Falcons dominate Golden Horseshoe awards
St. Catharines Falcons defenceman Jonah Boria has been named Golden Horseshoe most valuable player and defenceman of the year. Photo: BILL POTRECZ
The St. Catharines Falcons were front and centre at the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference year end awards.
Leading the way was defenceman Jonah Boria, who was named the winner of the Russell Masterson Memorial Award as most valuable player as well as the Dave Dunham Trophy as most valuable defenceman.
Boria led the GOJHL in scoring for defenceman with 14 goals and 55 points. The 20-year-old Grimsby native, who has committed to play at Brock next year, was also the league’s most valuable player in the playoffs last season.
“I don’t think he just brings great value to our team, he brings great value to the league,” Falcons coach Tyler Bielby said. “I think they got that right. The other coaches and managers have to vote on these awards and I think they were very thankful for Jonah staying in this league as a 20-year-old and bringing value and increasing the competition as a result.
“I’m happy for Jonah. So deserving.”
Bielby also took home some hardware as the winner of the Tom Kelly Memorial Award as coach of the year leading the Falcons to a GOJHL-best record of 36-6-6.
“I have a ton of respect for every guy who shows up in this league every night for his players,” Bielby said. “I’m surrounded by great coaches who are in the league for the right reasons. I share that award with all of them for the time they put in with these young men and of course my coaches. I may have been coach of the year, but I’m nothing by myself. I have a great support staff and that’s the reason I think we’re in the conversation.”
Falcons winger Blake Yetman was named the winner of the Pat Murphy Memorial Award as the top scorer in regular season with 29 goals and 40 assists in only 37 games.
St. Catharines netminders Aiden Berry and Stephen Toltl were named the winners of the F.G. Tony Bloomfield Trophy for the lowest goals-against average. Toltl sported 1.74 GAA and .932 save percentage while Berry, a former London National, posted a 2.47 GAA and .905 save percentage.
The Falcons also won the Tony Passero Memorial Award as regular season champions.
Alexander Hebblethwaite of the Niagara Falls Canucks was named the winner of the Brent Rubel Memorial Award as rookie of the year and the Cecil Jones Memorial Award as most gentlemanly player.
The 17-year-old Mississauga native collected 34 goals and 24 assists and just four minor penalties.
Welland native Dylan Dekoe was named the JP Thomas Memorial winner as most improved player after scoring 20 goals and adding 34 assists for the Caledonia Corvairs.
The Rod Judge Memorial Award for most goals in the regular season was shared by Hebblethwaite and Dawson McKinney of the Hamilton Kilty B’s who each netted 31 goals.
The league also announced their first and second all-star teams.
FIRST TEAM
Goaltender
Christian Lynch, Thorold Blackhawks
Defencemen
Jonah Boria, St. Catharines Falcons
Gehrig Lindberg, Niagara Falls Canucks
Forwards
Blake Yetman, St. Catharines Falcons
Dawson McKinney, Hamilton Kilty B’s
Joseph Macchione, Fort Erie Meteors.
SECOND TEAM
Goaltender
David Egorov, Hamilton Kilty B’s
Defencemen
Nathan Omeri, Hamilton Kilty B’s
Callum Cheynowski, Thorold Blackhawks
Forwards
Alexander Hebblethwaite, Niagara Falls Canucks
Daniel Vasic, Thorold Blackhawks
Parker Forlin, St. Catharines Falcons
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