NEWS

St. Michael's Buzzers captain and OJHL Top Defenceman Patrick McCarron (photo credit - Jay Johnston/OJHL Images) has been named the first-ever recipient of the Canadian Junior Hockey League's Top Defenceman Award.

McCarron finished the 2012-13 OJHL season leading all defencemen in scoring with 58 points, despite missing three games while at the World Junior 'A' Challenge.  The lanky rearguard's 49 assists were more than any other defenceman in the league had points and were the fourth best assist total among all OJHL players.  He then led his club to their third OJHL Championship and Buckland Cup title in franchise history with a dramatic game seven victory over the Newmarket Hurricanes.

Other highlights of McCarron’s award-filled season include representing Team Canada East and being named an alternate captain for his team at the 2012 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge held in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and being named a member of the South Division All-Stars (McCarron would miss the event) at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Wellington, Ontario.  After being named 2nd Team All-Prospect last season, McCarron would earn 1st Team All-Star honours this year and would be named the South-West Conference Gongshow Gear Player-of-the-Month in October.  He is currently committed to join the Cornell University Big Red beginning with the 2013-14 season.

Below is the complete press release from the CJHL (www.cjhlhockey.com), including the full list of award winners:

The Canadian Junior Hockey League is proud to announce the first-ever winners of five newly created national awards.  The CJHL national awards recognize individual success in the 10 Junior A leagues across Canada.  The new suite of CJHL awards include Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender and Rookie of the Year. 

"I am thrilled to offer congratulations to this year's CJHL national award winners", stated CJHL President Kirk Lamb.  “These players represent the impressive talent across the CJHL and they, along with their families, teams and communities, can be very proud of their accomplishments this season."

CJHL Most Valuable Player and CJHL Top Forward Award - Michael Pontarelli, Cornwall Colts, CCHL (53 GP, 52 G, 55 A, 107 PTS)
Forward Michael Pontarelli had an outstanding inaugural year of junior hockey as an Associate Captain of the Cornwall Colts. Pontarelli was the 2012-2013 scoring champion with 107 points, including tallying 50 goals and 50 assists in 50 games.  He was a unanimous choice for CCHL MVP and the CCHL Sportsmanship and Ability Award. Pontarelli has committed to Union College.

CJHL Top Defenceman Award - Patrick McCarron, St. Michael's Buzzers, OJHL (52 GP, 9 G, 49 A, 58 PTS)
Patrick McCarron finished the 2012-2013 OJHL season leading all defencemen in scoring with 58 points.  McCarron represented Team Canada East as an Alternate Captain at the 2012 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge and was named a member of the South Division All-Stars at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge. The Team Captain also earned 1st Team All-Star honours this year and is committed to the Cornell University Big Red for the 2013-14 season.

CJHL Top Goaltender Award - Matt Hrynkiw, Humboldt Broncos, SJHL (40 GP, 27 W, 11 L, 2 SOL, 6 SO, 1.83 GAA, 0.939 SV%)
Matt Hrynkiw was named the SJHL Goaltender of the Year on the strength of 27 wins, 6 shutouts and a 1.83 goals against average.  Hrynkiw led the SJHL in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts and was second in wins.  

CJHL Rookie of the Year Award - Tristan Keck, Winkler Flyers, MJHL (60 GP, 31 G, 32 A, 63 PTS)
Forward Tristan Keck was selected as the MJHL Rookie of the Year.  Keck led all MJHL rookies in scoring with 63 points on 31 goals and 32 assists. He finished 11th overall in league scoring and was one of two 17-year old players among the league's top 20 scorers. 

Each of the 10 leagues in the CJHL submitted a candidate for all of the League Awards.  A representative from each Junior A league then ranked their top five players from among the 10 national nominees and the five players with the highest point total moved on as finalists to the final round of voting.  The winners were then selected by a second and final point-based vote cast from all 10 league representatives.