland played one season in the OJHL as a member of the Wellington Dukes in 2001-02. LaCosta led the Dukes to the club's first of back-to-back regular season titles, ultimately falling to the Brampton Capitals in the league championship series. He would lead the league with a 1.96 goals against average, the best in league history to that point and currently the 12th best gaa ever, and his efforts earned him OHA All-Prospect Team honours. Following the season, LaCosta made the jump to the OHL as a member of the Owen Sound Attack.
Ryan Daniels - Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks
CIS 2nd Team All-Canadian Goaltender
Pickering Panthers, 2003-05
(photo credit - Matt Tomkin/Laurier Athletics)
After playing one game for his hometown Pickering Panthers in 2003-04 as an affiliated midget prospect, Daniels would be drafted by the Saginaw Spirit in the 3rd round, 48th overall of the 2004 OHL Priority Selection. The netminder would spend the majority of his rookie junior year with the Panthers, although joined the Spirit for seven regular season OHL contests. He would join Saginaw full-time in 2005-06 and spend the next four seasons in the OHL with Saginaw and Peterborough, also being drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 5th round, 151st overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Following his OHL career, he joined Laurier and is currently in his senior year with the Golden Hawks.
Justin Larson - University of Waterloo Warriors
CIS 2nd Team All-Canadian
Peterborough Bees/Stars, 2004-06
The native of Buckhorn, Ontario played his first junior hockey in the OJHL, playing five games for the Peterborough Bees in 2004-05, recording his first junior hockey goal. The following season, the midget affiliate played two more games, this time with the newly named Peterborough Stars and made the jump to the OHL in 2006-07.
Congratulations to all three on the honours and best of luck in their future hockey careers.
