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Mike Amadio wins major OHL award

“I’m very happy to be named the Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year,” said Amadio. “It’s an honour and a great feeling.”
amadiobattalioniso
After setting the Battalion franchise record for most goals scored in a regular season, Mike Amadio has joined the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League for a development stint. File photo.

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion is the 2015-16 recipient of the William Hanley Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year.

Amadio finished ninth in league scoring with 98 points including 50 goals and 48 assists in 68 games played with a plus-minus rating of plus-30.  He recorded 40 penalty minutes in 2015-16 including just 12 in his final 32 games since January 7.  The 19-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, is the third member of the Battalion to win the award following Cody Hodgson in 2009, and Wojtek Wolski in 2006.

“I’m very happy to be named the Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year,” said Amadio. “It’s an honour and a great feeling.”

Amadio played four seasons with the Troops after being chosen by the club in the second round of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.  His 50 goals this season are a new franchise record surpassing Wolski’s mark of 47 set during his award winning campaign in 2005-06, while his eight shorthanded goals tied for the league-lead and are also a new team record surpassing Barclay Goodrow’s seven scored in 2013-14.  The captain had 24 multi-point performances this season including a career-high six-point effort on November 15 against the Barrie Colts, followed by a Battalion record five goals on February 13 against the Kingston Frontenacs.  His 226 career points rank fourth all-time for the Battalion behind Wolski (328), Hodgson (243), and Goodrow (229). 

“I’m happy for Mike, he’s a player that plays by the rules and also plays hard,” said Battalion Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Stan Butler. “He shows that you can be a good offensive player and compete and still play in a way that you can win an award like that.”

Selected by the Kings in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Amadio signed his entry-level contract with the club in March.  The forward dominated voting in the Eastern Conference Coaches Poll by appearing in the Top-3 in seven different categories finishing first in four including Smartest Player, Hardest Worker, Best Shot, and Best Defensive Forward.  He was also recognized with second place votes in categories that include Most Dangerous in the Goal Area, Best on Face-Offs, and Best Penalty Killer.

The William Hanley Trophy is awarded each year based on a selection by the 20 General Managers of the Ontario Hockey League.  All 20 teams submit a nominee but are not permitted to vote for their own candidate with players receiving five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  The trophy is presented by the OHL to commemorate William Hanley, former Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association for over 25 years.

Amadio led the voting process by receiving 65 voting points.  Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights is the runner-up for the second straight season receiving 45 voting points, while fellow Kings prospect Spencer Watson of the Kingston Frontenacs finished in third place receiving 41 voting points.

Former winners of the William Hanley Trophy first presented in 1961 include Wayne Gretzky (Sault Ste. Marie 1977-78), Kirk Muller (Guelph 1982-83), Brian Campbell (Ottawa 1998-99), Jeff Carter (Sault Ste. Marie 2004-05), Brandon Saad (Saginaw 2011-12), Connor McDavid (2013-14), and Dylan Strome (2014-15).  The award was twice won by members of the North Bay Centennials including John Spoltore (1991-92) and Vitali Yachmenev (1994-95).

Amadio will be formally presented with the William Hanley Trophy at the 2015-16 OHL Awards Ceremony set for Tuesday June 7 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.  He will also be the OHL’s nominee for Sportsman of the Year at the Annual CHL Awards held as part of the MasterCard Memorial Cup festivities on Saturday May 28 in Red Deer, AB.