Ontario Hockey League Announces Results of Annual Coaches Poll
March 19, 2008 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release
Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results for the 2007-08 Coaches Poll.
The OHL Coaches Poll provides team coaches with the opportunity to recognize players in several skill categories within their own conference. The top three players in each category from the Eastern and Western Conferences are recognized. Coaches vote for each category within their conference and are not permitted to vote for players on their team. Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.
In the Eastern Conference, Belleville Bulls' captain Matt Beleskey led the way, winning three categories, including hardest worker, best body checker and hardest shot. John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals (most dangerous in the goal area and best stickhandler) and Cory Tanaka of the Bulls (best defensive forward and best penalty killer) were also multiple category winners.
In the Western Conference, Justin Azevedo of the Kitchener Rangers won three categories, including smartest player, best playmaker and best on face-offs while Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting won best stickhandler and best shot. Windsor Spitfires captain Mickey Renaud, who passed away last month, was honoured as the most underrated player and the best defensive forward.
Eastern Conference
Most Underrated Player
Jesse Messier, Mississauga (22)
Jan Mursak, Belleville (16)
Pat Daley, Peterborough (13)
Most Improved Player
Mike Murphy, Belleville (20)
Alex Hutchings, Barrie (16)
Jared Staal, Sudbury (16)
Smartest Player
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (29)
Logan Couture, Ottawa (17)
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (17)
Hardest Worker
Matt Beleskey, Belleville (38)
Luca Caputi, Niagara (21)
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (19)
Best Playmaker
John Hughes, Brampton (30)
Logan Couture, Ottawa (19)
Jan Mursak, Belleville (16)
Most Dangerous in the Goal Area
John Tavares, Oshawa (35)
Luca Caputi, Niagara (20)
Shawn Matthias (19)
Best Skater
Mike Swift, Niagara (30)
Shawn Lalonde, Belleville (18)
Yves Bastien, Peterborough (17)
Best Shot
Brett MacLean, Oshawa (36)
Luca Caputi, Niagara (21)
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (12)
Hardest Shot
Matt Beleskey, Belleville (26)
Kaspars Daugavins, Mississauga (17)
Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara (13)
Best Stickhandler
John Tavares, Oshawa (41)
Jan Mursak, Belleville (20)
Logan Couture, Oshawa (13)
Best on Face-Offs
Shawn Matthias, Belleville (32)
John Armstrong, Peterborough (16)
John Tavares, Oshawa (15)
Best Body Checker
Matt Beleskey, Belleville (36)
Julien Demers, Ottawa (13)
Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie; John deGray, Brampton; Zac Rinaldo, Mississauga (10)
Best Defensive Forward
Cory Tanaka, Belleville (37)
Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (18)
Jesse Messier, Mississauga (15)
Best Penalty Killer
Cory Tanaka, Belleville (32)
Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (19)
Thomas Stajan, Brampton (10)
Best Offensive Defenceman
Bobby Sanguinetti, Brampton (38)
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (25)
Michael Del Zotto, Oshawa (11)
Best Defensive Defenceman
Geoff Killing, Belleville (25) tie
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (25)
John deGray, Brampton; Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara (13)
Western Conference
Most Underrated Player
Mickey Renaud, Windsor (30)
Andrew Fournier, Plymouth (20)
Matt Pepe, Kitchener (11)
Most Improved Player
Jack Combs, Saginaw (33)
James Livingston, Sault Ste. Marie (17)
Brandon Buck, Guelph (16)
Smartest Player
Justin Azevedo, Kitchener (28)
Steven Stamkos, Sarnia (21)
Chris Terry, Plymouth (19)
Hardest Worker
Matt Halischuk, Kitchener (30)
Mickey Renaud, Windsor (25)
Rafael Rotter, Guelph (13)
Best Playmaker
Justin Azevedo, Kitchener (45)
Chris Terry, Plymouth (17)
Vladimir Nikiforov, Sarnia (14)
Most Dangerous in the Goal Area
Ryan McDonough, Saginaw (29)
Pat Maroon, London (26)
Chris Terry, Plymouth (19)
Best Skater
Mikkel Boedker, Kitchener (30)
Mark Katic, Sarnia (28)
Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie (15)
Best Shot
Steven Stamkos, Sarnia (24)
Yannick Weber, Kitchener (19)
Chris Terry, Plymouth (16)
Hardest Shot
Josh Godfrey, Sault Ste. Marie (35)
Yannick Weber, Kitchener (21)
Ryan Wilson, Sarnia (15)
Best Stickhandler
Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting (39)
Nazem Kadri, Kitchener (18)
Josh Bailey, Windsor (13)
Best on Face-Offs
Justin Azevedo, Kitchener (34)
Mickey Renaud, Windsor (17)
Dustin Jeffrey, Sault Ste. Marie (11)
Best Body Checker
Ryan Wilson, Sarnia (27)
Mike Duco, Kitchener (25)
Leigh Salters, Guelph (15)
Best Defensive Forward
Mickey Renaud, Windsor (34)
Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie (20)
Andrew Wilkins, London (14)
Best Penalty Killer
Matt Halischuk, Kitchener (30)
Brandon MacLean, Sault Ste. Marie (20)
Bradley Snetsinger, Windsor (14)
Best Offensive Defenceman
Drew Doughty, Guelph (32)
Yannick Weber, Kitchener (18)
Ryan Wilson, Sarnia (14)
Best Defensive Defenceman
Matt Pepe, Kitchener (23)
Drew Doughty, Guelph (20)
Andrew Campbell, Sault Ste. Marie (11)
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