Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that a media conference is scheduled for Wednesday at 12 pm at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, to announce the winner of the Red Tilson Trophy presented to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season.

The Red Tilson Trophy is the most prestigious individual award presented annually by the league to the Most Outstanding Player in the Ontario Hockey League during the regular season schedule of games as voted by sports writers and broadcasters in the OHL. The award is in honour of Albert “Red” Tilson, who was killed in action in Europe during World War II. Tilson was the OHA scoring champion for the 1942-43 season after scoring 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 22 games with the Oshawa Generals. Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires captured the award last season.

2011-12 Red Tilson Trophy Nominees
Barrie Colts – Tanner Pearson
Belleville Bulls – Brendan Gaunce
Brampton Battalion – Sam Carrick
Erie Otters – Adam Pelech
Guelph Storm – Matt Finn
Kingston Frontenacs – Darcy Greenaway
Kitchener Rangers – Tobias Rieder
London Knights – Michael Houser
Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors – Riley Brace
Niagara IceDogs – Mark Visentin
Oshawa Generals – Kevin Bailie
Ottawa 67’s – Tyler Toffoli
Owen Sound Attack – Mike Halmo
Peterborough Petes – Andrew Yogan
Plymouth Whalers – Stefan Noesen
Saginaw Spirit – Brandon Saad
Sarnia Sting – Nail Yakupov
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Nick Cousins
Sudbury Wolves – Michael Sgarbossa
Windsor Spitfires – Kerby Rychel

- From OHL news release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that goaltender Andrew D’Agostini of the Peterborough Petes is the 2011-12 recipient of the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy presented to the OHL’s Humanitarian of the Year.

D’Agostini, a 19-year-old from Scarborough, ON, earns the award for his efforts in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada shown large in part through his support and friendship of six-year-old Anthony Romanelli who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis three years ago. D’Agostini is the fifth member of the Petes to receive this award and the second straight following Jack Walchessen who was last year’s recipient.

“I would like to thank the Peterborough Petes and the OHL for this great honour,” said D’Agostini. “Peterborough has always made me feel welcome and I have enjoyed every minute giving back to them. The real heroes are people like Anthony and his family who understand how precious every day is.”

D’Agostini first reached out to Cystic Fibrosis Canada after hearing the affects of the disease when the local chapter spoke to the Petes’ organization on December 17 prior to club’s fundraising efforts and team skate in support of the foundation. D’Agostini took it upon himself to meet the presenter, Tracy Romanelli, and her son Anthony, and expressed his interest in helping to raise money for the cause. The meeting turned into an ongoing and impactful friendship where D’Agostini has maintained constant communication with Anthony and his family providing gracious comfort and support. D’Agostini is now the spokesman for the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk which takes place on May 27, 2012, and captains the team “Shutout for Anthony” which has already raised over $5,000.

“Seeing the boys together is just amazing,” said Tracy Romanelli. “Andrew had said to me in that first meeting that he was going to help make a difference in Anthony’s life. I realize it is not easy for a young man to get involved with a sick child but Andrew has given Anthony the dream of becoming a goalie and the hope that one day he may not have to deal with Cystic Fibrosis.”

In addition to his work for Cystic Fibrosis, D’Agostini has contributed over 250 hours in the past three seasons to various causes such as the Petes’ “Partners in Education Program”, while spending time in the pediatric ward of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, playing floor hockey with a local group of Special Olympians, and visiting a young Petes’ fan after returning home from an extended stay in the hospital as a result of a car accident leaving a Petes’ game earlier in the season. On the ice, D’Agostini played in 38 games between the pipes posting a record of 17-15-1-1 with one shutout, a goals-against-average of 3.90 and save percentage of .890. He was last year’s recipient of the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award presented to the league’s top High School Student Athlete of the Year.

“The Peterborough Petes are very proud of Andrew and the announcement of him being named the recipient of the Dan Snyder Memorial Award as OHL Humanitarian of the Year,” said Petes’ Assistant General Manager Aaron Garfat. “This is an award that the Petes take great pride in nominating a player for. Andrew’s involvement in the community goes above and beyond and is a true reflection of his character. He is a great role model for the youth of our community both on and off the ice.”

Each year the OHL awards a player that has demonstrated outstanding qualities as a positive role model in the community with the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy. The Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors announced in 2004 that the OHL Humanitarian of the Year award would be renamed in recognition of the former Owen Sound Platers captain, who was twice named his team’s Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of his tremendous efforts in supporting community activities.

