London, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that goaltender Michael Houser of the London Knights is the 2011-12 recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year as voted by the writers and broadcasters that cover the league.

Houser played an incredible 62 games between the pipes for the first place Knights backstopping the club to their fifth Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the OHL’s top regular season team. Also named the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year, Houser posted a record of 46-15-0-1 tying the OHL single season record for most wins by a goaltender set by Andrew Engelage of the OHL Champion Windsor Spitfires in 2009.

“It’s a huge honour,” said Houser. “There are a lot of great players in the league, especially this year, and it is nice to be recognized. It’s an award that I couldn’t have won without the teammates in front of me. They play hard every night and they make my job a lot easier. A lot of thanks go out to them.”

Houser is just the fifth goaltender to receive the prestigious Red Tilson Trophy following Andrew Raycroft (Kingston 2000), Bill Harrington (Kitchener 1952), Glenn Hall (Windsor 1951), and Gil Mayer (Barrie 1949). He is also the fifth member of the Knights to win the award following Corey Perry in 2005, Jason Allison in 1994, Dave Simpson in 1982, and Dennis Maruk in 1975. The 19-year-old native of Wexford, PA, is also just the third American-born player to win the award following David Legwand (Plymouth 1998), and Pat Peake (Detroit 1993).

“We’re honoured to have had Michael on our team once again this season,” said Knights General Manager and Head Coach Mark Hunter. “He’s a leader both on and off the ice and is definitely one of our hardest workers setting an example for the rest of the team. Houser is one of the biggest reasons we finished first overall and have made it all the way to the Rogers OHL Championship Series and we’re pleased to see him receive the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year.”

Undrafted into the OHL, Houser joined the Knights prior to the 2009-10 season and has already played in 141 regular season contests. His 62 games played led all OHL goaltenders this season while his 1862 saves was also the league’s top mark. He finished second with six shutout victories while his goals-against-average of 2.47 was third-best in the league, and his save percentage of .925 ranked fourth overall.

In this year’s Western Conference Coaches Poll, he appeared in three categories and was considered the Best Shootout Goalie, the second Hardest Worker, and the third Best Puckhandling goalie. This season Houser stopped at least 30 shots in 36 different games including six games with 40 or more saves.

The Red Tilson Trophy is the most prestigious individual award presented by the Ontario Hockey League. Accredited media were asked to select their top three choices from the 20 nominees representing all 20 member clubs. Players received five points for a first place selection, three points for second place and one point for a third place selection.

In the 80 ballots collected, Houser received 182 points in the voting process and was listed as the number one selection on 30 of the submitted ballots. OHL Top Scorer Michael Sgarbossa of the Sudbury Wolves finished in second place with 164 voting points, ahead of Tyler Toffoli of the Ottawa 67’s who received 106 voting points, and Mark Visentin of the Niagara IceDogs who received 104 voting points.

The trophy is named 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.

Other winners of the Red Tilson Trophy include Frank Mahovlich (Toronto 1957), Mike Foligno (Sudbury, 1979), Doug Gilmour (Cornwall 1983), Eric Lindros (Oshawa 1991), Brian Campbell (Ottawa 1999), Brad Boyes (Erie 2001 & 2002), Corey Locke (Ottawa 2003 & 2004), John Tavares (Oshawa 2007), Cody Hodgson (Brampton 2009), Tyler Seguin (Plymouth 2010), and Ryan Ellis (Windsor 2011).

Houser will be the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year Award presented at the CHL Awards Ceremony during the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Shawinigan.

- From OHL news release

Toronto – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the four events and participants for the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Skills Competition set for Tuesday January 18 at 7:00 pm at Air Canada Centre.

Forty of the CHL’s top prospects eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft have been divided into four different events including the Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Shooting Accuracy and a Showdown Breakaway Contest.  Following the four events, all participants will have the ability to showcase their skills in a 3-on3 game before fans and scouts in attendance.

The competition opens with the top two ranked OHL defencemen in the Fastest Skater event, including Team Orr’s Dougie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs, who is ranked seventh by NHL Central Scouting and Team Cherry’s Ryan Murphy of the Kitchener Rangers who is ranked 10th.

The Hardest Shot contest features a pair of WHL defencemen including Team Orr’s David Musil of the Vancouver Giants who is ranked 26th, and Team Cherry’s Duncan Siemens of the Saskatoon Blades who appears 14^th on the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings.  Second-ranked forward Sean Couturier of the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Team Cherry will compete in the Shooting Accuracy along with Saint John Sea Dogs’ sniper Zack Phillips of Team Orr.

