VALENZUELA NAMED MOST IMPROVED
The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced that Gabriel Valenzuela (photo credit - Andy Corneau/OJHL Images) of the North York Rangers has been named the 2014-15 recipient of the OJHL Most Improved Player Award.
After not playing hockey for an entire season just two years ago, the Rangers alternate captain has worked his way over the past two seasons in North York to becoming one of the OJHL's premier forwards, finishing fifth overall in league scoring with 76 points in 53 games played. Valenzuela's 34 goals was the league's fourth best total, while his 42 assists tied for sixth best among all players.
Valenzuela would play the 2011-12 season as a rookie with the Milton Icehawks before taking a break from the game for the 2012-13 season. Remarkably, he would return to the game in 2013-14 with the Rangers and post respectable numbers with 10 goals and 34 points in 53 regular season contests. The skilled playmaker would surpass his career single season high's this season by early November while more than doubling his offensive output. His 34 goals was more than triple the 10 last season, while his 76 points was more than double his production in 2013-14. Valenzuela was a key member of both special team units for the Rangers, notching 24 power play points and six shorthanded points that included three goals and three assists, both ranking top ten in the OJHL while a man short. He registered points in all but 12 games this year and kicked-off the season by getting on the scoresheet in 23 of the club's first 24 games.
The diminutive forward's quick start to the 2014-15 season saw him named the OJHL Gongshow Gear South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month for October after recording 20 points in 11 games during the month. Valenzuela's efforts this season would earn him a spot on Team OJHL Coffey, tallying one goal in three games at the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Toronto, while also officially committing to join the NCAA Division I Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers beginning with the 2015-16 Atlantic Hockey season. Following the season, he was named an OJHL 2nd Team All-Star Forward.
The OJHL Most Improved Player Award is awarded annually to the player adjudged to have shown the greatest improvement in his on-ice performance from the previous OJHL regular season(s).
Brady Wiffen of the Trenton Golden Hawks was runner-up in the OJHL Award balloting to Valenzuela.
One of the top players in the OJHL this season, having already been named a 1st Team All-Star while leading the league with 53 goals, Brady Wiffen saw significant statistical improvement over each of his three seasons in Trenton. With 12 goals and 26 points as a rookie in 2012-13, Wiffen more than doubled those totals last year to 28 goals and 54 points, before making another sizeable leap this year to 53 goals and 92 points, finishing as runner-up in the scoring race.
The OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player, Top Defenceman and the Goaltender-of-the-Year Awards will be announced next week.
2014-15 OJHL Award Winners
Award Winner Runner-Up
Top Scorer Steve Hladin (GEO) Brady Wiffen (TRE)
Top Goaltender Stefano Durante (COB) Daniel Mannella (OAK)
Executive Rob Campbell (OAK) James Richmond (AUR)
Trainer Drew Laskoski (NEW) Sarah Dittmers (TRE)
Humanitarian Sean Kohler (OAK) Stefano Durante (COB)
Volunteer John McDonald (TRE) Kim Anderson (NEW)
Coach James Richmond (AUR) Jamie Caruso (ORA)
Most Improved Gabriel Valenzuela (NYR) Brady Wiffen (TRE)
Previous OJHL Most Improved Player Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2013-14 Taylor Best (WHI) Alex Tonge (KIN)
2012-13 John Carpino (NYR) Corey Kalk (NYR)
2011-12 Darcy Murphy (WEL) Chris Porter (STO)
2010-11 Matt Neal (STO) Khaled Alli (PIC)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Spencer FInney (TRE) Jordan Reed (AJX) Phil Brewer (BUR)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Cody Rosen (KIN) Giancarlo Iuorio (MAR) Josh Cousineau (COU) Dorian Peca (VAU)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Martin Lee (VAU) Matt Gray (PET) Matt Milne (NEW) Adam Beveliqua (MIS)
2006-07 Richard Schofield (PIC) Matt Baxter (BOW) Jeff Henderson (NEW) Chase Langerap (OAK)
2005-06 Matt Martello (VAU) Nathan Longpre (PET) Jody Halas (COL) Kyle Zettler (HAM)
2004-05 Nathan Morris (MAR) Kyle Hughey (PET) Matt Whitehead (NEW) Chris Moran (BUF)
2003-04 Matt Harris (AJX) Ted Cook (BAN) Cory Konecny (NEW) Jonathan Ornelas (MIL)
Dave Mahoney (PET)
2002-03 Brian Ihnacek (STM) Travis Kauffeldt (BAN) Kevin Jarman (STO) Rob Tarantino (OAK)
2001-02 Tyler McGregor (AJX) Mike Della Mora (PET) Chris Gill (NEW) Mark Mazzetti (HAM)
2000-01 Dan Iliakis (THO) Matt Chafe (COB) Brock Radunske (NEW) Jeff Szwez (STR)
Andrian Kremblewski (STM)
1999-00 Kevin Tompkins (MAR) Kevin Rainey (COB) Will Crothers (AUR) Mike Knoepfli (GEO)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Scott Gordon (LIN) Dominic Moore (AUR) Stace Page (GEO)
Year East West
1997-98 Kevin Edgar (STO Kevin O'Flaherty (MIL)
1996-97 Darcy King/Rick White (STO) Martin Milijko (BRP)
1995-96 David Deeves (COL) Jeff Haydar (MIL)
1994-95 Otto Hlincik (COB) Corey Waring (OAK)
1993-94 Adam Lamarre (MAR) Kent Williams (OAK)
1992-93 Kris Stockdale (ORL) Tom Johnson (BUR)