In addition to D’Agostini and Walchessen, other Petes to win the award include Brent Tully (1994), Mike Martone (1997), and Jeff MacDougald who was the first player to receive the award in recognition of Snyder in the 2004-05 season. This is the third time where a team has had back-to-back recipients following Chris Terry and Ryan Hayes of the Plymouth Whalers in 2009 and 2010, while David Silverstone and Michael Mole earned the award as members of the Belleville Bulls in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

D’Agostini will be the OHL’s nominee for Humanitarian of the Year at the annual CHL Awards on May 26 and will be formally presented with the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy at the OHL Awards Ceremony which takes place June 5 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

- From OHL news release

2011-12 Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Nominees
Barrie – Dylan Smoskowitz*
Belleville – Luke Judson
Brampton – Mitchell Porowski
Erie – Mac MacDonnell
Guelph – Kyle Pereira
Kingston – Cody Alcock
Kitchener – Ben Fanelli*
London – Scott Harrington
Mississauga – Brett Foy
Niagara – Mark Visentin
Oshawa – Kevin Bailie
Ottawa – Shane Prince
Owen Sound – Jay Gilbert
Peterborough – Andrew D’Agostini
Plymouth – Colin MacDonald
Saginaw – Eric Locke
Sarnia – Nathan Chiarlitti**
Sault Ste. Marie – Brandon Alderson
Sudbury – Nathan Pancel
Windsor – John Cullen

*repeat nominee
** three-time nominee

BELLEVILLE, Ontario – The OHL’s lowest-scoring offense took control from the outset Monday. Then the league’s worst defense, led by overage goaltender Ramis Sadikov, took over from there.

The Erie Otters produced a rare all-around effort against Belleville. That allowed the Otters to salvage the final game of a three-game East Division trip with a 4-1 win in front of 3,276 fans at Yardmen Arena.

The Otters (9-42-3-2) received goals from Sondre Olden, Connor Brown and Kris Grant in a 1-minute, 16-second stretch early in the first period to take a 3-0 lead against Malcolm Subban, the top-rated North American goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s midseason ranking for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Olden scored again with 3:24 left in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Along the way, a defense that has allowed 264 goals held the Bulls off the scoreboard until Jake Worrad’s goal with 3:17 left in the game.

Sadikov sparked the defense with 41 saves. Brown led the Otters with his 20^th goal of the season and an assist. Grant scored his first goal since Dec. 10, 2010 – a span of 66 games. Erie, which snapped a two-game losing streak with their third straight win in Belleville, returns to action at Tullio Arena Friday at 7 p.m. against Sault Ste. Marie and Saturday against Kingston. The Bulls fell to 27-28-1-0.

SUMMARY

Otters 4, Bulls 1

Erie  3  1  0  —  4

Belleville  0  0  1  —  1

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Sondre Olden 8 (Glass, Betz), 8:09. 2. Erie, Connor Brown 20 (Fox, McDowell), 8:55. 3. Erie, Kris Grant 1 (Brown), 9:25. Penalties — Simmonds (B) tripping, 1:42.

2^nd Period — 4. Erie, Olden 9 (Eisenberg), 16:36. Penalties — Cortellessa (E) hooking, 1:11; Hooey (B) tripping, 13:39; McDowell (E) roughing, 19:03; Judson (B) roughing, 19:03.

3^rd Period — 5. Belleville, Jake Worrad 4 (Carnevale, Silas), 16:43. Penalties — Fox (E) cross checking, 4:21; Erie, too many men (served by Olden), 5:31; Corson (B) tripping, 12:19.

Shots on goal — Erie, 20-9-4—33; Belleville, 13-12-17—42.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 5-20-3-1 (42 shots, 41 saves); Belleville, Malcolm Subban 17-10-0-0 (33 shots, 29 saves).

Power plays — Erie (0-3), Belleville (0-3).

Referees — Dave Koziel, Garrett Rank. Linesmen — Chad Drown, Mike Hamilton.

Attendance — 3,276.

Three stars

* Ramis Sadikov, Otters (41 saves) ** Sondre Olden, Otters (2 goals) *** Connor Brown, Otters (goal, assist)

Third-year forward Dane Fox and second-year defenseman Adam Pelech headline five Erie Otters named to NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the NHL Entry Draft in June.

Fox, 18, who was acquired along with second-year defenseman Troy Donnay from London last week, stands 48th among North American skaters. Pelech, 17, is six spots back at No. 54. Rookie winger Connor Brown, 17, stands at No. 85. Donnay, 17, and rookie defenseman Liam Maaskant, 17, are Nos. 115 and 134, respectively.

Former Otters winger Chris Marchese, who was traded to Windsor for winger Anthony Cortellessa last month, stands at No. 97. Center Drake Caggiula, the Otters’ third-round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, is at No. 197. He plays for Stouffville in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League and has committed to the University of North Dakota.