This season’s Breakaway Contest competitors include Team Orr’s number three-ranked Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels and fourth-ranked Sven Bartschi of the Portland Winterhawks.  They will try and outperform Team Cherry competition that includes internet shootout sensation Tomas Jurco of the Saint John Sea Dogs ranked 24^th by NHL Central Scouting, and 19^th-ranked Ryan Strome of the Niagara IceDogs who scored arguably the nicest goal in the OHL this season.

The Showdown Breakaway Contest made its debut last season in Windsor and will again feature six players per team taking two attempts on goal before a panel of four judges that will score each attempt based on creativity, originality, degree of difficulty, execution, showmanship, and the ability to score.

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What: Plymouth Whalers (5-5-1-1) at Erie Otters (3-9-1-0)

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points), C Mike Cazzola (6-12-18), RW Shawn Szydlowski (6-7-13), LW David Broll (2-5-7), D Tyler Hostetter (3-6-9)

Plymouth – C Alex Aleardi (8-7-15), RW Stefan Noesen (7-7-14), LW Tyler Brown (5-9-14), RW Robbie Czarnik (4-8-12), D Beau Schmitz (1-7-8, plus-6)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have lost seven straight games, their longest losing streak since setting the franchise record of 16 consecutive defeats in the 2007-08 season. … They look to rebound from a 1-3 start at home. … D Brett Cook (concussion) rejoined the lineup last weekend. … RW Anthony Luciani, who has a cast on his injured wrist, isn’t expected to play this week. Coach Robbie Ftorek said Tuesday the length of the healing process will determine the timetable for his return. … Ftorek said Ds David Shields (back) and Mitch Gaulton (hand) and Fs Brett Appio (leg) and Connor Crisp (concussion) haven’t been “ruled into” the lineup for tonight’s game. … McKegg ranks second to Owen Sound LW Garrett Wilson (16-8-24) in the OHL’s scoring race. … McKegg also stands among the top 15 in goals as well as second in assists and first with three short-handed goals. … Cazzola is tied for seventh in scoring. … Szydlowski has six goals in the past nine games. … Broll has one point in his past eight games. … The Otters have allowed 36 goals during their skid. They rank in the bottom three with 56 goals against. … G Ramis Sadikov has five losses and a no-decision in his last six starts (4.63 goals-against average, .852 save percentage). … Through the club’s Hockey for the Hungry event, fans can bring a non-perishable food item to a local State Farm agent or the Otters’ front office to receive a voucher for a $2 ticket to tonight’s game. … Buck Night returns tonight with $1 Smith’s hot dogs, Coke products, beer and popcorn.

Plymouth – C Tyler Seguin, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, remains with the Boston Bruins. The NHL club has until before his 10^th game, set for Nov. 5 against the Washington Capitals, to return Seguin (48-58-106) to the Whalers without starting the first year of a three-year, entry-level contract. … Noesen already has surpassed his 33-game totals (3-5-8) as a rookie last season. … G Scott Wedgewood has enjoyed a strong start to the season (5-4-0-1 record, 2.91 GAA, .904 save pct., 1 shutout). … The Whalers have .500 records at home (3-3-0-0) and on the road (2-2-1-1). … D Max Iafrate, the Whalers’ 2010 OHL first-round pick and son of former NHL defenseman Al Iafrate, has no points, a minus-1 rating and 25 penalty minutes in his first 10 games.

Up next: vs. Windsor (Friday, 7 p.m.), vs. Oshawa (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes

OHL players to watch

(listed in alphabetical order; stats from 2009-10 season)

RW Taylor Beck, Guelph – 39 goals, 93 points (61 games)

C Alexander Burmistrov, Barrie – 22 goals, 65 points (62 games)

D Ryan Ellis, Windsor – 12 goals, 61 points (48 games)

D Cam Fowler, Windsor – 8 goals, 55 points (55 games)

D Erik Gudbranson, Kingston – 23 points, +11 rating (41 games)

C Joey Hishon, Owen Sound – 16 goals, 40 points (36 games)

C Peter Holland, Guelph – 30 goals, 80 points (59 games)

C Cody Lindsay, Ottawa – 39 goals, 82 points (68 games)

C Greg McKegg, Erie – 37 goals, 85 points (67 games)

