DERMOTT NAMED OJHL FAN FAVOURITE
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) tonight announced that Travis Dermott of the Newmarket Hurricanes has been named the recipient of the OJHL Fan Favourite Award.
(pictured left to right - Moe Catenacci, Hurricanes General Manager; Travis Dermott, 2013 OJHL Fan Favourite; Joe Boyer, Newmarket Hurricanes Number One Fan; & Marty Savoy, OJHL Commissioner - photo credit: Brian Watts/OJHL Images)
Travis Dermott has quickly become one of the Hurricanes most exciting and most popular players during his rookie campaign with the club, recently becoming an instant hero when he scored the double-overtime North-East Conference Championship winning goal in game seven versus Kingston.
The 5'11”, 180 lbs. native of Newmarket, joined his hometown squad this season out of the local York-Simcoe Express 'AAA' organization. The 16-year old defenceman finished fourth this season in scoring among the club's rearguards, notching 14 assists and 15 points in 53 regular season games played. Already a key member of the Hurricanes special teams units, Dermott was named to the OJHL Prospect Team that defeated the CCHL 4-3 in a shootout at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Wellington, Ontario. Following the season, he was then named a 2nd Team All-Prospect.
Dermott would take his game to another level thus far in the post-season, playing well-beyond his years while earning the attention of scouts. He currently sits third in playoff scoring among defencemen with four goals and twelve points in 17 games played, while also notching two game-winners for his squad.
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 to late March. More than 10,000 votes were registered this year with 172 different OJHL players, from all 22 active member clubs, being named on ballots.
The award was presented to Dermott tonight prior to game four of the 2013 OJHL Championship Series by one of the Newmarket Hurricanes number one fans Joe Boyer. Boyer has been one of the club's biggest supporters over the past 16 years and has always been made to feel he is part of the team, as witnessed by the players bringing him onto the ice in his wheelchair to celebrate following the game seven, double-overtime victory in Kingston.
Adrian Ignagni of the St. Michael's Buzzers has been named runner-up in the Fan Favourite balloting to Dermott.
The 2011-12 runner-up as OJHL Most Valuable Player was once again the back-bone of the St. Michael's Buzzers, leading the club to a second consecutive South Division regular season crown with a league-high 30 wins and the third best save percentage of .927.
Below is the list of top vote-getters from each individual OJHL member club:
Aurora Tigers Robert Angiolella
Buffalo Jr. Sabres Tyler Gjurich
Burlington Cougars Brett Coulson
Cobourg Cougars Justin Danforth
Georgetown Raiders Robbie Murden
Hamilton Red Wings Brett Gilmore
Kingston Voyageurs Francesco Vilardi
Lindsay Muskies Patrick Thornton
Milton Icehawks Justin DeVincentis
Mississauga Chargers Matt Donnelly
Newmarket Hurricanes Travis Dermott
North York Rangers Michael Giacometti
Oakville Blades Aidan Orbinski
Orangeville Flyers Tommy Tsicos
Pickering Panthers Aidan Wallace
St. Michael’s Buzzers Adrian Ignagni
Stouffville Spirit Matt Heffernan
Toronto Jr. Canadiens Adam Logozzo
Toronto Lakeshore Patriots Joseph Pianta
Trenton Golden Hawks Ori Abramson
Wellington Dukes Brody Morris
Whitby Fury Austin Boulard
