NEWS

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced today the 2014 - 2015 CJHL Central All-Star Team, which recognizes the regular season's top players from the CJHL's three Central Junior A leagues.  

The Central All-Stars are the second CJHL region to be released and will be followed by the announcement of the Eastern All-Star Team (players selected from the CCHL, QJHL, MHL) tomorrow. This is the inaugural season for these awards to recognize players from each of the three regions and ten leagues of the CJHL.

The players named to the CJHL Central All-Star Team were chosen from the Superior International Junior Hockey League
(SIJHL), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), and the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), and are selected from
the nominees submitted for the CJHL National Awards, including Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top Defenseman and
Top Goaltender.  

The 2014 - 2015 CJHL Central All-Star Team:

Goalie    Justin Kapelmaster    Trenton Golden Hawks    OJHL    
Defence    Eric Williams    Aurora Tigers    OJHL    
Defence    Ethan Strong    Kirkland Lake Gold Miners    NOJHL    
Forward    Steve Hladin    Georgetown Raiders    OJHL    
Forward    Steve Harland    Powassan Voodoos    NOJHL    
Forward    Cole Golka    Dryden Ice Dogs    SIJHL    

Goaltender – Justin Kapelmaster (Trenton Golden Hawks)
(pictured left - photo credit:  Amy Deroche/OJHL Images)
Playing his first season of junior hockey in Canada, Justin Kapelmaster lived up to his advanced billing, leading the Golden Hawks to the East Division title while finishing as runner-up for the OJHL Regular Season banner.  A native of Coral Springs, Florida, the lanky netminder was named runner-up as the OJHL Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month twice early in the season (September, October).  Posting a 29-7-1 record in 40 games played, of which the win total ranked second in the OJHL, the netminder ranked highly in most statistical categories throughout the season.  He posted three shutouts, tied for seventh in the league, a 2.09 goals against average, tied for second among goalies, and a .925 save percentage that was also third best.  Kapelmaster's efforts earned a spot on Team OJHL Hawerchuk, winning both games he played at the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Toronto.

Defence – Eric Williams (Aurora Tigers)
(pictured middle - photo credit:  Gary Keys/OJHL Images)
For the second consecutive year, Eric Williams of the Aurora Tigers led the OJHL in goal scoring by a defenceman, firing home 22 goals with his powerful shot from the point.  The 22 goals is the eighth best total by a blueliner in OJHL history and bests the totals of former greats Bryan Helmer and Randy Jones.  The Newmarket, Ontario native finished fifth on the Tigers in both goals and overall scoring, registering 50 points in 52 games, while helping the club capture the OJHL Regular Season title for the first time since 2007.  Williams quarterbacked the league's best power play unit, using his booming shot from the point to tally 17 goals and 28 points with the man advantage, both tops among rearguards, while his 17 goals was the second best total overall.  He would lead Team OJHL Coffey in scoring with four points during the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge and is committed to join the Northeastern University Huskies beginning in the Fall.

Forward – Steve Hladin (Georgetown Raiders)
(pictured right - photo credit:  Brian Watts/OJHL Images)
For the second consecutive season, Georgetown Raiders captain Steve Hladin was one of the league's top scorers and was named a 1st Team All-Star.  The January Gongshow Gear South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month would lead the scoring race for most of the season and captured the Top Scorer Award by becoming the first OJHL player to reach the 100 point milestone since 2012, finishing the year with a league-high 63 assists and 104 points.  Also one of the league's cleanest players, recording just six penalty minutes, Hladin would finish second in the OJHL with 19 power player assists, 28 power play points and 7 game-winning goals, to help the Raiders capture the West Division crown.  Hladin would once again play in the annual Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, this time as a member of Team OJHL Oates, capturing the tournament title while recording three points in five games and is committed to join the Sacred Heart University Pioneers next season.

About the CJHL - The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of all 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada. The CJHL represents more than 129 teams and 2,900 players and has over 2,951 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college levels across North America.  For the latest CJHL news and features, visit www.cjhlhockey.com and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cjhlhockey or @cjhlhockey.