Svechnikov earns OHL Rookie of the Year honors
Andrei Svechnikov has himself another honor.
Svechnikov was named the recipient of the Emms Family Award as the Ontario Hockey League’s rookie of the year. Svechnikov led all rookies with 72 points (40 goals, 32 assists) in just 44 games with the Barrie Colts.
He earned 86 of 95 voting points, ahead of forward Cam Hillis of the Guelph Storm who finished second with 37 voting points and forward Arthur Kaliyev of the Hamilton Bulldogs who finished in third place with 31 voting points.
“I am extremely happy to accept this award as the OHL’s Rookie of the Year,” Svechnikov said in a release. “I’d like to thank my coaches and teammates for all of the help they have given me this year to achieve this goal. I am very excited.”
Svechnikov, second overall in Future Considerations’ Spring ranking for the 2018 NHL Draft, was named OHL rookie of the month four of the six months the award was given out.
“We are really proud of Andrei for the season he had with our club,” Colts general manager Jason Ford said. “He came into the lineup and made an immediate impact. We feel that the composure he showed on and off the ice, really excelled his game to this level, which ultimately earned himself this award.
“We could not be more proud of him for what he did this past year and we wish him the best of luck at the NHL Draft this June in Dallas.”
Svechnikov’s 72 points are the most by a Colts rookie since Mark Scheifele had 75 in 66 games in 2010-11, and his 1.64 points-per-game is the best among OHL rookies since London Knights Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner posted 2.50 and 2.23 figures, respectively, in 2006-07.
He also recorded 24 multi-point games, including nine consecutive in January.
He was also recognized in the annual Coaches Poll where he was voted Best Skater and second Best Shot in the Eastern Conference.
Previous Emms Family Award winners include Wayne Gretzky (Sault Ste. Marie 1977-78), Joe Thornton (Sault Ste. Marie 1995-96), Rick Nash (London 2000-01), John Tavares (Oshawa 2005-06), Taylor Hall (Windsor 2007-08) and Connor McDavid (Erie 2012-13).
2017-18 OHL All-Rookie Teams (voting points):
First Team:
Centre – Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (68)
Left Wing – Blade Jenkins, Saginaw Spirit (84)
Right Wing – Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (95)
Defence – Rasmus Sandin, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (87)
Defence – Alec Regula, London Knights (57)
Goaltender – Mack Guzda, Owen Sound Attack (55)
Second Team:
Centre – Ryan Suzuki, Barrie Colts (53)
Left Wing – Maxim Golod, Erie Otters (36)
Right Wing – Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (59)
Defence – Mitchell Brewer, Oshawa Generals (34)
Defence – Nico Gross, Oshawa Generals (32)
Goaltender – Jordan Kooy, London Knights (50)