MacKinnon named to OHL all-academic team

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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OHL Announces Scholastic Award Winners

Toronto - The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting is the winner of the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year. Derrick Bagshaw of the Erie Otters is the winner of the Roger Neilson Memorial Award as the OHL’s Academic College/University Player of the year. Andrew Shorkey of the Owen Sound Attack is the winner of the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award as the OHL’s Academic High School Player of the Year.

Bobby Smith Trophy - Scholastic Player of the Year This award is presented annually to the player who best combines excellence on the ice with success in the classroom. This year's winner is Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting. Steven attended Northern Collegiate as a Grade 11 student taking eight courses without any spares. Courses included: Math, Biology, English, Anthropology, Physical Education, Marketing, Accounting and Information Technology. Steven managed to maintain an 83% on his best six courses.

Each year the Bobby Smith Trophy is presented to the OHL Scholastic Player of the year who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence. The trophy is in honour of Bobby Smith, former Ottawa 67’s star who exhibited a standard of excellence in both of these areas.

Previous winners of the Bobby Smith Trophy include Dave Gagner, Craig Billington, Nathan LaFayette, Ethan Moreau and Brad Boyes. Danny Battachio of the Ottawa 67’s was last year’s winner of the Bobby Smith Trophy.

Roger Neilson Memorial Award This award is presented each year to recognize the top post-secondary player in the OHL. This year's winner is Derrick Bagshaw of the Erie Otters. Derrick attended both Gannon and Mercyhurst University in Erie. Derrick maintained a GPA of 3.5+ in his university studies and to date has completed 35 credits and sophomore status. Courses that Derrick has completed include: Accounting, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Marketing and Business and Professional Communication.

The Roger Neilson Memorial Award is named in honour of the Hall of Fame Coach. While coaching the Peterborough Petes in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Neilson, a former high school teacher, was a pioneer in stressing the importance of education to all of his players.

Danny Battachio of the Ottawa 67’s won the Roger Nielson Memorial Award in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Ivan Tennant Memorial Award This award is given out each year to the top high school student in the OHL. The award is based on the player's average in his best six courses regardless of level of difficulty of the courses. This year's winner is Andrew Shorkey from the Owen Sound Attack. Andrew attended West Hill Secondary School in Owen Sound and took a very academically challenging program of seven Grade 12 University level courses including: English, Algebra, Physics, Biology, Exercise Science, Calculus and French. His overall academic average on his best six courses was 93.83% which is outstanding considering the time required to not only play in the OHL, but also to complete course requirements.

The award given to the Top Academic High School Player is named in honour of Ivan Tennant who spent a lifetime combining hockey and education. He was the Kitchener Rangers’ Education Consultant for 20 years and a key figure on the OHL’s Education Consultant’s Committee.

Previous winners of the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award include Matt Pelech of the Sarnia Sting (2004-05) and Joe Pleckaitis of the Ottawa 67’s (2005-06).

OHL All Academic Team for 2006-07

Ryan Gottschalk Barrie Colts Geoff Killing Belleville Bulls Cody Hodgson Brampton Battalion Derrick Bagshaw Erie Otters Thomas McCollum Guelph Storm Josh Brittain Kingston Frontenacs Robert Bortuzzo Kitchener Rangers Sam Gagner London Knights Alex Pietrangelo Mississauga IceDogs David Kolomatis Owen Sound Attack Brett MacLean Oshawa Generals Tyler Cuma Ottawa 67’s Jake Laplante Peterborough Petes Jeremy Smith Plymouth Whalers Jan Mursak Saginaw Spirit Steven Stamkos Sarnia Sting Nick Foligno Sudbury Wolves Chris MacKinnon Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Michael McGurk Toronto St. Michaels Majors John Kurtz Windsor Spitfires

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