JOORIS NAMED COACH OF YEAR
The Ontario Junior Hockey League announced today that Mark Jooris (photo credit - Dan Hickling) of the Burlington Cougars has been named the recipient of the 2015-16 OJHL Coach-of-the-Year Award.
The 2009-10 CCHL West Division Coach-of-the-Year captures the award once again during his second stint with the club this season, becoming only the 12th multiple winner of the award and the third Burlington Cougar to be named top bench boss, joining himself and Wes Wiseman (2002-03). Returning the Cougars to respectability, Jooris marched the club to its first post-season berth since 2012-13 by finishing second in the West Division standings with a 34-17-3 record for a .657 winning percentage. After finishing second from the bottom in the OJHL last season, and recording just 50 points combined over the past two years, Burlington recorded 71 points to also finish third in the South-West Conference standings and fifth overall in the entire OJHL. Burlington's improvement this season, not only saw them post an impressive 18-7-2 record at the Appleby Ice Centre, but also the fifth best road record in the OJHL at 16-10-1, as well as the league's best record outside of their division at 25-11-1.
Once a high-scoring offensive force himself throughout a lengthy professional career, Jooris' effect on the Cougars offence cannot be understated as they led the league with 249 goals for, 16 goals clear of their closest competitor, while also sending out the OJHL's best power play that scored 65 goals on 256 opportunities with the man advantage for a 25.39% success rate. Pounding opposing netminders with 2,021 shots this season, second most in the OJHL, the Cougars record when outshooting opponents was an impressive 30-5-2. However, the club did not force the attack at the risk of playing a run-and-gun style that saw them give up scoring opportunities at will. Burlington's defensive corps, led by OJHL 2nd Team All-Star defenceman and captain Willy Paul, allowed just 175 goals against, which was fifth best in the South-West Conference, while having the league's fourth best penalty killing unit that posted a 85.19% success rate.
Also the Cougars' General Manager, Jooris made numerous deals throughout the season to help improve the club's efficiency and dressing room dynamic. He surprised many in mid-December when he traded one of the league's top scorers in Jack Jeffers to Orangeville in exchange for James McLaughlin, while also picking-up Stefano Alonzi from the Mississauga Chargers.
The 52-year old native of Burlington, Ontario was one of the Central Junior 'B' Hockey League's top scorers during his tenure with the Cougars during the early 1980's before playing four seasons for the NCAA Division I Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers. Following his collegiate career, Jooris would play in Finland, as well as for the Canadian National Team. During a 13-year professional career, Jooris also played in the AHL, Germany and Switzerland, while resuming his career back home during the 2000's playing senior hockey with the Dundas Real McCoys. Jooris took over the helm of the Cougars for the first time in 2009-10, leading the club to the then-CCHL regular season title. After stints with the Oakville Blades and Markham Waxers between 2010-12, he returned to the Cougars midway through last season.
The OJHL Coach-of-the-Year Award is awarded to the Head Coach that is adjudged to have contributed the
most to his club’s success throughout the course of the regular season.
Greg Walters of the Georgetown Raiders was named runner-up in the OJHL award balloting to Jooris.
The 2011-12 recipient of the award, Walters led the Raiders to a second consecutive West Division and South-West Conference regular season title in 2015-16. Posting a 37-13-4 record for 78 points and a .722 winning percentage, Georgetown was also runner-up for the overall OJHL regular season crown to Trenton.
The OJHL Scholastic Player-of-the-Year, Top Prospect and Most Gentlemanly Player Award recipients will be announced next week.
2015-16 OJHL Award Winners
Award Winner Runner-Up
Top Scorer Luc Brown (WEL) Zach Evancho (BUF)
Top Goaltender Daniel Urbani (TRE) Andrew Masters (GEO)
Executive John McDonald (TRE) Mark Jooris (BUR)
Volunteer Jodi Lanzarotta (MAR) Vivienne Bridgeford (AUR)
Trainer Joe Aiello (COB) Sarah Ditmars (TRE)
Humanitarian Stefano Durante (COB) n/a
Most Improved Luc Brown (WEL) Ryan DaSilva (STO)
Coach Mark Jooris (BUR) Greg Walters (GEO)
Previous OJHL Coach-of-the-Year Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2014-15 James Richmond (AUR) Jamie Caruso (ORA)
2013-14 James Richmond (AUR) Jason Fortier (TLP)
2012-13 Michael Peca (BUF) John Dean (NYR)
2011-12 Greg Walters (GEO) Craig Donovan (STO)
2010-11 Brian Perrin (NEW) Paul Bedford (PET)
*Awarded by Division prior to 2010-11
Year OJAHL CCHL East CCHL West
2009-10 Evan Robinson (KIN) Curtis Hodgins (BOW) Mark Jooris (BUR)
Year Ruddock Central Phillips MacKinnon
2008-09 Evan Robinson (KIN) Marty Abrams (WEL) Dale Hawerchuk (ORA) James Richmond (GEO)
Year South East North West
2007-08 Frank Carnevale (VAU) Dan West (BOW) Bart Crashley (COU) Randy Novak (MIL)
Rich Ricci (STM)
2006-07 John Winder (PIC) Curtis Hodgins (BOW) Jerome Dupont (AUR) Don Edwards (OAK)
2005-06 Mark Filippone (VAU) Evan Robinson (KIN) Norm McAuley (COL) John McDonald (HAM)
2004-05 Steve Cooke (WEX) Bret Meyers (PH) Tom McCarthy (HUN) Randy Novak (BRP)
John Winder (PIC)
2003-04 Chris DiPiero (STM) Curtis Hodgins (BOW) Ray Flaherty (COU) Randy Gumbley (STR)
2002-03 Russ Herrington (MAR) Rod McGillis (TRE) Marty Williamson (AUR) Wes Wiseman (BUR)
2001-02 Chris DiPiero (STM) Marty Abrams (WEL) Ray Flaherty (COU) Jay Anderson (OAK)
2000-01 Frank Carnevale (THN) Paul Bedford (LIN) Brad Selwood (NEW) Matt English (BUF)
1999-00 Lindsay Hofford (VAU) Marty Abrams (WEL) Ray Flaherty (COU) Rick Tarasuk (STR)
Year East Central West
1998-99 Roy Reid (BAN) Brad Selwood (AUR) Lindsay Hofford (BRA
Year East West
1997-98 Curtis Hodgins (BOW) Rob O'Brien (BRP)
1996-97 J.J. Johnston (PET) Frank Carnevale (BRP)
1995-96 Tom Dickey (COL) Lindsay Hofford (BRA)/Gregg Carrigan (MIL)
1994-95 Marty Sullivan (LIN) Mike Kalapaca (STR)/Glenn Walsh (HAM)
1993-94 Scott Jackson (ORL) Greg Ireland (OAK)
1992-93 Don Melanson (PET) Rick Bince (MIL)
