Show’s you what I know….
Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires was named as the Ontario Hockey League’s Outstanding Player last week, winning the Red Tilson Award.
In the lengthy history of the award, Ellis is just the 4th defenceman to win this award.
When I heard the stat, I automatically thought Bryan Fogerty, Denis Potvin & Bobby Orr were the other defenders to win the title, but amazingly, neither Orr nor Potvin took the honor in their respective years.
Furthermore, the Tilson award is based on balloting by Ontario Hockey League media, including Bayshore Broadcasting.
On my ballot, I selected Ellis….as my # 2 choice.
Not to say that Ellis isn’t outstanding, but my # 1 vote went to Sarnia’s Nail Yakupov a dazzling scorer who alone was worth the price of admission when a struggling Sarnia team played this year.
Yakupov didn’t crack the top 3 !!!
So, based on the trivia error and the fact my well researched selection for the Tilson award wasn’t close, I might not be nearly as smart as I think I am.
I’m Fred Wallace