OTHL --- The 2006 award gala was held last night in Toronto, with a good chunk of OTHL players, coaches and general managers attending. And unlike last year when a majority of the awards was given to players from New Jersey, this years event saw a number of players from different teams take home the silverware. Last year, the New Jersey Devils and its players took home 9 of the awards, including the Stanley Cup. Martin Brodeur took home the Hart Memorial, the Conn Smythe, the Vezina, William Jennings Trophy and Lester B. Pearson award. This season, Brodeur left the event without a trophy. And only one of his teammates left the event with a trophy.
The Hart Memorial Trophy witch is awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the league, went to Florida Panthers Peter Forsberg. Forsberg who finished tied for first in league scoring with Bobby Holik from Ottawa, was awarded the Trophy after his stellar season with 97 points, +26 rating and 136 hits. The Swedish centerman took home the award in convicing style, recving a total of 52 voting points. 20 points ahead of the first runner up, Atlanta Thrashers Danny Heatley. Philadelphia's goaltender Marty Turco finished 3rd in the voting. Marty Turco who lead his Philadelphia Flyers to the Presidents' Trophy, was given the Vezina Trophy as the leagues outstanding goaltender. With his 35-21-7 record with 6 shutouts and a .914 save percentage, the leagues general managers feelt that he was the top goaltender this past season. Turco recived 46 voting points, 13 more then Ed Belfour (Toronto) and 21 ahead of Atlanta's Nikolai Khabibulin and San Jose's Evgeni Nabakov. Who tied for third in the voting.
The only repeat winner from last season, was New Jersey Devils top defender Scott Niedermayer, who just like last season won the James Norris Trophy, as the most valuable defender. Niedermayer beat out Philadelphia's Nicklas Lidström and Tampa Bay's Bryan Berard for the win. Niedermayer lead all defenders with 11 goals and 62 points in 80 games. Jere Lehtinen captured a new Selke Trophy, his first in the OTHL. Lehtinen took the Selke by crushing the other nominees, Lehtinen recived votes from all voting gm's, except one. giving him 63 points, 37 more points then the first runner up, Chicago's Mark Bell who recived 26 voting points. Last season, Lehtinen's teammate in Boston Michal Handsuz, won the Selke.
The winner that captured the highest total voting points, was the Calder Memorial Trophy winner, Alexander Steen. The Hurricanes rookie was given 69 points, giving him 35 more points then Sidney Crosby from Washington and 45 more then Chicago's Alexander Ovechkin.
Unlike the Selke voting, the Bill Masterton Memorial trophy voting, was as close as a voting can be. Montreal's Tim Taylor captured the trophy, only 5 points ahead of Minnesota's Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Another close voting took place in the Lady Byng voting, even if the winner, Marian Hossa had 29 points more then second placed Jonathan Cheechoo, the three players behind Hossa was seperated by only 4 points. The last trophy to be handed out last night, was the Jack Adamas Award. Given to the head coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. A trophy that was given to Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Robbie Ftorek after there strong season, were they finished 7th in the western conference with a 38-35-9 record.
2006 AWARD WINNERS:
- Stanley Cup - Atlanta Trashers
- Conn Smythe - Nikolai Khabibulin (ATL)
- Presidents Trophy - Philadelphia Flyers
- Clarence S. Campbell - Calgary Flames
- Prince of Wales - Atlanta Thrashers
- Art Ross Trophy - Bobby Holik (OTT)
- Hart Trophy - Peter Forsberg (FLO)
- Norris Trophy - Scott Niedermayer (NJ)
- Lady Byng - Marian Hossa (OTT)
- Calder Trophy - Alexander Steen (CAR)
- Vezina Trophy - Marty Turco (PHI)
- William Jennings - Marty Turco (PHI)
- Masterton Trophy - Tim Taylor (MTL)
- King Clancy - Mario Lemieux (PHI)
- Jack Adams Award - Robbie Ftorek (CBJ)
- Selke Trophy - Jere Lehtinen (BOS)
- Bob Probert Trophy - Chris Simon (CBJ)
- Wayne Gretzky Trophy - Peter Forsberg (FLO)
- Vladimir Konstantinov Trophy - Mike Rathje (CGY)
- Scott Stevens Trophy - Derian Hatcher (NYR)
- OTHL Star of the year - Manny Legace (CGY)
- Iron Man Trophy - Nicklas Lidström (PHI)
- Gordie Howe Trophy - Todd Bertuzzi (NJ)
- Maurice Richard Trophy - Rick Nash (FLO)
- Larry Robinson Trophy - Mike Rathje (CGY)
- Unsung Hero Award - Alexei Ponikarovsky (WSH)
- GM of the year - Jamie Hoover (CGY)