Spitfires’ Ryan Ellis Wins Red Tilson Trophy as OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year

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Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that defenceman Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires is the 2010-11 recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year as voted by the writers and broadcasters that cover the league.

Ellis, who scored 101 points in 58 games with 24 goals and 77 assists became the first defenceman in 17 years to score more than 100 points in a season.  He is just the fourth defenceman in the 67-year history of the Red Tilson Trophy to win the award following Brian Campbell (Ottawa, 1999), Bryan Fogarty (Niagara Falls, 1989), and Ron Howell (Guelph, 1956).  He is also just the third member of the Windsor Spitfires to win the award and first in 30 years following Ernie Godden in 1981 and Glenn Hall in 1951.

“This is a great honour and very exciting for me,” said Ellis.  “The guys who have their names on this trophy have done some great things for hockey.  The fans in Windsor have been instrumental to our success over the years and I want to thank everyone for the best four years anyone could ask for.”

The 20-year-old from Freelton, ON, was selected by the Spitfires in the second round, 22 overall in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection.  He adds to an already impressive list of OHL awards including the Max Kaminsky Trophy as Defenceman of the Year earned this season as well as in 2008-09.  He is a three-time All-Star named twice to the First Team this season and in 2008-09, and was a Second Team All-Star last season.  Ellis was also named to the OHL’s All-Rookie team in 2007-08 the same season he was recognized as the Bobby Smith Trophy winner as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year. 

“On behalf of the Windsor Spitfires we are very excited for Ryan,” said Spitfires Vice-President and General Manager Warren Rychel.  “He leads by example and while his on-ice accolades are clear it is also his character off the ice that has been tremendous and instrumental in helping our younger players with their development this season.  He has given so much to the community.  It will be tough moving forward without Ryan Ellis but he will be remembered as one of the greatest and one of the players that helped put the Windsor Spitfires on the map.”

A winner throughout his four-year junior career with the Spitfires, the 2009 first round pick of the Nashville Predators captured two OHL and Memorial Cup titles and was named to the MasterCard Memorial Cup All-Star Team in 2009.  Internationally, Ellis is the only player in the history of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence to win Gold at each of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (2008), IIHF World Under-18 Championship (2008), Memorial of Ivan Hlinka (2008), and the IIHF World Junior Championship (2009).  He also earned silver medals with Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championship and again in 2011 in Buffalo, NY, when he served as Team Captain and was named Best Defenceman of the tournament setting a new IIHF and Team Canada record for most career-points by a defenceman with 25 in 20 games. 

“True and simple Ryan Ellis is a winner,” said Predators President and General Manager David Poile.  “I love players that are able to compete in April and in May and Ryan has shown his ability to be one of the best when his teams are competing for a championship.  He has had a fabulous junior career, but equally important is how he has conducted himself as not just a special player but a great person.”

With 314 points in 226 career games, Ellis is just the third defenceman in OHL history to record 300 career points and trails only Rick Corriveau who recorded 329 points in 260 games with London and Niagara Falls from 1987-92, and Denis Potvin who recorded 330 in 257 games with the Ottawa 67’s from 1967-73 for career points by an OHL defenceman. 

The Red Tilson Trophy is the most prestigious individual award presented by the Ontario Hockey League.  Accredited media were asked to select their top three choices from the 20 nominees representing all 20 member clubs.  Players received five points for a first place selection, three points for second place and one point for a third place selection.

In the 75 ballots collected, Ellis received 245 points in the voting process and was listed as the number one choice on more than 50% of all ballots.  He finishes ahead of Top Scorers Tyler Toffoli of the Ottawa 67’s who received 135 voting points, and Jason Akeson of the Kitchener Rangers who finished in third place with 74 points. 

The trophy is named in honour of Albert "Red" Tilson, who was killed in action in Europe during World War II. Tilson was the OHA scoring champion for the 1942-43 season after scoring 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 22 games with the Oshawa Generals.

Other winners of the Red Tilson Trophy include Frank Mahovlich (Toronto 1957), Mike Foligno (Sudbury, 1979), Doug Gilmour (Cornwall 1983), Eric Lindros (Oshawa 1991), David Legwand (Plymouth 1998), Brad Boyes (Erie 2001 & 2002), Corey Perry (London 2005), and John Tavares (Oshawa 2007), with Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers receiving the award last season. 

Ellis will be the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year Award presented at the CHL Awards Ceremony during the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Mississauga.   

