Wisdom named recipient of E.J. McGuire Award

Zayde Wisdom of the Kingston Frontenacs has been named the 2020 recipient of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, the Ontario Hockey League announced Wednesday.

The award, presented by NHL Central Scouting in honor of the late McGuire – who died of cancer on April 7, 2011, is given annually on the draft eligible candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.

“E.J. McGuire was a very special person who cared deeply about the game and the players that played it,” OHL Commissioner David Branch said in a release. “Zayde epitomizes all the values of this award and is very deserving to be honoured with the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence.”

Wisdom was presented the award by Buffalo Sabres forward Wayne Simmonds on Tuesday.

“It definitely hit home when they told me I won the award,” Wisdom told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale. “I feel I’ve worked my whole life, have struggled for a long time, but am grateful for every single part of my life, so getting an award like this, especially from a guy like Wayne Simmonds, who’s had to go through sort of the same thing I went through growing up in Scarborough, was something else.”

Wisdom, No. 163 in FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2020 draft, had 59 points (29 goals, 30 assists) in 62 games with the Frontenacs this season.

McGuire was director of NHL Central Scouting for seven years, from 2005-2011.