OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for February
March 5, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release
Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Performers of the Month for February, 2009.
All Weather Windows OHL Player of the Month - Chris Terry, Plymouth Whalers
Chris Terry led the OHL in February scoring with 26 points including 10 goals and 16 assists and produced a league-high plus-minus rating of plus-19 in 10 games for the Whalers. He recorded nine multi-point games, all of which were Whalers' wins, including three four-point games. He was named first star of the game twice including February 13 when he contributed two assists in a 4-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves, and February 25 when he scored a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win over the Saginaw Spirit. He was also twice named second star and third star of the game.
Terry, a 19-year-old from Brampton, ON is in his fourth OHL season with the Whalers and represented them at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic. The captain leads his club in scoring and is ranked fourth in the league with 37 goals and 49 assists for 86 points in 48 games, recently moving into third place on the Whalers' all-time scoring list. The Hurricanes prospect was drafted by Carolina in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Kal Tire OHL Rookie of the Month - Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Jeff Skinner led the OHL in goals in February with 14 in 12 games for the Rangers. He added nine assists producing 23 points to lead all rookies in scoring. He registered a point in all 12 games including a streak of five multi-point games, producing eight in total. He was named first star of the game five times including four-straight highlighted by his first career OHL hat-trick February 8 in a 4-1 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He was named the Boston Pizza OHL and CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 15 when he scored five goals and three assists for eight points in four games.
Skinner, a 16-year-old from Markham, ON was a first round selection of the Rangers at the 2008 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Young Nationals. He is currently tenth in rookie scoring with 25 goals and 23 assists for 48 points in 57 games.
OHL Defenceman of the Month - Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
Ryan Ellis led all OHL defencemen in February scoring with two goals and a league-high 17 assists for 19 points in 11 games for the Spitfires. He scored points in all 11 games with six multi-point games, leading the Spits to a league-best February record of 10-1-0-0. His month was highlighted by a third star performance February 6 in a 4-3 win over the London Knights where he had two assists including setting up the game-winner. He was named second star of the game February 12 when he had four assists, again setting up the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime win over the Sarnia Sting.
Ellis, an 18-year-old from Freelton, ON is in his second OHL season with the Spitfires. He leads all defencemen in scoring with 19 goals and a league-high 62 assists for 81 points in 53 games. He is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and represented the Spitfires for the Western Conference All-Stars at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic in February.
OHL Goaltender of the Month - Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
Matt Hackett won a league-high nine games in February between the pipes for the Whalers posting a goals-against-average of 2.69 and save percentage of .924. He began the month with six-straight wins to match a career-high he set earlier this season. Three of his wins this month included games with more than 40 shots on goal. His month was highlighted by a third star performance February 13 making 33 saves to beat the Sudbury Wolves 4-2, and when he was first star in a 4-1 win over the Saginaw Spirit on February 22 kicking aside 30 shots.
Hackett, an 18-year-old from London, ON is in his third OHL season and first full year with the Whalers. In 50 games this season he is among the league leaders in goals-against-average at 2.96 and save percentage at .915 with a record of 31-13-3-0 including two shutouts.
2008-09 OHL Performers of the Month
All Weather Windows OHL Player of the Month
February - Chris Terry, Plymouth Whalers
January - John Tavares, London Knights
December - Chris Terry, Plymouth Whalers
November - Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
October - Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Kal Tire OHL Rookie of the Month
February - Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
January - Evgeny Grachev, Brampton Battalion
December - John Carlson, London Knights
November - Evgeny Grachev, Brampton Battalion
October - John McFarland, Sudbury Wolves
OHL Defenceman of the Month
February - Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
January - John Carlson, London Knights
December - Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
November - T.J. Brodie, Saginaw Spirit
October - Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
OHL Goaltender of the Month
February - Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
January - Thomas McCollum, Brampton Battalion
December - Mike Murphy, Belleville Bulls
November - Mike Murphy, Belleville Bulls
October - Andrew Engelage, Windsor Spitfires
• Discuss this story on the Ontario Hockey League message board...
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2009
- Otters step aside for Golden Knights - Erie Otters
- Otters Begin Three-Game Road Trip - Erie Otters
- By The Numbers: Five to go for Tavares in the Hunt for All-Time OHL Goal Scoring Record - OHL
- Hot Whalers Look to Finish Season on High Note - Plymouth Whalers
- Jeff Skinner Kal Tire OHL Rookie of the Month - Kitchener Rangers
- OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for February - OHL
- City to Honour Bert O'Brien - Ottawa 67's
- Spirit Playoff Tickets On Sale Now - Saginaw Spirit
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