 

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OHL Announces 2010-11 All-Star Teams

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Monday May 2, 2011

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the All-Star teams for the 2010-11 OHL regular season. 

The Owen Sound Attack, who recently captured the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference Champions, are represented the most on the First All-Star Team with two players including Colorado Avalanche first round pick Joey Hishon at centre, with captain and Florida Panthers prospect Garrett Wilson listed at left wing.  Matt Leyden Trophy winner Mark Reeds, the OHL’s Coach of the Year, is also on the first team.  Also representing the Attack as an All-Star is Toronto Maple Leafs prospect defenceman Jesse Blacker named to the third team. 

The Eastern Conference Champions and Bobby Orr Trophy winners the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors lead the way with four players represented in total including San Jose Sharks prospect JP Anderson in goal for the Second All-Star Team, along with Boston Bruins prospect Marc Cantin on defence.  Majors’ captain and New York Islanders prospect Casey Cizikas earned a spot on the Third All-Star Team at centre, as did defenceman and Washington Capitals prospect Brett Flemming.  Head Coach Dave Cameron appears behind the bench on the second team for the second straight year. 

Windsor Spitfire Ryan Ellis received
the most votes with 91
Photo by Joe Lemire/In Play! Magazine

Max Kaminsky Trophy winner and Nashville Predators prospect Ryan Ellis is the only player on any of the three All-Star teams who is a repeat winner.  He appears on the first team just as he did in 2008-09 when he last captured Defenceman of the Year honours.  Last season he was listed on the second All-Star team.  Joining Ellis on the point for the first team this season is 2011 NHL Entry Draft prospect Ryan Murphy, while Top Scorer and co-recipient of the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy and Los Angeles Kings prospect Tyler Toffoli of the Ottawa 67’s is listed at right wing.  Rounding out the first team in goal is OHL Goaltender of the Year and Phoenix Coyotes first round pick Mark Visentin of the Niagara IceDogs.   

The OHL All-Star Teams were selected by the OHL’s General Managers.  Players were voted on by position and received five points for a first place vote, three for a second place vote, and one for a third place vote.  In the case of defencemen, the top two selections received five points, the third and fourth selections received three points, and the fifth and sixth selections each received a single point. 

2010-11 OHL All-Star Teams (voting points in brackets):

First Team:

Centre – Joey Hishon, Owen Sound Attack (63)

Left Wing – Garrett Wilson, Owen Sound Attack (61)
Right Wing – Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s (47)
Defence – Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires (91)
Defence – Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers (71)

Goaltender – Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs (63)
Coach – Mark Reeds, Owen Sound Attack (60)

Second Team:

Centre – Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs (48)

Left Wing – Marcus Foligno, Sudbury Wolves (41)
Right Wing – Jason Akeson, Kitchener Rangers (39)
Defence – Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs (43)
Defence – Marc Cantin, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (33)

Goaltender – JP Anderson, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (59)
Coach – Dave Cameron, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (56)

Third Team:

Centre – Casey Cizikas, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (34)

Left Wing – Josh Shalla, Saginaw Spirit (36)

Right Wing – Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals (35)

Defence – Brett Flemming, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (30)

Defence – Jesse Blacker, Owen Sound Attack (28)

Goaltender – Petr Mrazek, Ottawa 67’s (24)

Coach – Michael Vellucci, Plymouth Whalers (20)

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Spitfires’ Ryan Ellis Named OHL Defenceman of the Year

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Tuesday April 26, 2011

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that for the second time in his career Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires is the recipient of the Max Kaminsky Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenceman of the Year.  

Ryan Ellis - 2011 OHL Defenceman of the Year
Photo by Joe Lemire / In Play! Magazine

Ellis led all defencemen in scoring and finished tied for fourth overall in the OHL with 101 points in 58 games scoring 24 goals and 77 assists.  He became the first defenceman to score 100 points in a season since Jamie Rivers of the Sudbury Wolves recorded 121 points in his award-winning 1993-94 campaign.  A three-time finalist, Ellis won the award for the first time in his sophomore 2008-09 season and becomes just the third defenceman in OHL history to win the award twice following Denis Potvin (Ottawa 1972 and 73), and Bryan Berard (Detroit 1995 and 96).

“It’s very exciting for me to win this award for the second time,” said Ellis.  “I’d like to thank all those who voted for me and to be named the OHL’s Top Defenceman with so many worthy candidates within our league is an honour and something that means a great deal to me personally.”

