CALGARY, Alberta (May 1st, 2015) – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is pleased to announce the five finalists for the 2015 CJHL Most Valuable Player Award. The MVP honour will be awarded to the player considered to have contributed the most to his teams’ success in the 2014 – 2015 regular season. The five finalists for the 2015 CJHL MVP Award are spread across the country and represent the AJHL, BCHL, CCHL, OJHL and QJHL.
Stephen Baylis, Carleton Place Canadians, CCHL (54GP, 32G – 37A – 69PTS)
A five year player for the CP Canadians and this year was selected team captain of one of the most successful franchises in the country. The CCHL’s most complete player was voted the league MVP while keeping them in the CJHL’s National Top 5 most of the year. He is without question the best penalty-killer in the CCHL anchoring Carleton Place unit which led that
category with an impressive 88%. He also is a key cog on the Canadians power play which was over 20% in efficiency. Statistically, Stephen had an amazing year, putting up career highs. He had 32 goals (7th in league), 69 points (10th in league) including 6 shorthanded goals (2nd in league) all within the 54 games played. Stephen earned both a scholarship to NCAA’s Bowling Green and an invitation to attend the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) Prospects camp.
Steve Hladin, Georgetown Raiders, OJHL (52GP, 41G – 63A – 104PTS)
Steve Hladin led the OJHL scoring race virtually from start to finish, kicking-off the year with a 14 game point scoring streak, in a dominant performance during his fourth full OJHL season. He led all scorers with 63 assists and 104 points in 52 regular season games played to also take home the 2014-15 Top Scorer Award. The 20-year old Mississauga, Ontario native became one of the greatest scorers in OJHL history, reaching a trio of impressive career milestones this season, including 100 career goals, 150 career assists and 250 career points, as well as more than 300 career points with regular season and playoffs combined. Spending more time on the ice than in the penalty box, he would register just six penalty minutes all season long to also be voted as the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player. He was a member of Team OJHL Oates during the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Toronto, notching three points in five games played. He is committed to join the Sacred Heart University Pioneers beginning with the 2015-16 Atlantic Hockey Conference, NCAA Division I season.
Corey Mackin, Coquitlam Express, BCHL (58GP, 50G – 54A – 104PTS)
Corey Mackin played 58 games and registered 50 goals, 54 Assists and 104 total points during the regular season. Mackin became the first BCHL player in five seasons to reach the 50-goal mark and led the league with nine shorthanded tallies. He took the league’s Brett Hull award as top scorer and also was voted league MVP by the coaches. Mackin was assessed just
four minor penalties on the season and was a finalist for the BCHL’s most sportsmanlike player. He has one more year of Junior A eligibility and is committed to NCAA’s Ferris State University.
Nic Renyard, Okotoks Oilers, AJHL (43 GP, 30 W – 3 L – 8 T – 2.19 GAA – .924 S% – 5 SO)
Okotoks Oilers goaltender Nic Renyard was the 2014-2015 AJHL Most Valuable Player and Top Goaltender. The 20 year-old
goaltender is wrapping up a record setting regular season for the Oilers and led all AJHL goaltenders in the areas of wins and save percentage. Renyard set a new franchise record for most shutouts and set the single season franchise record for lowest goals against average as well. The Victoria, BC goaltender joined the Oilers from the BCHL in September 2014 and kicked off the season by recording 13 games without a regulation loss (12-0-1). Throughout the season, Nic amassed two 7+ game winning streaks. Renyard was the recipient of the Viterra AJHL Player of the Game five times, and was also named
as the Alberta Dodge Dealers AJHL Player of the Month in October 2014 when he posted a 8-0 record. Renyard has committed to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen of the NCAA Division I Hockey East Conference.
Marc-Anthony Therrien, Princeville Titans, QJHL (50GP, 63G – 70A – 133PTS)
Center Marc-Anthony Therrien was the leader of his team and finished 1st in QJHL scoring, with 63 goals, 70 assists and 133 points in 50 games. He also finished with a plus/minus of +61. He was a key player in his team finishing with the Division title. Therrien was selected as the QJHL Most valuable Player for the 2014-2015 season; as well as his selection to the QJHL All-Star Team; being one of only a few players this season to reach the 100-point plateau and one of the only four players to have scored 50 goals or more. Marc-Anthony Therrien led the entire CJHL in scoring with 133 points during the 2014-2015 season.
Congratulations to the following honourable mentions for the CJHL MVP Award:
Cole Golka, Dryden Ice Dogs – SIJHL
Robbie Graham, Dieppe Commandos – MHL
Steve Harland, Powassan Voodoos – NOJHL
Tristan Keck, Winkler Flyers – MJHL
Travis Mayan, Melfort Mustangs, SJHL
Each year, theCanadian Junior Hockey League recognizes the best Junior A talent from across all 10 Junior A leagues with a suite of national awards. The CJHL awards include Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender and Rookie of the Year. Every Junior A league in the CJHL has submitted a nominee for each award and the winner will be chosen from among those 10 national nominees. The selection panel consists of representatives from each of the CJHL’s 10 Junior A leagues and the award winners will be chosen based on a weighted-voting system.
The announcements of the CJHL Award Winners will be made over the week of May 4th- 8th.
