OHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year: Dylan Strome

Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League today announced that 2015 NHL Draft prospect Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters is the 2014-15 recipient of the William Hanley Trophy awarded to the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year.

Strome led the league in scoring with 129 points in 68 games scoring 45 goals with 84 assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-47. His 32 penalty minutes were the sixth lowest among the top-20 scorers recording just four penalty minutes in his final 32 games since January 2.

"This is a major honor," said Stome. "You look at the guys who have won this award in the past and it's pretty cool to be recognized alongside them. I'm extremely proud to be recognized as most sportsmanlike for this league."

Strome is the second straight Otter to win the award following Connor McDavid who was last year's recipient. Brad Boyes won back-to-back Most Sportsmanlike honours with the Otters in 2001 and 2002 during the club's championship season.

"This is a proud moment for Dylan and the Erie Otters," said General Manager Sherry Bassin. "He is one of the top players in this league and plays within the rules. Winning a scoring championship is a special accomplishment, but achieving that elite level of play in the manner of which the game should be played is even more special."

The 18-year-old from Mississauga, ON, was selected second overall by the Otters in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection. This season he became the second straight Otter to capture the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL's scoring champion setting a new franchise record for both points and assists. Strome accumulated 40 multi-point games this season helping the club win 50 games for the second straight season earning their fourth Midwest Division crown and first since 2002. Eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, Strome is listed fourth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final draft rankings.

The William Hanley Trophy is awarded each year based on a selection by the 20 General Managers of the Ontario Hockey League. All 20 teams submit a nominee but are not permitted to vote for their own candidate with players receiving five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote. The trophy is presented by the OHL to commemorate William Hanley, former Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association for over 25 years.

Strome led the voting process receiving 60 voting points. Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights finished second with 39 voting points, and New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle finished third with 30 voting points.

Former winners of the William Hanley Trophy first presented in 1961 include Wayne Gretzky (Sault Ste. Marie 1977-78), Kirk Muller (Guelph 1982-83), Brian Campbell (Ottawa 1998-99), Jeff Carter (Sault Ste. Marie 2004-05), Ryan Spooner (Peterborough 2009-10), and Brandon Saad (Saginaw 2011-12).

Strome will be presented with the William Hanley Trophy at the 2014-15 OHL Awards Ceremony set for Tuesday June 9 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He will also be the OHL's nominee for Sportsman of the Year at the Annual CHL Awards held as part of the MasterCard Memorial Cup festivities on Saturday May 30 in Quebec City.