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Seven Bulls Recognized in OHL Eastern Conference Coaches Poll
Seven members of the Belleville Bulls were recognized in the annual OHL Coaches Poll released on Wednesday. A Bulls player won eight of the sixteen categories voted on by the Eastern Conference coaches. In total, there was a member of the Bulls recognized in all but three categories voted on.
The OHL Coaches Poll provides team coaches with the opportunity to recognize players in several skill categories within their own conference. The top three players in each category from the Eastern and Western Conferences are recognized. Coaches vote for each category within their conference and are not permitted to vote for players on their 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.
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Bulls Captain Matt Beleskey led the East Conference, as he was named the top player in three different categories. Beleskey won the 'Hardest Shot', 'Best Body Checker' and 'Hardest Working' categories and was one of only two players league wide to win three categories, joining Kitchener Rangers forward Justin Azevedo.
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Cory Tanaka was named the ‘Best Defensive Forward’ and ‘Best Penalty Killer’ in the Eastern Conference and was one of only six players in the league to win at least two categories.
Other Bulls winners included Mike Murphy for ‘Most Improved Player’, Shawn Matthias for ‘Best on Face-Offs’, and Geoff Killing as ‘Best Defensive Defenceman’. Matthias also finished third in the ‘Most Dangerous in the Goal Area’ category. |
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Jan Mursak was recognized in three categories finishing second in 'Most Underrated Player' and 'Best Stickhandler' and third in 'Best Playmaker' while Shawn Lalonde was the seventh Bull recognized, finishing second in the 'Best Skater' voting.
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The 2007-2008 OHL Eastern Conference Coaches Poll Results are as follows:
Most Underrated Player
Jesse Messier, Mississauga (22)
Jan Mursak, Belleville (16)
Pat Daley, Peterborough (13)
Most Improved Player
Mike Murphy, Belleville (20)
Alex Hutchings, Barrie (16)
Jared Staal, Sudbury (16)
Smartest Player
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (29)
Logan Couture, Ottawa (17)
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (17)
Hardest Worker
Matt Beleskey, Belleville (38)
Luca Caputi, Niagara (21)
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (19)
Best Playmaker
John Hughes, Brampton (30)
Logan Couture, Ottawa (19)
Jan Mursak, Belleville (16)
Most Dangerous in the Goal Area
John Tavares, Oshawa (35)
Luca Caputi, Niagara (20)
Shawn Matthias, Belleville (19)
Best Skater
Mike Swift, Niagara (30)
Shawn Lalonde, Belleville (18)
Yves Bastien, Peterborough (17)
Best Shot
Brett MacLean, Oshawa (36)
Luca Caputi, Niagara (21)
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (12)
Hardest Shot
Matt Beleskey, Belleville (26)
Kaspars Daugavins, Mississauga (17)
Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara (13)
Best Stickhandler
John Tavares, Oshawa (41)
Jan Mursak, Belleville (20)
Logan Couture, Oshawa (13)
Best on Face-Offs
Shawn Matthias, Belleville (32)
John Armstrong, Peterborough (16)
John Tavares, Oshawa (15)
Best Body Checker
Matt Beleskey, Belleville (36)
Julien Demers, Ottawa (13)
Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie; John deGray, Brampton; Zac Rinaldo, Mississauga (10)
Best Defensive Forward
Cory Tanaka, Belleville (37)
Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (18)
Jesse Messier, Mississauga (15)
Best Penalty Killer
Cory Tanaka, Belleville (32)
Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (19)
Thomas Stajan, Brampton (10)
Best Offensive Defenceman
Bobby Sanguinetti, Brampton (38)
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (25)
Michael Del Zotto, Oshawa (11)
Best Defensive Defenceman
Geoff Killing, Belleville (25) tie
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough (25)
John deGray, Brampton; Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara (13)
Photos: Jeff Boyce
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