Thursday, January 5, 2006

Toronto - The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Performers of the Month for December.

OHL Player of the Month - Wojtek Wolski, Brampton Battalion
Wolski was the OHL's top scorer during the month of December, racking up eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 12 games. The 19-year-old Mississauga native recorded at least one point in 10 of 12 games last month and had multiple points on seven occasions, including a five-point game against the Peterborough Petes on December 29. Wolski, who started the year in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, has 15 goals and 43 points in 25 games with the Battalion this season.

OHL Rookie of the Month - John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Tavares was the OHL's top scoring freshman during the month of December with seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in nine games. He recorded at least one point in eight games, including three-point games against the Kingston Frontenacs on December 2 and his first OHL hat trick on December 16 against the Plymouth Whalers. The 15-year-old Oakville native leads all OHL rookies with 23 goals and is second with 40 points in 34 games this season. Tavares spent the past two weeks representing Team Ontario in the World Under-17 Challenge in Saskatchewan.

Defenceman of the Month - Matt Lashoff, Kitchener Rangers
Lashoff had a goal and 10 assists for 11 points and put together a plus nine plus-minus rating in seven games with the Rangers in December. The 19-year-old from Albany, New York had five multiple-point games last month, including three assists in a 6-3 win over the Barrie Colts on December 30. Lashoff was a first round pick of the Boston Bruins in last July's NHL Entry Draft.

Goaltender of the Month - Ryan MacDonald, Guelph Storm
MacDonald put together a 5-3-0 record, along with a 1.82 goals against average and ..930 save percentage in nine starts last month. He allowed two or fewer goals on seven occasions, including a 22-save shutout against the Windsor Spitfires on December 2 and a 25-save shutout against the Saginaw Spirit on December 18. The 20-year-old from Chesley, Ontario leads all OHL goaltenders with a 2.30 goals against average this season. He is 19-9-0 with a .914 save percentage and three shutouts in 32 games.

OHL Performers of the Month

Player of the Month
October - Rob Schremp, London Knights
November - Bobby Ryan, Owen Sound Attack December - Wojtek Wolski,
Brampton Battalion

Rookie of the Month
October - Sergei Kostitsyn, London Knights November - Sergei Kostitsyn,
London Knights December - John Tavares, Oshawa Generals

Defenceman of the Month
October - Peter Aston, Peterborough Petes November - Jakub Kindl,
Kitchener Rangers December - Matt Lashoff, Kitchener Rangers

Goaltender of the Month
October - Ryan Daniels, Saginaw Spirit
November - Adam Dennis, London Knights
December - Ryan MacDonald, Guelph Storm