Sarnia winger Nail Yakupov ranks first overall among North American skaters. The OHL has eight other skaters among the top 20 – Kitchener C Radek Faksa (No. 4), London D Olli Maatta (No. 6), Belleville C Brendan Gaunce (No. 11), Guelph D Matthew Finn (No. 15), Ottawa D Cody Ceci (No. 16), Peterborough D Slater Koekkoek (No. 17), Belleville LW Daniil Zharkov (No. 19) and Owen Sound C Gemel Smith (No. 20). Belleville’s Malcolm Subban ranks first among North American goaltenders.

Check out the complete lists on NHL.com, including the top European goaltenders. Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, has said the 2012 CHL Import Draft in June features goaltenders that could be selected in the first round of the NHL draft.

Bassin likely will focus on the CHL draft to find a goaltender to replace overager Ramis Sadikov next season. Rookie backup Devin Williams, who has played 18 minutes in his brief OHL career, is currently the most experienced prospect in the organization.

This week, I’ll break down all 20 OHL clubs division by division and unveil my predictions for the 2011-12 season. Today, let’s look at the Eastern Conference’s East Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Belleville Bulls

Coach/GM: George Burnett

2010-11 finish: 21-43-0-4, 4^th division, 8^th conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Mississauga 4-0 in conference quarterfinals

Key players: RW Luke Judson (28 goals, 28 assists, 56 points), C Brendan Gaunce (11-25-36), G Malcolm Subban (10-17-0-2 record, 3.16 goals-against average, .900 save percentage), D Stephen Silas (2-34-36; Colorado prospect), RW Austen Brassard (19-15-34; Winnipeg prospect)

Key losses: C Andy Bathgate (25-35-60; traded to Plymouth)

Outlook: Burnett continues to rebuild the inexperienced Bulls, which have 16 players that are 18 years old or younger. Those young players need to fill the void left by Bathgate, last year’s leading scorer.

Kingston Frontenacs

Coach/GM: Todd Gill/Doug Gilmour

2010-11 finish: 29-30-4-5, 3^rd division, 5^th conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Oshawa 4-1 in conference quarterfinals

Key players: C Ryan Spooner (35-46-81; signed with Boston), D Erik Gudbranson (12-22-34; signed with Florida), LW Tyler J. Brown (10-23-33), LW Conor Stokes (7-22-29; Boston prospect), G Igor Bobkov (4-10-0-0, 4.12, .874 with London; signed with Anaheim)

Key losses: C Nathan Moon (32-42-74), RW Michael Fine (20-34-54), D Taylor Doherty (14-39-53; signed with San Jose), C Ethan Werek (24-28-52; signed with N.Y. Rangers), LW Sean Jones (22-26-48; former Erie Otter)

Outlook: Gilmour replaces longtime GM Larry Mavety, while Gill replaces Gilmour as coach. Hopefully they don’t have to replace Spooner and Gudbranson, who already have signed NHL contracts.

Oshawa Generals

Coach/GM: Chris DiPiero

2010-11 finish: 39-19-4-6, 2^nd division, 4^th conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Niagara 4-1 in conference semifinals

Key players: RW Christian Thomas (54-45-99; signed with N.Y. Rangers), LW Andy Andreoff (33-42-75; Los Angeles prospect), C Boone Jenner (25-41-66; Columbus prospect), RW Nicklas Jensen (29-29-58), LW Lucas Lessio (27-27-54; Phoenix prospect)

Key losses: D Calvin de Haan (6-42-48, plus-17; signed with N.Y. Islanders), D Tony DeHart (4-26-30)

Outlook: Thomas, who has 95 goals and 165 points the past two seasons, leads one of the league’s most potent offenses. But can the Generals stop anyone? They lost de Haan and DeHart off a mediocre defense.

Ottawa 67’s

Coach/GM: Chris Byrne

2010-11 finish: 44-19-3-2, 1^st division, 2^nd conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Sudbury 4-0 in conference quarterfinals

Key players: RW Tyler Toffoli (57-51-108; signed with Los Angeles), LW Shane Prince (25-63-88; Ottawa prospect), G Petr Mrazek (33-15-1-2, 2.84, .920, 4 shutouts; Detroit prospect), C Ryan Martindale (34-49-83; Edmonton prospect), D Marc Zanetti (7-30-27, +25)

Key losses: RW Thomas Nesbitt (32-33-65), C Cody Lindsay (27-27-54), D Travis Gibbons (6-31-37, +34)

Outlook: Byrne takes over as GM for the legendary Brian Kilrea, who capped a 37-year career with the 67’s last month. Byrne has a team skilled and experienced enough to challenge Niagara in the East.

