CALGARY, Alberta – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is pleased to announce the five finalists for the 2015 CJHL Top Forward Award. The recipient will be the third CJHL player to receive this national award, which will be presented to the most outstanding forward in the CJHL based on individual performance during the regular season.
A candidate from each of the 10 leagues in the CJHL was nominated for the Top Forward Award. The next stage of the selection process saw representatives from all 10 Junior A leagues rank their top five players from among the 10 national nominees. Rankings were then assigned a point value and the five players with the highest point total moved on as finalists to the final round of voting.
The five finalists for the 2015 Top Forward Award are outlined below:
Felix Chamberland, Pembroke Lumber Kings, CCHL (61GP, 48G – 51A – 99PTS)
The Levis, Quebec native led the Pembroke Lumber Kings and the entire CCHL in scoring posting an impressive 99 Points in 61 Games. This came on the strength of a league leading 48 goals including an impressive 11 GWG to lead all skaters in the league. He also finished second in the CCHL in assists with 51. During the season Chamberland was only held pointless in 13 of 61 games showing an unprecedented level of consistency. Felix was also the CCHL's only back to back recipient of the Player of the Month Award. In addition to his commitment to Canisius College he was the 3 star leader of the CCHL with 12 more points than any other skater as well as 11 first star game nominations, the most in the CCHL. As a model student/athlete Felix Chamberland has blended elite hockey ability with tremendous academic acumen to excel in the CJHL.
Steve Hladin, Georgetown Raiders, OJHL (52GP, 41G – 63A – 104PTS)
Steve Hladin led the OJHL scoring race virtually from start to finish, kicking-off the year with a 14 game point scoring streak, in a dominating performance during his fourth full OJHL season. He led all scorers with 63 assists and 104 points in 52 regular season games to also take home the 2014-15 OJHL Top Scorer Award. The 20-year old Mississauga, Ontario native became one of the greatest scorers in OJHL history, reaching a trio of impressive career milestones this season, including 100 career goals, 150 career assists and 250 career points, as well as more than 300 career points with regular season and playoffs combined. Spending more time on the ice than in the penalty box, he would register just six penalty minutes all season long to also be voted as the OJHL Most Gentlemanly Player. He was a member of Team OJHL Oates during the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Toronto, notching three points in five games. He is committed to join the Sacred Heart University Pioneers beginning with the 2015-16 Atlantic Hockey Conference, NCAA Division I season.
Karl Léveillé, Montréal-Est Rangers, QJHL (51GP, 83G – 49A – 132PTS)
Right winger Karl Léveillé was selected as the QJHL Player of the Year for the 2014-2015 season. He finished 2nd in league scoring and was one of the top five scorers in the CJHL with 132 points (83-49-132). Karl was selected as a member of the QJHL All-Star Team. He also won recognition in the league for most goals (83 in 51 games which exceeds a 15 years old record in the league), as well as reaching both the 50 goal and 100 point clubs. Karl helped the Rangers to finish 3rd in the Martin St-Louis Division, and 3rd overall in the QJHL.
Corey Mackin, Coquitlam Express, BCHL (58GP, 50G – 54A – 104PTS)
Corey Mackin played 58 games and registered 50 goals, 54 Assists and 104 total points during the regular season. Mackin became the first BCHL player in five seasons to reach the 50-goal mark and led the league with nine shorthanded tallies. He took the league’s Brett Hull award as top scorer and also was voted league MVP by the coaches. Mackin was assessed just four minor penalties on the season and was a finalist for the BCHL’s most sportsmanlike player. He has one more year of Junior A eligibility and is committed to NCAA’s Ferris State University.
Austin Plevy, Brooks Bandits, AJHL (56GP, 29G – 63A – 92PTS)
Austin Plevy (Langley, BC) scored 29 goals, a league leading 63 assists for 92 points in just 56 games played. Plevy averaged 1.6 points per game, including 34 power play assists and 8 game winning goals. He also enjoyed two 10-game point streaks along the way to capturing the scoring champion title. Three Bandits players finished the regular season amongst the Top 10 AJHL Scorers. Plevy played in the BCHL prior to joining the Bandits as an Assistant Captain at the 2014 Trade Deadline. The 20 year-old was the Alberta Dodge Dealers AJHL Player of the Month for November 2014 and the Canalta Hotels AJHL Player of the Week twice in 2014-2015. Plevy was also selected as the Viterra AJHL Player of the Game 14 times in the AJHL regular season. Austin Plevy was a finalist for the 2014-2015 AJHL Most Valuable Player Award. He has committed to play for the University of Massachusetts (NCAA Division I) in 2015-2016.
Congratulations to all ten Top Forward of the Year Award nominees, which included the following CJHL forwards who are also winners of their respective league awards:
- Brad Bowles, Portage Terriers – MJHL
- Robbie Graham, Dieppe Commandos – MHL
- Cole Golka, Dryden Ice Dogs – SIJHL
- Steve Harland, Powassan Voodoos – NOJHL
- Travis Mayan, Melfort Mustangs – SJHL
Each year, the Canadian Junior Hockey League recognizes the best Junior A talent from across all 10 Junior A leagues with a suite of national awards. The CJHL awards include Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender and Rookie of the Year. Every Junior A league in the CJHL has submitted a nominee for each award and the winner will be chosen from among those 10 national nominees. The selection panel consists of representatives from each of the CJHL's 10 Junior A leagues and the award winners will be chosen based on a weighted-voting system.
The announcements of the CJHL Award Winners will be made over the week of May 4th-8th.