AHL Toronto Marlies

St. John's Maple Leafs Announce Award Winners

Published on April 7, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Toronto Marlies News Release


The St. John's Maple Leafs announced today the club's Year End Award winners for the 2001-2002 season. This year's edition of the St. John's Maple Leafs Year End Awards had 7 players sharing 12 separate awards.

Here are the winners for the 2001-2002 season as selected by the St. John's Maple Leafs with the help of the Local Media:

PEPSI MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Donald MacLean
NTV/OZFM LEADING SCORER: Donald MacLean
THE TELEGRAM BEST DEFENCEMAN: Nathan Dempsey
ROGERS CABLE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Sebastien Centomo
ALIANT TELECOM SPORTSMANSHIP & DEDICATION: Craig Mills
MOLSON CANADIAN PLUS/MINUS: Donald MacLean
OVERALL MOLSON CUP WINNER: Bob Wren
MOLSON CUP RUNNER-UP: Donald MacLean
BROOKFIELD DAIRY GROUP COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Mike Minard Morgan Warren
GRUB CLUB HARDEST WORKING PLAYER: Donald MacLean
ATLANTIC LOTTERY PLAYER'S CHOICE AWARD: Nathan Dempsey
BOOSTER CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nathan Dempsey

During the 2001-2002 St. John's Maple Leafs season there were many individual and team records tied or set throughout the year. Here is a list of this past season's highlights:

* Defenceman Nathan Dempsey became the first St. John's Maple Leaf to play in 500 games with the organization. He played his milestone game on March 27th against the Albany River Rats. Dempsey finished the season with 506 regular season games played.

* Nathan Dempsey was named to the AHL's Second All-Star Team for 2001-02. The Spruce Grove native completed his career year by being named the winner of the Fred T. Hunt Award as the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.

* Donald MacLean is looking to become the first Maple Leaf player to win the AHL scoring title. He finished the season with 87 points from 33 goals and 54 assists. He enters today, the final day of the regular season, with a 4-point lead over Rob Brown of the Chicago Wolves. His scoring output is the highest by a Maple Leaf player since Brian Wiseman scored 95 points during the 1996-97 season. MacLean is also currently second in the AHL in assists (54).

* The St. John's Maple Leafs sent three players to the annual AHL All-Star Classic held this past February at Mile One Stadium. Nathan Dempsey was selected as a starter for this year's Canadian AHL All-Star Team, which was also his second straight All-Star appearance. He was joined by Don MacLean (Canadian AHL All-Star) and Jeff Farkas (PlanetUSA AHL All-Star). This was the second straight year that the Leafs have sent three players to the AHL All-Star Classic.

* For the second consecutive season the St. John's Maple Leafs will set a new team record for fewest goals allowed in a single season with 240. The Leafs surpassed their old record set last year of 244 goals allowed.

* The St. John's Maple Leafs recorded their highest point total in a season, 87 points, since 1996-97 when they had 88 points under former head coach Mark Hunter.

* The St. John' Maple Leafs have played in the post-season 10 out of the 11 years the team has been in St. John's.

* This is the 9th time in 11 seasons that the team has recorded 30 or more wins in a season.

* In addition to hosting the AHL All-Star Classic, the St. John's Maple leafs also hosted a portion of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2001-02 Training Camp in September at Mile One Stadium.

* The St. John's Maple Leafs broke three attendance records during the 2001-2002 season - Highest Attended Game (October 4, 2001 & April 6, 2002 - 6,247 fans) Highest Average Attendance (5,069) and Largest Number of fans to watch Maple Leafs Hockey in a single season (202,788). The previous Highest Average attendance was 3,687 at the Maple Leafs former home, the St. John's Memorial Stadium set back in 1991-92.

* With the move into Mile One Stadium, the hockey club had a number of firsts in the new building:

* First Game at Mile One Stadium October 19, 2001 * 4-0 loss vs Manitoba

* First Win at Mile One Stadium October 20, 2001 * 4-0 win vs Manitoba

* First Goal at Mile One Stadium October 20, 2001 * 4-0 win vs Manitoba * Paul Healey

* First Shutout at Mile One Stadium October 20, 2001 * 4-0 win vs Manitoba * Mike Minard (29 saves)

* Six St. John's Maple Leaf players made their debuts this season. Four recorded their first professional goal and two recorded their first AHL wins. The first year crop is listed in order of when they scored their first professional goal:

First Pro Goal:
Luca Cereda Oct. 7 vs Saint John Flames
Chris Chartier Oct. 27 @ Saint John Flames
Robb Palahnuk Nov.9 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Karel Pilar Nov. 4 vs Hamilton Bulldogs

First Pro Win:
Mikael Tellqvist Oct. 6 @ Lowell Lock Monster
Sebastian Centomo Jan. 5 vs Saint John Flames

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American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2002


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