MANY players from the city and region have starred in the Ontario Hockey League over the years.
Of this extensive list, plenty have earned OHL honours for their contributions in the major junior ranks and here’s a look at some of them.
Lakehead legend Gus Bodnar won the first OHL coach of the year award with the Oshawa Generals back in 1972.
The former NHLer previously led the Toronto Marlboros to a Memorial Cup crown in 1967 defeating the Port Arthur Marrs in the final.
Year-end league honours saw Marc Staal recognized as a 1st Team OHL All-Star on defence in both 2005-06 and 2006-07 as a member of the Sudbury Wolves.
Staal also earned league’s top defenceman accolades in ’07 joining Chris Pronger (1992-93) as the only other area product to win that honour in the league.
Picking up OHL second team selections on the back end in both 2006 and ’07 was Ryan Parent while skating for the Guelph Storm.
You also had Tom Pyatt tabbed as the league’s most sportsmanlike player honouree in 2007 as a member of the Saginaw Spirit.
In those two seasons the OHL All-Star trio of Staal, Parent and Pyatt all played pivotal roles in helping lead Canada to back-to-back World Junior Hockey Championship gold medals.
Also, back on November 27, 2006, the three were all members of Team OHL who defeated Russia 4-3 as part of the six-game Canadian Hockey League’s Canada-Russia Challenge.
Of note, Staal was that club’s team captain in that contest while Parent wore an ‘A’.
Current New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was recognized with a first-team all-star selection in net following his solid year with the Barrie Colts.
You also had Balmertown’s Cameron Mann earning consecutive spots on their first all-star squad at right wing with the Peterborough Petes in ’96 & ’97.
Other locals to be named as league all-stars on the first team include:
Trevor Johansen, (D) Toronto Marlboros (1976-77); Chris Pronger, (D) Peterborough (1992-93) and Taylor Pyatt, (LW) Sudbury (1999-2000).
Those from Thunder Bay and area who picked up second-team selections featured:
Rick St. Croix, (G) Oshawa (1972-73); Jeff Ricciardi, (D) Ottawa (1991-92); Jason Jaspers, (C) Sudbury (1999-2000); Eric Staal, (C) Peterborough (2002-03); Jeremy Swanson, (D) Barrie (2004-04); Mike Richards, (C) Kitchener (2004-05) and Matt Murray, (G) Sault Ste. Marie (2013-14).
Meanwhile OHL Third Team laurels were earned by Trevor Johansen, (D) Toronto (1975-76); Bill Houlder, (D) North Bay Centennials (1986-87); David Latta, (LW) Kitchener (1986-87); Jeremy Adduono, (LW) Sudbury (1997-98); Alex Auld, (G) North Bay 2000-01 as well as Dave Siciliano, (Coach) Owen Sound 1998-99.
CENTURY CLUB: While previously recognizing those from the city and region who amassed 200 or more points in the OHL, a number of others are part of the league’s Century Club with 100-plus points.
They include, with their team(s):
Taylor Pyatt, Sudbury (195); Curtis Bowen, Ottawa (192); Joel Scherban, London (191); Rival Fullum, Kitchener/Windsor/Cornwall (189); Ken Latta, Soo/London (183); Colt King, Guelph/North Bay/Saginaw/Oshawa/Soo/Sarnia (168); Luke Judson, Belleville (167); Trevor Kell, London/Sarnia (167); Zach Harnden, Peterborough/Kingston (165); David Bruce, Kitchener (163); Jeff Ricciardi, Ottawa (156); Jared Staal, Sudbury (153); Tyler Tucker, Barrie/Saginaw (152); Mike Allison, Sudbury (151); Murray Nystrom, London (145); Mike McEwen, Toronto (144); Nathan O’Nabigon, Plymouth/Mississauga/Kitchener (143); Danny Bois, London (139); Chris Pronger, Peterborough (139); Mike Wehrstedt, Kitchener/Mississauga (138); Jeff Richards, Soo (137); Dan Speer, Sudbury/Barrie (130); Kevin Vescio, North Bay (130); Terry Tait, Soo (127); Bill Houlder, North Bay (127); Chester Gallant Niagara Falls/Erie (124); Marc Staal, Sudbury (123); Gib Tucker, Kitchener (121); Mike Hordy, Soo (119); Mitch Maunu, Windsor (119); Pete Bakovic, Kitchener/Windsor (117); Bryan Duce, Kitchener/Soo (114); Carson Dubchak, Soo (114); Jeremy Swanson, Soo/Barrie (106); Trevor Johansen, Toronto (105); Paul Traynor, Kitchener (104); Malcolm MacMillan, Soo/Guelph/Barrie (102) and Mike MacDonald, London/Sudbury (101).