FRIEDMANN NAMED SE PLAYER-OF-THE-MONTH
The OJHL announced today that Toronto Junior Canadiens forward David Friedmann (photo credit - Brian Watts) has been named the Gongshow Gear South-East Conference Player-of-the-Month after recording 22 points in 13 games played throughout the month of February.
The third year veteran forward finished out the 2011-12 OJHL regular season by posting five points in the club’s final five games, helping the Junior Canadiens finish in fifth place in the South Division. His final totals placed him second in scoring on the club with 60 points in 42 games played, while leading the club with eight power play goals. Entering the playoffs, Toronto would face the higher-seeded North York Rangers and Friedmann, along with linemate Matt Carey, would go on a scoring tear to pull off a three games to one preliminary round victory. Friedmann would record 12 points during the four game series to take the early OJHL playoff scoring lead. Recording five more points in the first four games of the club’s second round series versus St. Michael’s, he currently sits atop the scoring race with 13 assists and 17 points in nine playoff games.
“It is a real honour to receive this award in such a crucial time of the year. Playoffs are all about winning. I don't really care who scores but as long as we win is what matters. The chemistry built with my linemates Matt Carey and Greg Whittle has obviously helped me achieve overall season, as well as play-off, success. I strive to be a leader and role model on and off the ice to our younger players,” said Friedmann upon hearing of the award.
Robbie Murden of the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots was runner-up to Friedmann as the South-East Conference Player-of-the-Month. The third year native of Georgetown, Ontario notched 21 points in 14 games played to finish off the regular season and start the playoffs.
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David Friedmann was born on July 3, 1993 and grew up playing his entire minor hockey career in Toronto with the Toronto Junior Canadiens organization. The JC’s were one of the top-ranked minor midget clubs throughout the 2008-09 GTHL season and would participate in the 2009 OHL Cup where he would record seven points in four games played during the tourney. Friedmann’s totals that season included 71 assists and 88 points in only 68 games played and he would begin his junior hockey career by getting the call to play a single game with the organization’s Junior ‘A’ squad. Following the season, he would be selected in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection in 13th round, 242nd overall by the Kingston Frontenacs.
The 5’11”, 188 lbs. forward would join the OJHL Junior Canadiens squad full-time in 2009-10 and the 16-year old would taste instant success, recording 32 points in 47 games played, including 28 assists, the fourth best total on the club. That summer, the up-and-coming star would receive an invitation to play for Team Slovakia at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Under-18 Tournament held in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Both Friedmann’s parents were born in Slovakia and with dual citizenship he accepted the invitation to play against some of the best young players in the entire world. It was at this tournament that he was first noticed by NHL scouts.
Returning to the OJHL in 2010-11, Friedmann would continue racking up points at a point/game pace and had 35 in 33 games played for the JC’s when he was traded to the playoff contending Georgetown Raiders early in the New Year. He would finish the year with 50 points in 47 games, but faced disappointment when the Raiders lost their first round series to the Oakville Blades. In January, after being recruited by a few NCAA schools, Friedmann made the decision to confirm his commitment to the Robert Morris University Colonials program, making plans to join the school in the fall of 2012. Then, later that summer, he was named to the OHA’s Team Canada Selects club that would participate at the Three Nations Cup held in Helsinki, Finland. This experience led into an invitation from the Los Angeles Kings to attend the NHL club’s summer development camp and a chance to play with some of the Kings best prospects.
The 2011-12 season began with an invitation to the OJHL’s Team Canada East Evaluation Camp. Friedmann would ultimately turn the opportunity into a spot on the club that would participate in the 2011 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge that was held in Langley, B.C. The squad would capture a second consecutive silver medal at the tournament, peaking with a semi-final victory over the three-time defending champs from the United States. Friedmann also returned to the Junior Canadiens where, despite missing numerous games with Team Canada East, he would finish second in scoring on the club with a career-high 24 goals and 60 points.