Ellis, a 20-year-old from Freelton, ON, set career-high numbers in goals, assists, and points competing in his fourth season with the Spitfires.  With 314 points in 226 career games, Ellis became just the third defenceman in OHL history to record 300 career points and trails only Rick Corriveau who recorded 329 points in 260 games with London and Niagara Falls from 1987-92, and Denis Potvin who recorded 330 in 257 games with the Ottawa 67’s from 1967-73 for career points by an OHL defenceman.  Ellis also ranks second all-time in Spitfires scoring behind Bill Bowler who produced 467 points in 250 career games. 

“I’m not sure where you start with Ryan, he’s been a great ambassador for the Windsor Spitfires during his time with us and he’s competed at every level and on the biggest stages, winning every championship imaginable in junior hockey,” said Spitfires’ Head Coach Bob Jones.  “He’s led and represented our team exceptionally well, and in my opinion has been the top player in both the OHL and CHL this season.  What Ryan has done for our team and accomplished in the past four seasons is truly remarkable.  The Windsor Spitfires are very proud of what he’s accomplished, and he is a very deserving winner of the OHL’s Top Defenceman award this season.”



Ellis in Western Conference Finals action.
Photo by Joe Lemire In Play! Magazine

A Nashville Predators prospect selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, 11^th overall, Ellis was named the OHL Defenceman of the Month three times (November, January, and February).  He was named Best Offensive Defenceman for the third straight year in the Western Conference Coaches Poll, and also finished first in voting in the Smartest Player and Hardest Shot categories.  Ellis recorded 30 multi-point games this season including a career-high six-point game with a goal and five assists as first star of a 7-1 win over the Kitchener Rangers on January 28. 

The Max Kaminsky Trophy is awarded each year to the Most Outstanding Defenceman as selected by OHL General Managers.  Teams were not permitted to vote for their own nominee.  Players received five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.

Ellis received an incredible 93 of a maximum 95 points in the voting process ahead of Ryan Murphy of the Kitchener Rangers who finished second with 47 points.  Dougie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs finished in third place with 15 points. 

Darryl Shannon is the only other member of the Spitfires to claim the award winning in 1987-88, with other notable winners including Al MacInnis (Kitchener 1982-83), Chris Pronger (Peterborough 1992-93), Brian Campbell (Ottawa 1998-99), James Wisniewski (Plymouth 2003-04), Marc Staal (Sudbury 2006-07), and Drew Doughty (Guelph 2007-08).  Jacob Muzzin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds won the award last season. 

The award is named in recognition of Max Kaminsky, who enjoyed a 10-year professional playing career that included four years in the NHL with Ottawa, Boston, and Montreal.  After he retired from playing, Kaminsky enjoyed a 15-year coaching career that was capped by winning the Memorial Cup with the St. Catherine's Teepees in 1960.

Ellis will be formally presented with the Max Kaminsky Trophy at the OHL Awards Ceremony which takes place on Wednesday June 8, 2011, at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.  He will also be the OHL’s nominee for CHL Defenceman of the Year. 

2010-11 OHL Award Winners:

Rookie of the Year – Nail Yakupov, Sarnia Sting

Coach of the Year – Mark Reeds, Owen Sound Attack

Overage Player of the Year – Jason Akeson, Kitchener Rangers

Scholastic Player of the Year – Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs

High School Academic Player of the Year – Andrew D’Agostini, Peterborough Petes

Post-Secondary School Player of the Year – Derek Lanoue, Windsor Spitfires

Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year – Jason Akeson, Kitchener Rangers

Humanitarian of the Year – Jack Walchessen, Peterborough Petes

Defenceman of the Year – Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires

Goaltender of the Year – TBA

OHL All-Star Teams – TBA

Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy winner – TBA

Executive of the Year – TBA

Bill Long Award winner – TBA

Most Outstanding Player of the Year - TBA

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The Attack will see adversity for the first time in the post-season

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By David Clark
In Play! Magazine

Owen Sound has been waiting for Windsor. The Memorial Cup winning Windsor Spitfires will come into their house and try to finish off the team that secured the top spot in Western Conference at the end of the regular season. Guys like Hishon, Wilson and Blacker are three good reasons to respect the Attack who also have three good goalies to choose from for game 1. It is likely that over-ager Scott Stajcer who has four playoff wins under his belt already will probably get the call.

