Stamkos to be Selected First Overall in OHL Priority Selection
Sarnia, ON -- The Sarnia Sting Hockey Club announced this morning that Steven Stamkos of the Markham Waxers Minor Midget AAA team will be the first overall pick in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. The OHL Priority Selection is set for Saturday May 6th beginning at 9:00 am.
Stamkos will receive the Jack Ferguson award as the player selected first overall in the OHL Priority Selection. Stamkos joins previous "Fergie" award winners such as last year's recipient
John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Alyn McCauley, and Kirk Muller as recipients of this prestigious distinction.
Stamkos lead the Markham Waxers Minor Midget AAA team to an undefeated season and an OHL Showcase Cup Championship. Stamkos led the OHL Showcase Cup Tournament in scoring with four goals, seven assists and 11 points in five games and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Stamkos, one of the top ranked players by OHL Central Scouting put up outstanding numbers, scoring 109 goals and 99 assists for 208 points in 72 games, for the Waxers.
OHL Central Scouting recorded the following report on Stamkos:
"Stamkos is one of the premier offensive players at the Minor Midget level. He possesses great puck skills and is always a threat to score when he is on the ice. He is a very good skater who shows the ability to get up to full speed immediately. Stamkos displays the ability to carry and attack with the puck at full speed. He plays a very smart and controlled game."
-- OHL Central Scouting
OHL Central Scouting Chief Scout Rob Kitamura says that Sarnia Sting fans are going to enjoy watching Steven and his dynamic offensive abilities, over the course of his OHL career".
The 2006 OHL Priority Selection will be conducted on Saturday May 6, 2006 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Media and fans can follow all of the results in real time on the league's Web site www.ontariohockeyleague.com. The web site will feature the Priority Selection results by round, by team and alphabetically and will include selected player information and photographs.
The OHL web site will also feature expanded coverage of the Priority Selection, including player interviews and a special live edition of OHL News - Radio Edition with Terry Doyle. The program will run from 9:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon with special interviews with selected players, team personnel and OHL Central Scouts.
Steven Stamkos
Position: Center/Right Wing
Height: 6.00 Weight: 165 lbs
Home: Unionville, Ontario
Jack Ferguson Award History
The "Fergie" is presented annually to the player selected first overall in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The award recognizes the dedication and contributions made by Jack Ferguson during his 25 year association with the Ontario Hockey League, first as a scout with the Ottawa 67's and followed by his appointment as head of the OHL's Central Scouting Bureau in 1981 as its Director of Central Scouting.
Past Winners of the Jack Ferguson Award:
Year Player Team
1981 Dan Quinn, Belleville
1982 Kirk Muller, Guelph
1983 Trevor Stienburg, Guelph
1984 Dave Moylan, Sudbury
1985 Bryan Fogarty, Kingston
1986 Troy Mallette, S.S. Marie
1987 John Uniac, Sudbury
1988 Drake Berehowsky, Kingston
1989 Eric Lindros, S.S. Marie
1990 Pat Peake, Detroit
1991 Todd Harvey, Detroit
1992 Jeff O'Neill, Guelph
1993 Alyn McCauley, Ottawa
1994 Jeff Brown, Sarnia
1995 Daniel Tkaczuk, Barrie
1996 Rico Fata, London
1997 Charlie Stephens, Toronto
1998 Jay Harrison, Brampton
1999 Jason Spezza, Mississauga
2000 Patrick Jarrett, Mississauga
2001
Patrick O'Sullivan, Mississauga
2002
Rob Schremp, Mississauga
2003
Patrick McNeill, Saginaw
2004
John Hughes, Belleville
2005
John Tavares, Oshawa
2006 Steven Stamkos, Sarnia
Photo: Metcalfe Photography/Sarnia Sting
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For More Information:
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Ian Ellis
Director of Event and Information Services
Tel: 416/299-8700, ext. 228
Email: iellis@chl.ca
www.ontariohockeyleague.com
SARNIA STING HOCKEY CLUB
Mark Glavin
Marketing and Public Relations
(519) 542.4494 x.24
www.sarniasting.com
