OHL Erie Otters

Blunden joins elite company

Published on June 11, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Mike Blunden became just the second player in Erie Otters franchise history to be selected as an individual winner of the team's Most Valuable Player and Player-of-the-Year Awards during the 2006 Summer Awards Banquet held this afternoon in the Ambassador Crystal Ballroom at the Courtyard by Marriott. In all, the veteran Otters forward captured four honors at the annual event adding the Locastro-Bonini Three Star Award and the Leading Scorer to his collection. The 19 year-old Gloucester, Ontario native finished his fourth Otters season with a career high 46 goals (second most in franchise history) and 38 assists for 84 points in 60 games. In addition, Blunden helped Canada to a Gold Medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships, represented the Otters at the OHL All-Star Classic and in the Canada-Russia Series, made his professional debut with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League, was one of five Canadian Junior Players invited to a prep-camp for Canada's entry in to the World Championships in Latvia and signed a National Hockey League entry level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Brad Boyes (1998-2002) is the only other member of the Otters to be named Most Valuable Player and Player-of-the-Year outright in the same season when he captured the awards in 2000-01. Jake Heller was the only other multiple winner at the Banquet as he captured the Bassin Award for Dedication as well as being named the Otters Scholastic Player-of-the-Year. The 20 year-old defenseman from Skokie, Illinois developed into one of the Otters most reliable performers while also achieving the highest quality point average among team members while attending Gannon University. Individual winners from the 2006 Otters Awards Banquet included Nick Palmieri as Rookie-of-the-Year, Derrick Bagshaw as Most Sportsmanlike Player, Andrew Hotham as Best Defenseman, Adam Berti as Most Determined, Chad Loikets as the Steve Nimigon Humanitarian-of-the-Year Award winner and Josh Kidd as Most Improved.

2006-2007 Erie Otters Season Tickets are now on sale. Reserve your seats now and save big over the Box Office price. Platinum level tickets are $376.74; Gold level tickets are $328.61 and a Child (12 and under) Season Ticket in any seating level is $230.48. All prices do not include the City of Erie Entertainment Tax or fees. There are additional savings for Erie Youth Hockey Association and Erie Lady Lions members.

Single game tickets for the 2006-2007 OHL Season will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, August 30th at all Erie-area TicketMaster locations as well as the Civic Center Box Office. Platinum tickets are $13.50, Gold Tickets are $11.50 and Children (12 and under) are $9.50 in any seating area. All single game ticket prices include the City of Erie Entertainment Tax.

Don't miss out on the Otters 2006 Champions for Education Weekend presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and JET-TV. Join your favorite members of the Otters at the Dinner at the Bel-Aire Hotel and Conference Center on August 27th followed by the Golf Tournament being held August 28th at the Chautauqua Golf Club. For more information contact the Otters at 814-455-7779.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from June 11, 2006


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