Regarding the Spitfires, they now have a record for winning ten straight playoff series in the history of the Ontario Hockey League by defeating the Saginaw Spirit who just seemed to fold at the end. Windsor celebrates the win but the Attack are ready and in the dressing room already, looking at video, discussing the match-ups and figuring out the best way to get done in their favour. The Spitfires prepared themselves for the Attack by beating clubs like Erie and Saginaw who were considered favourites but the Spitfires proved them wrong.

If Zack Kassian stays hot for the Spitfires that would make a huge difference in this upcoming series. He is red-hot, coming off his first hat-trick in the playoffs against Saginaw. His physical presence is understood out there by all opposing teams who move as far away from him as possible because he brings on the pain. When he’s on the ice, they know it.

The most decorated defenceman in OHL history, Ryan Ellis is tied for second in the playoff scoring race. In fact, Windsor has five other Spitfires joining him in the top ten in scoring for the 2011 playoffs. Kuhnhackl and Johnston are even with Ellis at 16 points and Khoklachev just one point shy from the others has 15. Some of the muscle on the team including Carrick and Kass are at 14. Carrick leads the team with nine goals and sits in 8^th overall in the OHL at the moment.

Another defenceman, Adrian Robertson who came from the Peterborough Petes in the big trade is showing up for every game, and scoring in a few. He is a scrappy defender for sure but he has 13 points additionally.

Jack Campbell has been outstanding since he started this campaign in a winning fashion in Game 2 against a very offensive Erie team who had a few snipers who knew how to finish. Campbell kept Windsor in it, stopping the Luciani’s, McKegg’s and Varone’s most of the time.

Near the end, Campbell had outplayed Sadikov in this tight series. Saginaw had an even harder time solving him but Shalla gave him fits. Campbell is one of the main reasons the Spits are going to the conference finals. Campbell is a big game goalie from the US National Junior Development System and is playing to the max right now, like the two World Junior Tournament medals including a gold he received for a winning performance. This is his A game and fans happy to see it.  

     The coaching staff in Windsor are very experienced at winning titles, particularly Bob Jones who has a winning system to work with, inherited from part owner and former coach Bob Boughner. Jones has his own way of doing things too with the help of D.J. Smith and David Matsos, showing the team how to win.

In the upcoming series against a formidable Owen Sound team, the players are buying into the system Jones has implemented. The team also shows they know how to cope with the pressure associated with going far into the playoffs, a task for the coaching staff has instilled on them.

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Ryan Ellis – Precision Jewellers and Windsor Spitfires Player of the Month for February

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Ryan Ellis talking strategy during the
March 3, 2011 match up against the London Knights.
Photo by Joe Lemire / In Play! Magazine

Ryan Ellis – OHL Player and Defenceman of the Month, Precision Jewellers and Windsor Spitfires Player of the Month for February

windsorspitfires.com staff reports

His list of achievements just continues to grow.

But February was a particularly strong month for Spitfires defenceman Ryan Ellis. And, today, he was recognized by the team and league with a trio of honours.

Ellis is the Ontario Hockey League Player and Defenceman of the Month, as well as the Precision Jewellers Windsor Spitfires Player of the Month for February.

He is the first defenceman to win OHL Player of the Month honours this season. It's the third time and second straight OHL Defenceman of the Month honour and the third time he has been named the Precision Jewellers Player of the Month this season.

The latest milestone reached in his illustrious junior hockey career was the 300-point plateau. Ellis accomplished the feat on Sunday, February 27th with a pair of goals in a 6-5 overtime loss in Sudbury. That put him into third place on the all-time list for points by an OHL defenceman, behind only Rick Corriveau (329) and the great Denis Potvin (330).

Earlier that week, Ellis moved into second place in points in Windsor Spitfires franchise history, behind only Bill Bowler (467).

Ellis had a huge month statistically.

In 13 games, he had seven goals and 15 assists, leading all OHL scorers. Ellis recorded points in each of the last 12 games of the month and had nine multi-point games.

He is currently riding a 13-game point streak, and his next point will give him a single-season, career-high of 90.

Ellis currently leads the Spitfires in scoring and is fourth overall among OHL point-getters.

For his outstanding performance, Ellis will be presented with a gift from Dan Thomas of Precision Jewellers, prior to an upcoming Spitfires home game.

The Spits are on the road Saturday night in Plymouth, before returning home for a Sunday matinee match-up with the Guelph Storm. Tickets for that game can be purchased at the TekSavvy Box Office (Gate 2, WFCU Centre), by calling 519-254-5000 or by visiting the tickets section of our website.

