Award Winners Announced

March 4, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release

NORTH BAY, Ont. - Justin Brazeau was recognized twice when the North Bay Battalion announced its award winners for the 2017-18 Ontario Hockey League season Sunday.

Right winger Brazeau won the Don (Hockey) Hadley Memorial Award as the fans' favourite player. The award is named in honour of a Second World War veteran who was a longtime season ticket holder in Brampton, where the Battalion played for its first 15 years.

Brazeau also was named the most outstanding player. A native of New Liskeard, Ont., who turns 20 on May 26, Brazeau was a 13th-round choice in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

Right winger Brandon Coe was honoured as the rookie of the year. Coe, a 16-year-old resident of Ajax, Ont., was North Bay's first-round pick last April.

Adam Thilander was named the top defenceman. Thilander, a native of Skovde, Sweden, who turns 20 on Sept. 18, was selected in the first round of the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft in 2016.

Defenceman Riley Bruce was honoured as the overage player of the year. Captain Bruce, who turns 21 on July 16, is an Ottawa native who was chosen in the third round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

Centre Matthew Struthers was named the most sportsmanlike player. A resident of Milton, Ont., the 18-year-old Struthers was acquired in a Jan. 3 trade from the Owen Sound Attack.

Defenceman Travis Mailhot received the Judy Smith Award as the scholastic player of the year. The award is named for the Battalion's former academic adviser at Chippewa Secondary School. A resident of Caledon East, Ont., who turned 18 on Jan. 17, Mailhot was a fifth-round pick in 2016.

Right winger Patrick Brown received the Jerry Callaghan Memorial Award as humanitarian of the year. Callaghan served with the club in various capacities in Brampton. Brown, a Midland, Ont., resident who turns 18 on March 21, was chosen in the seventh round of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.

Award winners were recognized before the Battalion's game against the Kingston Frontenacs.

Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2018

• Knights Sweep Eastern Road Trip - London Knights
• Vancouver Canucks Prospect DiPietro Earns League-Leading 7th Shutout; Spirit Fall 4-0 - Saginaw Spirit
• Storm with Solid Effort, But Fall to Rangers in OT - Guelph Storm
• Sting Set Franchise Wins Record, Defeat Attack 5-4 - Sarnia Sting
• Powerful Third Can't Propel Petes Past IceDogs - Peterborough Petes
• Kingston Wins Via Shootout - North Bay Battalion
• 67's Clinch Playoff Spot Despite High-Scoring Loss to London - Ottawa 67's
• Fronts Get a Hard Earned 4-3 Shootout Win in North Bay - Kingston Frontenacs
• Tippett Scores Three in 7-2 Win over Otters - Brampton Steelheads
• Rangers Surge Late to Rally to OT Victory - Kitchener Rangers
• Attack Let Lead Slip Away - Owen Sound Attack
• IceDogs Defeat Petes 4-2 to Close out Weekend - Niagara IceDogs
• Award Winners Announced - North Bay Battalion
• Game Preview: Spirit Host Sudbury Wolves on Sunday Covenant Kids Day - Saginaw Spirit
• Game Preview: Storm Host Rangers at 2pm - Guelph Storm
• Colella Scores OT Winner on 'Overager Night' to Lift Firebirds Past Sudbury - Flint Firebirds

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