Peterborough Petes

Coach/GM: Mike Pelino/David Reid

2010-11 finish: 20-45-1-2, 5^th division, 9^th conference

Playoff finish: Did not qualify

Key players: LW Matt Puempel (34-35-69; Ottawa prospect), C Austin Watson (34-34-68; signed with Nashville), RW Lino Martschini (20-38-58), C Alan Quine (26-27-53; Detroit prospect), C Andrew Yogan (3-1-4 in 10 games with the Otters following shoulder surgery; N.Y. Rangers prospect)

Key losses: D Kalle Ekelund (8-35-43)

Outlook: Puempel returns at full strength after offseason hip surgery. The Petes have offense around him, especially if Yogan returns as an overager. But the league’s third-worst defense should struggle again.

- Victor Fernandes

Ontario Hockey League playoff previews

Conference quarterfinals (best-of-seven series)

Western Conference

No. 1 Owen Sound Attack vs. No. 8 London Knights

Season records: Owen Sound 46-17-1-4, London 34-29-4-1

Season series: Tied 3-3

Players to watch

Owen Sound – C Joey Hishon (37 goals, 50 assists, 87 points), LW Garrett Wilson (40-46-86), LW Andrew Fritsch (28-35-63), RW Bobby Mignardi (30-31-61), D Jesse Blacker (10-44-54)

London – RW Jared Knight (25-45-70), C Vladislav Namestnikov (30-38-68), G Michael Houser (30-19-4-1 record, 3.32 goals-against average, .904 save percentage, 1 shutout), RW Seth Griffith (22-40-62), D Scott Harrington (6-16-22)

Outlook: The Attack have the players in place to make a deep playoff run. They also have home-ice advantage over all conference opponents. But will that be enough to win the West?

Prediction: Owen Sound in 5 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Friday at Owen Sound, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 – Saturday at London, 7 p.m.

Game 3 – Tuesday at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.

Game 4 – March 31 at London, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 2 at Owen Sound, 7:30 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at London, 4 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.*

* If necessary

No. 2 Saginaw Spirit vs. No. 7 Guelph Storm

Season records: Saginaw 40-22-4-2, Guelph 34-27-4-3

Season series: Tied 2-2

Players to watch

Saginaw – LW Josh Shalla (47-25-72), RW Jordan Szwarz (27-39-66), C Vincent Trocheck (26-36-62), C Ivan Telegin (20-41-61), D Ryan O’Connor (9-32-41)

Guelph – RW Taylor Beck (42-53-95), C Michael Latta (34-55-89), C Peter Holland (37-51-88), LW Daniel Erlich (20-44-64), RW Richard Panik (27-29-56)

Outlook: If the Storm were more than a three-player team (Beck, Holland and Latta), they would be a tempting upset pick. But the Spirit are a deeper team. And in a seven-game series, that means a lot.

Prediction: Saginaw in 6 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Friday at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.

Game 2 – Sunday at Guelph, 2 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.

Game 4 – March 31 at Guelph, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 2 at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at Guelph, 7 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.*

* If necessary

No. 3 Kitchener Rangers vs. No. 6 Plymouth Whalers

Season records: Kitchener 38-21-4-5, Plymouth 36-26-2-4

Season series: Kitchener won 3-1

Players to watch

Kitchener – RW Jason Akeson (24-84-108), D Ryan Murphy (26-53-79), RW Gabriel Landeskog (36-30-66), LW Matthew Tipoff (25-35-60), D Jamie Doornbosch (19-29-48)

Plymouth – RW Stefan Noesen (34-43-77), C Robbie Czarnik (33-44-77), G Scott Wedgewood (28-18-1-1, 2.99, .908, 2 SO), LW Tyler Brown (25-32-57), D Beau Schmitz (7-24-31)

Outlook: The Rangers enter the playoffs on a seven-game losing streak. But with Murphy back on the blue line and an offense led by Akeson and Landeskog, Kitchener will rebound against the Whalers.

Prediction: Kitchener in 6 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Friday at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 – Saturday at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Kitchener, 7 p.m.

Game 4 – Wednesday at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.

Game 5 – April 1 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 2 at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 4 at Kitchener, 7 p.m.*

* If necessary

No. 4 Windsor Spitfires vs. No. 5 Erie Otters

Season records: Windsor 39-23-3-3, Erie 40-26-1-1

Season series: Tied 2-2

Players to watch

Windsor – D Ryan Ellis (24-76-100), RW Zack Kassian (26-51-77), C Alexander Khokhlachev (34-42-76), C Taylor Carnevale (35-35-70), LW Tom Kuhnhackl (39-29-68)

Erie – LW Greg McKegg (49-43-92), RW Brett Thompson (44-40-84), C Phil Varone (34-48-82), RW Shawn Szydlowski (41-37-78), G Ramis Sadikov (36-17-1-1, 2.88, .912, 2 SO)

Outlook: The Otters have the most talented – and most dangerous – team in the West. The two-time defending champion Spitfires stand in their way. But that won’t be enough to stop the Otters.

Prediction: Erie in 6 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Today at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 2 – Saturday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 – Wednesday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 1 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

* If necessary

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