This week the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) is announcing the recipients of the 2017-18 OHA Awards and today we are proud to announce the OHA Players of the Year for 2017-18. The OHA Junior A Player of the Year is Andrew Petrucci, Toronto Patriots (OJHL). (Photo: OJHL Images)

OHA JUNIOR A PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Andrew Petrucci, Toronto Patriots (OJHL)
Andrew Petrucci (Toronto, Ontario) saved his best for last as he wrapped up his Junior hockey career in style in 2017-18 with the Toronto Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). The 20 year old helped the Patriots claim the Brant Snow Memorial Trophy as OJHL Regular Season Champions and was the only player in the league to eclipse the 100-point mark. In spectacular fashion, Petrucci won the OJHL scoring crown on the final night of the year, scoring twice to edge Aurora Tigers captain Jake Bricknell by one point.

The 6’1” 200 pound forward played in all 54 games in the regular season, finishing with 52 goals and 48 assists for 100 points. Amazingly, Petrucci doubled his goal total from the previous season each of the past two years. In 2015-16 he scored 13 goals in 39 games split between the Markham Royals and Milton IceHawks and in 2016-17 he doubled that total, scoring 26 goals for the Patriots. This year he doubled his goal total of 2016-17 by scoring 52 goals. 

Last month Petrucci was voted MVP of the OJHL by a panel of general managers and media representatives and is one of five finalists in the running for the Canadian Junior Hockey League MVP Award which will be announced Friday, May 18.

Petrucci entered the 2017-18 season without an NCAA scholarship and he challenged himself to be better; and so did the new coaching staff led by John Dean who was an Assistant with the OHL’s North Battalion the past three seasons. Last summer Petrucci hit the gym at his old Toronto high school, St. Michael’s, when he wasn’t working on his edges and balance with skating instructor Lisa Clarke. Patriots’ general manager Mark Joslin certainly noticed the difference in his captain, saying ““He worked his butt off, on and off the ice. We saw Andrew mature as a team leader like no other player I’ve seen in 20 years of doing this.”

Joslin had met with Petrucci following their team’s first-round playoff exit last year and told his team’s captain that his leadership would be needed even more this year, saying “I knew he wanted to go school and we know there are fewer scholarships for 20-year-olds. ‘But it happens’ I told Andrew.’ – And look what happened.”

What happened was an MVP season for Petrucci and a commitment to Rochester Institute of Technology (NCAA Division 1 - Atlantic Hockey) for next season.
 
Recent Winners - OHA Junior A Player of the Year
2012-13 Tyler Gjurich, Buffalo Jr. Sabres
2013-14 Taylor Best, Whitby Fury
2014-15 Steve Hladin, Georgetown Raiders
2015-16 Luc Brown, Wellington Dukes
2016-17 Jack Jacome, Georgetown Raiders

The remaining 2017-18 OHA Awards winners will be announced this week and recipients will formally receive their Awards at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Friday, June 1, 2018. - Article courtesy OHA Website