LW Jeremy Morin, Kitchener – 47 goals, 83 points (58 games)*

LW Matt Puempel, Peterborough – 33 goals, 64 points (59 games)

C Tyler Seguin, Plymouth – 48 goals, 106 points (63 games)

C Jeff Skinner, Kitchener – 50 goals, 90 points (64 games)

RW Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa – 37 goals, 79 points (65 games)

G Mark Visentin, Niagara – 24-26-0-5 record, 2.99 goals-against average, .911 save percentage, 7 shutouts

* Eligible to play with Rockford IceHogs, Chicago Blackhawks‘ AHL affiliate, this season

- Victor Fernandes

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced roster details on Thursday for Canada’s National Junior Team development camp, scheduled for early August in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Forty-one skaters (defensemen and forwards) have been identified to attend the camp. Four goaltenders will be named in late June, following the Program of Excellence goaltending camp from June 17-20.

The camp roster currently includes 17 defensemen and 24 forwards.  Of the 37 CHL players, 18 are from the Western Hockey League, 13 are from the Ontario Hockey League and six are from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

CHL Players

Defencemen:

Tyson Barrie, Kelowna Rockets

Jared Cowen, Spokane Chiefs

Calvin de Haan, Oshawa Generals

Nicolas Deslauriers, Gatineau Olympiques

Simon Despres, Saint John Sea Dogs

Taylor Doherty, Kingston Frontenacs

Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon Blades

Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, Rimouski Oceanic

Brandon Gormley, Moncton Wildcats

Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs

Brayden McNabb, Kootenay Ice

Neil Manning, Vancouver Giants

Brett Ponich, Portland Winterhawks

Mark Pysyk, Edmonton Oil Kings

Charles-Olivier Roussel, Montreal Juniors

Forwards:

Carter Ashton, Regina Pats

Taylor Beck, Guelph Storm

Casey Cizikas, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Kyle Clifford, Barrie Colts

Sean Couturier, Drummondville Voltigeurs

Cody Eakin, Swift Current Broncos

Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants

Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings

Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires

Curtis Hamilton, Saskatoon Blades

Quinton Howden, Moose Jaw Warriors

Ryan Howse, Chilliwack Bruins

Ryan Johansen, Portland Winterhawks

Zack Kassian, Windsor Spitfires

Brad Ross, Portland Winterhawks

Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings

Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers

Jeffrey Skinner, Kitchener Rangers

Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s

Linden Vey, Medicine Hat Tigers

Ethan Werek, Kingston Frontenacs

The players, born in 1991 or 1992, were selected by Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray, in consultation with head coach Dave Cameron (Mississauga St. Michael’s, OHL) and assistant coaches Bob Boughner (Windsor, OHL), Ryan Huska (Kelowna, WHL) and André Tourigny (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL). Murray evaluated these players over the course of the 2009-10 season, following these players along with numerous other candidates for the program during league play, as well as during international competitions for both the under-18 and junior programs.

“There are a number of tremendously talented players across Canada in this age group, and the players named today will have a terrific opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best the country has to offer,” said Murray. “We are looking forward to a very competitive, high-energy camp.”

The invitation list includes five players from Canada’s silver medal-winning team at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatchewan: Jared Cowen, Calvin de Haan, Ryan Ellis, Taylor Hall and Brayden Schenn.

The camp will include 24 skaters with international experience at the under-18 level (Cizikas, Cowen, de Haan, Després, Doherty, Eakin, Elliott, Ellis, Gormley, Gudbranson, Hall, Howden, Howse, Kassian, Leblanc, McNabb, Olsen, Pysyk, Ross, Schenn, Schwartz, Seguin, Skinner, Toffoli) and 30 skaters who have represented their region at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and/or Canada Winter Games (Ashton, Barrie, Beck, Cizikas, Couturier, Després, Doherty, Elliott, Ellis, Gallagher, Gauthier-Leduc, Glennie, Gormley, Gudbranson, Howden, Howse, Kassian, Leblanc, McNabb, Olsen, Pysyk, Ross, Roussel, Schenn, Schwartz, Seguin, Skinner, Toffoli, Vey, Werek).

Defenceman Calvin de Haan (Carp, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) will attend the camp but will not take part in on-ice sessions. All other invited players, as per National Junior Team policy, must attend the camp to be eligible for the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Details of the camp, including dates, schedule and red and white rosters, will be announced at a later date.

- From Hockey Canada/CHL news release

Plymouth center Tyler Seguin captured the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL‘s most outstanding player. Read more by clicking the link.