OHL Scholastic Awards

Toronto, ON The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Scholastic Award winners for the 2008-09 season.
 
Matt Duchene of the Brampton Battalion is the Bobby Smith Trophy winner as the OHLs Scholastic Player of the Year.  Tim Priamo of the Guelph Storm is the recipient of the Roger Neilson Memorial Award as the OHLs Top Academic Player attending College or University, and Freddie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs is the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award winner as the OHLs Top Academic Player attending High School.
 
Bobby Smith Trophy (OHL Scholastic Player of the Year)
 
Matt Duchene, Brampton Battalion
 
Duchene attended Turner Fenton Secondary School in Brampton while playing for the Battalion.  He maintained a busy schedule of six courses including Grade 12 University Prep classes such as English where he has achieved an 85% average and Canadian Law with a mark of 82%.  Duchene has carried an overall average of 85% and has been described by teachers as being a leader and a role model in class, always enthusiastic giving 100% effort, and always willing to take risks and to help others.
 
On the ice in his second season with the Battalion, Duchene scored 31 goals and 48 assists for 79 points in 57 games ranking 14th in league scoring.  He scored 25 multi-point games including a five-point game with a hat-trick and two assists January 8th in a 6-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves as first star of the game.  He also represented the Battalion and the Eastern Conference at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic.  An 18-year-old from Haliburton, ON, Duchene is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and competed at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. 
 
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.
 
Duchene is the first member of the Brampton Battalion to win the Bobby Smith Trophy.  Previous winners include Craig Billington (Belleville, 1984-85), Nathan LaFayette (Cornwall, 1990-91 and 1991-92), Ethan Moreau (Niagara Falls, 1993-94), Brad Boyes (Erie, 1999-00), and Steven Stamkos (Sarnia, 2006-07). 
 
Peter Holland of the Guelph Storm was runner-up for the award, followed by Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires who also won the award last season. 
 
The nominees for this award represent the 2008-09 OHL Scholastic Team.
 
2008-09 Bobby Smith Trophy Nominees:
Barrie Adam Payerl
Belleville Bryan Cameron
Brampton Matt Duchene
Erie Brett Cook
Guelph Peter Holland
Kingston Taylor Doherty
Kitchener Jeff Skinner
London Matt Clarke
Mississauga David Corrente
Niagara Alex Friesen
Oshawa Michael Zador
Ottawa Brian Birkhoff
Owen Sound Joey Hishon
Peterborough Zack Kassian
Plymouth Chris Terry
Saginaw Jordan Szwarz
Sarnia Nathan Chiarlitti
Sudbury Marcus Foligno
Sault Ste. Marie Brock Beukeboom
Windsor Ryan Ellis
 
Roger Neilson Memorial Award (Top Academic Player in College or University)
 
Tim Priamo, Guelph Storm
 
Priamo attended the University of Guelph while playing for the Storm and completed five courses maintain an 80% average.  His courses included Science and Society, Italian, Introduction to Computing, Financial Accounting, and Music and Popular Culture.  He also won three RBC awards for academic achievement presented by the Guelph Storm.  Storm Academic Advisor Donna Rawbone describes Tim as a great example of perseverance and time management both on and off the ice. 
 
Priamo, a 21-year-old defenceman from Guelph, ON, played four OHL seasons.  He began his career playing one season with the Saginaw Spirit who selected him at the 2004 OHL Priority Selection.  He played three seasons with the Storm and switched from forward to defence this season and was able to produce the best offensive numbers of his career scoring 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points in 65 games.
 
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.
 
Goaltender Danny Battachio of the Ottawa 67’s won the Roger Nielson Memorial Award back-to-back in 2004-05 and 2005-06 followed by Derrick Bagshaw of the Erie Otters in 2006-07 after its introduction in the 2005 season.
 
Runner-up for the award this season is Matt Russo of the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors followed by Scott Aarssen of the London Knights who won the award last season. 
 
2008-09 Roger Neilson Memorial Award Nominees:
Barrie Kyle van de Bospoort
Belleville Robert Stellick
Brampton Matt Clark
Erie Brandon Biggers
Guelph Tim Priamo
Kingston Ethan Werek
Kitchener Steve Lock
London Scott Aarssen
Mississauga Matt Russo
Niagara Matthew Maione
Oshawa Neil Conway
Ottawa Corey Cowick
Owen Sound Michael McGurk
Peterborough Jake Laplante
Plymouth Chris Terry
Saginaw Chris Chappell
Sarnia Steven Reese
Sudbury Alain Valiquette
Sault Ste. Marie Mike Quesnele
Windsor Mark Cundari
 
Ivan Tennant Memorial Award (Top Academic Player in High School)
 
Freddie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs
 
Hamilton is a Grade 11 student attending Governor Simcoe Secondary School in St. Catharines while playing for the IceDogs.  Maintaining a full course load, Hamilton has a 2008-09 academic average of 99%.  His grades have made him the top Grade 11 student at both his High School and throughout the entire District School Board of Niagara.  He is described by IceDogs Academic Advisor Tim Tope as a very excellent and driven student with incredible enthusiasm and leads other student athletes by showing them that it is possible to achieve excellence in every area of ones life.
 
Hamilton, a 17-year-old rookie forward from Toronto, ON, was selected by the IceDogs in the first round, 14th overall at the 2008 OHL Priority Selection.  He completed his rookie season scoring 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 65 games.  He also won gold for Team Ontario at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. 
 
This award is given to the Top Academic High School Player and 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.
 
The award was introduced in March of 2005 with previous winners including Matt Pelech (Sarnia, 2004-05), Joe Pleckaitis (Ottawa, 2005-06), and Andrew Shorkey (Owen Sound, 2006-07).  Fellow IceDogs forward Alex Friesen won the award last season. 
 
Runner-up for the award was Nathan Chiarlitti of the Sarnia Sting followed by Christian Stevens of the Kitchener Rangers.
 
2008-09 Ivan Tennant Memorial Award Nominees:
Barrie Adam Payerl
Belleville Luke Judson
Brampton Matt Duchene
Erie Brett Cook
Guelph Peter Holland
Kingston Erik Gudbranson
Kitchener Christian Stevens
London Daniel Erlich
Mississauga David Corrente
Niagara Freddie Hamilton
Oshawa Kevin Bailie
Ottawa Riley Sonnenburg
Owen Sound Steven Shipley
Peterborough Adrian Robertson
Plymouth Tyler J. Brown
Saginaw Jordan Szwarz
Sarnia Nathan Chiarlitti
Sudbury Marcus Foligno
Sault Ste. Marie Brendan Childerly
Windsor Justin Shugg
 
All three awards will be formally presented to the recipients at the 2008-09 OHL Awards Ceremony taking place Wednesday June 3 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.