(CJHL Release)
The
Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) today announced the winners of
five CJHL National Awards. The CJHL National Awards are awarded each
season and recognize individual success in the 10 Junior A leagues in
the CJHL. They include Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top
Defenceman, Top Goaltender and Rookie of the Year.
"Congratulations
to this year's CJHL National Award winners and to all of the nominees
and finalists across our 10 leagues," said Kirk Lamb, President of the
Canadian Junior Hockey League. "These players represent the best of
more than 2,800 Junior A hockey players and exhibit the right mix of
commitment, discipline and skill it takes to be an elite student-athlete
in today's game.”
The
winner of the 2014 CJHL MVP Award and the 2014 CJHL Top Forward Award
is Andy Sturtz of the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL).
Andy
Sturtz, Carelton Place Canadians, CCHL (58GP, 51G - 53A - 104PTS) - In
his first CCHL season, Sturtz burst on to the scene with a 51 goal and
104 point season. This resulted in him earning the CCHL MVP Award for
2013 - 2014. Sturtz was first in the CCHL in game winning goals with
14, showing how important he was to the success of the Carelton Place
Canadians. He was second in power play goals with 16 and seventh in
power play assists with 19. His play earned him considerable attention
from university and college scouts across Canada and the United States
and he has committed to Penn State University.
Trey Phillips of the Canmore Eagles (AJHL) is the recipient of the 2014 CJHL Top Defenceman Award.
Trey
Phillips, Canmore Eagles, AJHL (58GP, 25G - 40A - 65PTS) - Phillips
averaged 1.12 points per game to lead the Eagles in scoring, including
12 power play goals and 4 game winning goals, on his way to winning the
AJHL MVP and Outstanding Defenceman. This is his fourth and final
season with the Canmore Eagles, during which time he has scored 119
points in 200 regular season games. Phillips was the AJHL Player of the
Month and the Canadian Junior Hockey League 1st Star of the Month for
January 2014. He was also selected as the Player of the Game 12 times
in the regular season. Phillips is committed to the University of
Vermont for the 2014-2015 season.
The winner of the 2014 CJHL Top Goaltender Award is Tanner Jaillet of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL).
Tanner
Jaillet, Fort McMurray Oil Barons, AJHL (43 GP, 30 W – 8 L – 4 SOL –
2.01 GAA – .933 S% – 6 SO) - Jaillet opened the 2013-2014 season with 10
consecutive wins and 13 games without a regulation loss on his way to
being named the 2013-2014 AJHL Top Goaltender. He was tied for first
overall in the AJHL with a .933 save percentage and was second among all
AJHL goaltenders with a 2.01 GAA. Jaillet also recorded a league
leading 6 shutouts and was selected as the Player of the Game nine times
in the regular season. He also received the honour of being AJHL
Player of the Month and the Player of the Week in September 2013. The
CJHL selected Jaillet as the 1st Star of the Month for September 2013 in
recognition of the goaltender’s remarkable start to the season.
Jaillet was also a finalist for the 2013-2014 AJHL MVP Award. The 20
year-old goaltender is in his third season with the Fort McMurray Oil
Barons and has committed to the University of Denver.
The
co-recipients of the 2014 CJHL Rookie of the Year Award are Jake Walman
of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) and Chris Gerrie of the Olds
Grizzlys (AJHL).
Jake
Walman, Toronto Jr. Canadians, OJHL (43GP, 7G – 26A – 33PTS) - The
17-year old defenceman was one of the biggest surprises on the Jr.
Canadiens blueline this season and shot up the NHL scouting radar
throughout the course of his rookie OJHL season. His play led him to be
named the top-ranked OJHL and CJHL Prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft, as
well as most recently being named winner of the OJHL and CJHL Top
Prospect Award. Walman recorded 7 goals, 26 assists and 33 points in 43
regular season games played, ranking him second on the club among
rearguards. Other highlights of Walman’s impressive rookie campaign
included being named a member of Team Canada East for the 2013 World
Junior 'A' Challenge and being named to the OJHL South-East Conference
All-Star Team that would finish as runner-up at the 2013 Central Canada
Cup All-Star Challenge. Walman is committed to Providence College
beginning with the 2014-15 Hockey East season.
Chris
Gerrie, Olds Grizzlys, AJHL (60GP, 18G – 25A – 53PTS) - Gerrie led all
AJHL rookies in goals, assists and points and was second in team scoring
with an average of 0.9 points per game. His 19 powerplay assists placed
him among the top 3 AJHL scorers. Gerrie was a unanimous choice for the
2013-2014 AJHL All-Rookie team and was named the 2013-2014 AJHL Rookie
of the Year. Gerrie made an immediate impact to the Grizzlies' line-up
with 27 points in his first 28 games. Gerrie was selected as the Player
of the Game five times in his rookie season. During the opening months
of his rookie campaign, the 17 year-old committed to Michigan Tech
University for the 2016-2017 season.
Each
of the 10 leagues in the CJHL submitted a candidate for all of the CJHL
National Awards. Each 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 leagues
