BOLTON NAMED OJHL FAN FAVOURITE
(pictured - Cole Bolton of the Kingston Voyageurs is presented with the fourth annual OJHL Fan Favourite Award as voted by the fans. Presenting the award were OJHL Commissioner Marty Savoy, right, and representing the fans, longtime Vees supporter Dave Smith - photo credit: Robert John Boucher)
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Cole Bolton of the Kingston Voyageurs has been named the recipient of the OJHL Fan Favourite Award.
The 20-year old native of Flinton, Ontario is a four-year OJHL veteran and wins the award after receiving 26.5% of the total vote. Always playing hard and with an edge to his game, Bolton has endeared himself to the dedicated Vees fan-base, while most recently becoming one of the club's top scorers as well.
A product of the Quinte Red Devils 'AAA' organization, Bolton would be selected by the Belleville Bulls in the 11th round, 203rd overall, in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. Returning for another season of midget in 2010-11, he also got his first taste of Junior 'A' action by joining the Wellington Dukes for a single regular season and a single post-season contest en route to the club capturing the OJHL title. Bolton would travel with the club as they went on to capture the Dudley-Hewitt Cup and then compete at the 2011 RBC Cup, National Junior 'A' Championship that was held in Camrose, Alberta.
The following season he made the full-time jump to the OJHL with the Dukes as a 17-year old and had a successful rookie campaign, recording 11 points in 41 regular season contests. After starting the 2012-13 season with the Dukes, Bolton would move on to join the nearby Picton Pirates Junior 'C' club in early October. For the second time in his career, the feisty forward was part of a championship squad, notching 31 points in 18 regular season games and 18 points in 9 playoff contests en route to capturing the EBJCHL title.
Bolton was on the move once again, joining the Kingston Voyageurs to start the 2013-14 season. Bolton was a key contributor over 52 regular season contests, recording 22 points and 107 penalty minutes, while helping the Vees capture the OJHL regular season title for the first time since capturing the OJAHL title in 2009-10. He added another seven points during the club's playoff run that ultimately saw them fall to Aurora in the North-East Conference Championship Series.
Bolton entered this season as one of the club's undisputed leaders, both on-and-off the ice, and has not let his team down. Although not tasting as much team success during the regular season, the Vees have met all challenges thus far in the playoffs during their run to the OJHL Championship Series. Bolton has been counted on all season to provide much more offence than in the past and finished the year second on the club with 26 goals and third in overall scoring with 55 points in 54 games played. He has taken his game to another level during the post-season, sitting third on the team and tied for fifth in overall league scoring with 22 points in 18 games played thus far.
The OJHL Fan Favourite Award is awarded annually to the player who is voted through online balloting as the fan’s favourite player. The 2011-12 season marked the first-year the award was contested with balloting running each year from late January through to the end of March. This season saw record-setting numbers and players involved with more than 56,000 votes counted for 196 different OJHL players, from all 22 active member clubs.
Blayne Oliver of the Trenton Golden Hawks has been named runner-up in the Fan Favourite balloting to Bolton.
The Blenheim, Ontario native joined the Golden Hawks this season after spending the previous two years with the Junior 'B' Chatham Maroons. The rearguard quickly became a fan favourite in Trenton and finished third in scoring from the blueline with 28 points in 54 games played to help lead the Golden Hawks to the runner-up position in the overall OJHL standings.
Also announced were the OJHL All-Fan Favourite Teams based on position and total votes received:
1st Team All-Fan Favourite
Goaltender Connor McCollum (Stouffville Spirit)
Defenceman Blayne Oliver (Trenton Golden Hawks)
Defenceman Stuart Fierheller (Lindsay Muskies)
Forward Cole Bolton (Kingston Voyageurs)
Forward Brady Wiffen (Trenton Golden Hawks)
Forward Tyson Bruce (Stouffville Spirit)
2nd Team All-Fan Favourite
Goaltender Alex Lepore (Mississauga Chargers)
Defenceman Braden Hellems (Trenton Golden Hawks)
Defenceman Braedyn Asselstine (Trenton Golden Hawks)
Forward Anthony Repaci (Toronto Jr. Canadiens)
Forward Ryan Kirkup (Whitby Fury)
Forward Mitch Emerson (Toronto Patriots)
Below is the list of top vote-getters from each individual OJHL member club:
Aurora Tigers Cameron Morrison
Buffalo Jr. Sabres Colin Farrell
Burlington Cougars Cameron Radford
Cobourg Cougars Stefano Durante
Georgetown Raiders Brendan Jacome
Hamilton Red Wings Alexander Carlson
Kingston Voyageurs Cole Bolton
Lindsay Muskies Stuart Fierheller
Milton Icehawks Lucas Martellaci
Mississauga Chargers Alex Lepore
Newmarket Hurricanes Ryan Shaw
North York Rangers Brett Seldon
Oakville Blades Greg Campbell
Orangeville Flyers Ryan DaSilva
Pickering Panthers Justin Bennett
St. Michael’s Buzzers George Argiropolis/Cameron Searles
Stouffville Spirit Tyson Bruce
Toronto Jr. Canadiens Anthony Repaci
Toronto Patriots Mitch Emerson
Trenton Golden Hawks Blayne Oliver
Wellington Dukes Nick DeVito
Whitby Fury Ryan Kirkup
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)
Most Gentlemanly Steve Hladin (GEO) Gabriel Valenzuela (NYR)
Top Defenceman Eric Williams (AUR) Niko Kovachis (PAT)
Goaltender-of-Year Justin Kapelmaster (TRE) Andy Munroe (AUR)
Scholastic Sam Hu (NEW) Kamil Tkaczuk (OAK)
Top Prospect Will Reilly (NYR) Callum Fryer (AUR)
Rookie Cameron Morrison (AUR) Jack LaFontaine (GEO)
MVP Steve Hladin (GEO) Brady Wiffen (TRE)
Fan Favourite Cole Bolton (KIN) Blayne Oliver (TRE)
Previous OJHL Fan Favourite Award Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2013-14 Stuart Fierheller (LIN) Michael Casale (KIN)
2012-13 Travis Dermott (NEW) Adrian Ignagni (STM)
2011-12 Andrew Doyle (STO) Christian Finch (STO)
