Several OHL graduates are being recognized for outstanding seasons in Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey. Headlining the group is back-to-back Most Valuable Player Liam Hawel, along with Most Sportsmanlike Player Troy Lajeunesse. Learn more about their success, in addition to a number of former OHL players named to both all-star and all-rookie teams.
Most Valuable Player (Kelly Trophy): Liam Hawel, STFX X-Men
The Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey most valuable player for the 2022-23 season is Liam Hawel of the STFX X-Men. This marks the second consecutive season he’s earned the conference’s top honour.
Hawel played five seasons in the OHL from 2015-20, spending time with the Soo Greyhounds, Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers. A former fourth round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2017, Hawel won an OHL championship with Guelph in 2019. He finished his OHL career with 87 goals, 146 assists and 233 points in 313 regular season contests.
A second-year business student from Arnprior, Ont., the STFX forward led the AUS and finished third in U SPORTS in points this season with 39 (16 goals and 23 assists).
In addition to being named AUS MVP, the X-Men alternate captain has been named an AUS first team all-star for the second consecutive season.
Hawel was also honoured as the 2021-22 AUS and U SPORTS rookie of the year last season and received first team All-Canadian status in a breakout year. Liam was one of 11 AUS athletes who won gold for Team Canada at the recent FISU World University Games.
He now becomes the AUS nominee for the for the U SPORTS Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy as the nation’s top player. UNB’s Philippe Maillet is the most recent player from the AUS to be named national MVP. He won the award in 2016-17.
Most Sportsmanlike Player (Don Wells Trophy): Troy Lajeunesse, UPEI Panthers
In his fourth season with the UPEI Panthers, forward Troy Lajeunesse has been chosen as the Atlantic University Sport most sportsmanlike player and recipient of the Don Wells Trophy.
Lajeunesse spent four seasons in the OHL from 2014-18, playing for the Sarnia Sting, Erie Otters and Sudbury Wolves. Lajeunesse produced 59 goals, 91 assists and 150 points in 251 regular season games.
An arts student from Sturgeon Falls, Ont., Lajeunesse led the Panthers this season in both goals (15) and points (30). His 30 points were good for fourth in Atlantic conference.
He played in 28 games for UPEI and took 108 shots while picking up just six minor penalties all season.
In addition to being named the conference’s most sportsmanlike player, Lajeunesse has also been named an AUS first team all-star this season.
He was named an AUS second team all-star last season.
He now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for U SPORTS’ R. W. Pugh Award for most sportsmanlike player.
UNB’s Joe Gatenby earned the honour last season.
The only UPEI player to be honoured with the national award is former Panthers standout Joel Ward who went on to play 11 seasons in the NHL, retiring with the San Jose Sharks in 2018.
2022-23 AUS All-Stars and All-Rookie Team
First Team All-Stars
Defence – Matt Brassard (UPEI Panthers), Barrie/Oshawa 2015-19
Defence – Justin MacPherson (Saint Mary’s Huskies), Niagara/Kitchener 2016-20
Forward – Liam Hawel (STFX X-Men), Soo/Guelph/Kitchener 2015-20
Forward – Troy Lajeunesse (UPEI Panthers), Sarnia/Sudbury/Erie 2014-18
Forward – Matthew Struthers (STFX X-Men), Owen Sound/North Bay 2015-20
Second Team All-Stars
Forward – Jason Willms (UNB REDS), Barrie/London 2016-20
All-Rookie Team
Forward – Cody Morgan (UNB REDS), Kingston/Windsor/Flint/London 2017-20
