Eastern Conference Coaches Poll for the 2010-11 OHL regular

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of the Eastern Conference Coaches Poll for the 2010-11 OHL regular season.



The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 16 different skill categories within their own conference.



Brett Flemming of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors leads the way for the Eastern Conference with representation in five different categories. The fifth round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft was voted the Hardest Worker and Best Defensive Defenceman, while finishing second in votes for Most Underrated Player, Best Body Checker, and is considered the third best Penalty Killer in the Eastern Conference.



Flemming’s teammate and New York Islanders prospect Casey Cizikas along with 2011 NHL Entry Draft prospect Ryan Strome of the Niagara IceDogs led the way receiving first place selections in three different categories each. Cizikas was named Smartest Player, Best on Face-offs, and Best Defensive Forward, while Strome was determined Most Improved Player, Best Playmaker, and tied Boston Bruins prospect Ryan Spooner of the Kingston Frontenacs in the Best Stickhandler category. New York Rangers prospect Christian Thomas of the Oshawa Generals, who represented the Eastern Conference in five different categories last season, finished first in two categories along with the IceDogs’ Dougie Hamilton who is eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Thomas was considered the Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and has the Best Shot, while Hamilton was named the Best Skater and Best Offensive Defenceman. Florida Panthers prospect Erik Gudbranson of the Kingston Frontenacs won the Hardest Shot category for the second straight year, while Islanders prospect and Generals’ blueliner Calvin de Haan was listed in the best Offensive Defenceman category for the third straight season.



Overall, the IceDogs had 12 players represented in the top-three of 16 different categories followed by the Majors with 10 players, and the Generals with eight.



Each team submits one nominee per category and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference and are not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.



All 16 Eastern Conference categories are listed below with their final point totals in brackets.



The winners from the Western Conference Coaches Poll will be announced on Friday.



Eastern Conference:



Most Underrated Player

Andy Andreoff, Oshawa Generals (24)

Brett Flemming, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (18)

Freddie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs (14)



Most Improved Player

Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs (39)

Shane Prince, Ottawa 67’s (22)

Andy Andreoff, Oshawa Generals (13)



Smartest Player

Casey Cizikas, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (31)

Alex Friesen, Niagara IceDogs (16)

Ryan Spooner, Kingston Frontenacs tied Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s (14)



Hardest Worker

Brett Flemming, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (18)

Luke Judson, Belleville Bulls (17)

Scott Tanski, Brampton Battalion (15)



Best Playmaker

Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs (41)

Shane Prince, Ottawa 67’s (18)

Justin Shugg, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (13)



Most Dangerous in the Goal Area

Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals (34) – finished second in votes in 2009-10

Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s (33) – finished third in votes in 2009-10

Andrew Agozzino, Niagara IceDogs (7)



Best Skater

Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs (31)

Ryan Spooner, Kingston Frontenacs (17)

Calvin de Haan, Oshawa Generals (13)



Best Shot

Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals (33) – finished second in votes in 2009-10

Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s (25)

Justin Shugg, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (15)



Hardest Shot

Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs (34) – finished first in votes in 2009-10

Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals (29) – finished second in votes in 2009-10

Marcus Foligno, Sudbury Wolves (13)



Best Stickhandler

Ryan Spooner, Kingston Frontenacs tied Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs (30) – Spooner finished third in votes in 2009-10

Michael Sgarbossa, Sudbury Wolves (14)



Best on Face-Offs

Casey Cizikas, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (36)

Nathan Moon, Kingston Frontenacs (15)

Alex Friesen, Niagara IceDogs tied Ryan Martindale, Ottawa 67’s (12)



Best Body Checker

Marcus Foligno, Sudbury Wolves (39)

Brett Flemming, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (14)

Scott Valentine, Oshawa Generals (9)



Best Defensive Forward

Casey Cizikas, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (30)

Stephon Thorne, Brampton Battalion (23)

Alex Friesen, Niagara IceDogs (15)



Best Penalty Killer

Alex Friesen, Niagara IceDogs (27)

Stephon Thorne, Brampton Battalion (23)

Brett Flemming, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (20)



Best Offensive Defenceman

Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs (43)

Calvin de Haan, Oshawa Generals (21) – finished third in votes in 2009-10 and in 2008-09

Josh McFadden, Sudbury Wolves (13)



Best Defensive Defenceman

Brett Flemming, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (30) – finished third in votes in 2009-10

Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs (22)

Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs (21)

Lotsa Gens there. I shouldn't think Boone would be too far off that best penalty killer list.

Congrats to all!