COBOURG, ON – On the same day he was named Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Most Valuable Player, Brooks Bandits defenceman Cale Makar (Calgary, AB) became the first player in the nearly 50-year history of the Roland Mercier Trophy to win the honour in two consecutive years as the Most Valuable Player of the RBC Cup national championship tournament.
Makar, 18, received the tournament MVP and top defenceman honours after recording five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in three games of the round robin stage of the tournament. It was his second year winning the Top Defenceman Award as well.
In addition to the tournament honours, Makar was also named the recipient of the prestigious RBC CJHL Player of the Year Award, joining prior winners of the award like Joe Colborne, Kyle Turris, Dany Heatley, Mike Comrie and Paul Kariya.
Makar became the second Bandit in team history to win the award, after Cam Maclise won it in 2013, the year the Bandits won their first RBC Cup national championship.
Makar and the Bandits will seek the franchise’s second national title beginning Saturday night in their national semi-final against the Terrebonne Cobras, with puck drop set for 5:30 PM Alberta time at the Cobourg Community Centre.
