John Tavares (ice hockey player)
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John Tavares (born September 20, 1990, in Oakville, Ontario), is a Canadian junior ice hockey player. He is currently playing with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League. Tavares is the nephew of John Tavares of the NLL's Buffalo Bandits. [1]
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[edit] Exceptional player status
Tavares was granted "exceptional player" status, allowing him to be drafted at the age of 14. The usual minimum age for consideration into the OHL Priority Selection is 16 by December 31, but The Canadian Hockey League adopted the 'exceptional player' rule that was outlined by Hockey Canada's new development model. There were no applications to grant exceptional status to any players for the 2006-07 OHL season 2006 OHL Priority Selection draft. David Branch, president of the Canadian Hockey League and commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League stated "Tavares set the bar very high". [2]
The Oshawa Generals, picked Tavares first overall in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection. Tavares was the winner of the Jack Ferguson Award, which the OHL presents annually to the player picked first overall in the OHL Priority Selection. [3]
Tavares began the 2004-05 season with the Toronto Marlboros Minor Midget team, where he accumulated 158 points, with 91 goals, and 67 assists. Tavares finished the season with the Milton Merchants, scoring another 13 goals and 15 assists in 20 games.
[edit] Junior hockey career
Tavares played his first OHL game on September 23, 2005, just three days after his 15th birthday. Tavares scored in his first game in the OHL, but the Generals were defeated by the Kingston Frontenacs at the Kingston Memorial Centre. Tavares had a quick start in the OHL, scoring 5 goals in his first four games.
Tavares scored 77 points total in his first season, including by 45 goals. Tavares was awarded the CHL Rookie of the Year Award, and the OHL Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 OHL season. Tavares personified 'exceptional player' status again when he was asked to join the Canadian World-Under 18 team for their April 2006 tournament in Sweden, when he was only 15. He was invited to the team's summer camp to prepare for their tournament in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia, but he injured his leg and he was unable to play. Tavares was has been invited again to the National Junior training camp December 10.[4]
[edit] Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005-06 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 65 | 45 | 32 | 77 | 72 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006-07 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 29 | 29 | 26 | 55 | 28 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| OHL Totals | 94 | 74 | 58 | 132 | 100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||
Totals as of December 9, 2006.
[edit] References
- ^ "Tavares may have to share his handle", TSN Canada, November 30, 2004.
- ^ "Top IceDogs pick already thinking big", Canoe - Slam! Sports, May 7, 2006.
- ^ "Tavares to be selected first overall in OHL Priority Selection", Canoe - Slam! Sports, May 4, 2005.
- ^ "Tavares is making a bid for the National Team", Ontario Hockey League, Dec 1, 2008.
