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Toronto,
ON – The Ontario Hockey League announced that Ryan
Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires is the 2010-11
recipient of the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy.
“It is always exciting to win personal awards but to
receive one that recognizes your leadership is extra
special for me,” said Ellis. “Being able to learn
from Mickey in my first year helped a lot, he always
made everyone feel part of the team. This year I
tried to do the same by making everyone feel
comfortable and we were like a family in Windsor and
I think it contributed to our success.”
Ellis was chosen by a selection committee as the OHL
team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and
off the ice, with a passion and dedication to the
game of hockey and his community that Mickey
demonstrated. Nomination forms were submitted by all
20 OHL General Managers on behalf of their
individual team captains. The selection committee
consisted of a media panel of four, representing
each of the four OHL divisions.
“As an organization we are extremely proud for Ryan
to be acknowledged with this award,” Windsor
Spitfires Vice-President and General Manager Warren
Rychel said. “It has been an unbelievable number of
awards and accomplishments this season and in his
four year career as a Spitfire. This is a
significant honour because it is named after our
‘Captain Forever’ Mickey Renaud. Ryan, like Mickey,
has shown great leadership on and off the ice. To
win the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Award tops off one
of the greatest careers in junior hockey.”
A 20-year-old from Freelton, ON, Ellis served as
captain of the Spitfires in his fourth season with
the club where he set career-high numbers in goals
with 24, assists with 77, and points with 101. This
season Ellis also served as captain of Team OHL in
the SUBWAY Super Series, and Captain of Canada’s
National Junior Team at the 2011 IIHF World Junior
Championship in Buffalo, NY.
“In my years as coach of the Spitfires, Ryan has
exemplified all the qualities of a great leader and
captain,” said Spitfires President Bob Boughner.
“Ryan was lucky enough to experience the leadership
that Mickey brought to the game. Witnessing his
passion and determination has helped him become a
leader in his own right while carrying on the
tradition of our franchise. I’m sure Mickey’s family
will be truly thrilled that this honour has been
awarded to one of his teammates.”
Ellis is the third ever recipient of this award
following John Kurtz of the Sudbury Wolves who
received the award last season, and Chris Terry of
the Plymouth Whalers who was the inaugural winner in
2009. Ellis is also the last remaining Spitfire to
have played with Renaud when they were teammates in
2007-08.
“On behalf of our family, Jane and I are so very
pleased that this year’s recipient of the Mickey
Renaud Captain’s Award is Windsor Spitfire Captain
Ryan Ellis,” said Mark Renaud. “It has been our
great pleasure to have been able to watch Ryan play
his tremendous career in Windsor and we look forward
to watching him go on to great success in the
National Hockey League. We are especially gratified
that Ryan knew Mickey as a teammate and friend, and
that he will carry Mickey’s memory with him
throughout his NHL career. Ryan’s dedication to the
Windsor Spitfires organization and the Ontario
Hockey League will forever be appreciated.”
The Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy is one of three
major awards that will be formally presented to
Ellis at the OHL Awards Ceremony this Wednesday June
8 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He will
also be receiving the Max Kaminsky Trophy awarded to
the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenceman, and the Red
Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player
of the Year.
2010-11 Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy Nominees:
Barrie – Colin Behenna
Belleville – Luke Judson*
Brampton – Stephon Thorne
Erie – Greg McKegg
Guelph – Michael Latta
Kingston – Taylor Doherty
Kitchener – Gabriel Landeskog
London – Stephen Sanza
Mississauga – Casey Cizikas
Niagara – Andrew Agozzino*
Oshawa – Calvin de Haan
Ottawa – Thomas Nesbitt
Owen Sound – Garrett Wilson
Peterborough – Jack Walchessen
Plymouth – Beau Schmitz
Saginaw – Jordan Szwarz
Sarnia – Nathan Chiarlitti*
Sault Ste. Marie – Brock Beukeboom
Sudbury – Marcus Foligno
Windsor – Ryan Ellis
*also nominated in 2009-10
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