Precision Jewellers and Windsor Spitfires Player of the Month awards, 2010-2011 season
* Ryan Ellis – February 2011
** Ryan Ellis – January 2011
Stephen Johnston – December 2010
*** Eric Locke – November 2010
** Ryan Ellis – October 2010
* Player was named the OHL Player of the Month and OHL Defenceman of the Month
** Player was named the OHL Defenceman of the Month
*** Player was named the OHL Rookie of the Month

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Windsor Spitfires- 4, London Knights- 3

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Windsorspitfires.com reports

Plagued by bad third periods at home in recent weeks, the Spitfires got a solid finish - and the game winner - from their grind line, in a 4-3 victory over the London Knights.

Windsor's grind line of Kenny Ryan, Kerby Rychel and Jeff Brown outworked and outscored the line they were assigned to smother Thursday night.

Ryan had the game winner midway through the third period and the Spits held tight in the late-going for a huge 4-3 win over the London Knights in front of 6,394 at the WFCU Centre.

"I love playing with Kerby and Brownie," Ryan told windsorspitfires.com. "We all kind of play the same way. We're not overly-skilled guys. But we know, you match us up with anyone, and we're going to outwork you.

"That's just our mentality."

The bang-and-crash trio held London star centre Vlad Namestnikov (27G, 37A in 62 GP) off the scoresheet. While the winning goal was a thing of beauty, it was from three guys known more for their grit than their grace.

Brown started the play with some of his trademark spade work along the side boards, before hitting Rychel with a feed at the right dot. The rookie tossed one toward the net, finding Ryan in front. And Ryan put a Savardian style spin-o-rama on Michael Houser, for his 19th of the year.

"I haven't done that move since mini sticks down in my basement," Ryan joked with an ear-to-ear smile.

The win moved the Spitfires (34-21-3-3) back into fourth place in the Western Conference and, even more importantly, to within four points of Saginaw for first in the division.

Stephen Sanza had a big game for the Knights (32-25-4-1) with a pair of goals and an assist.

Ryan Ellis had a pair of assists for the Spits. The captain now has a gawdy 29 points in his last 13 games.

He will get strong consideration tomorrow for OHL Player of the Month for February.

The Spits now have a day off before facing the Whalers in Plymouth - in arguably the biggest game of the season - on Saturday night, before returning home Sunday afternoon to face the Guelph Storm for the final time this season.

SCORING
FIRST PERIOD
WSR Duininck, (7) (Ebert, Kassian), 11:12

SECOND PERIOD
LDN Sanza, (23) (Knight), 11:15
LDN Martin, (17) (Sanza), 14:06
WSR Kuhnhackl, (35) (Ellis, Kassian), 14:44
LDN Sanza, (24) (Knight), 16:55

THIRD PERIOD
WSR Carnevale, (35) (Ellis, Ryan), 1:24 (PP)
WSR Ryan, (19) (Rychel, Brown), 10:42

SHOTS ON GOAL
WINDSOR: 15 - 10 - 15 = 40
LONDON: 8 - 8 - 4 = 20

POWER PLAYS
WINDSOR: 1-FOR-1
LONDON: 0-FOR-0

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Ryan Ellis – The Tecumseh and South Walkerville Vision Centres Windsor Spitfires Player of the Week

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windsorspitfires.com staff reports

It was quite a week for captain Ryan Ellis.

He scored a pair of goals to hit 300 points in his outstanding junior career. That moved him into third place in all-time scoring by an OHL defenceman.

Earlier in the week, Ellis moved into second place in Windsor Spitfires all-time scoring, behind only Bill Bowler (467).

In three games, the captain had two goals and five assists with a +5 rating.

Ellis had two assists, was +3 and played a solid defensive game last Thursday in a 4-1 win over the Ottawa 67s. The next night in the Soo, Ellis had three assists and a +1 rating in a 4-2 win over the Greyhounds. He wrapped the weekend with two goals and a +1 rating in a 6-5 OT loss in Sudbury.

Ellis leads the Spitfires in points, is the league's highest-scoring defenceman and fourth in overall OHL scoring (21G, 66A).

Ryan Ellis: this week's Tecumseh and South Walkerville Vision Centres Windsor Spitfires Player of the Week.

Due to late releases, the Windsor Spitfires have a limited amount of tickets available for tomorrow’s home game against the London Knights. Come out and watch the Spitfires take on the Knights tomorrow at 7:05 p.m at the WFCU Centre.

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