Justin Azevedo of the Kitchener Rangers Wins Red Tilson Trophy - OHL

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - The Ontario Hockey League held a media conference today to announce that Justin Azevedo of the Kitchener Rangers won the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player for the 2007-08 season.

The following are the comments made by Azevedo and Rangers’ Coach and GM Peter DeBoer during the media conference.

Justin Azevedo, Kitchener Rangers – 2007-08 Red Tilson Trophy Winner

“It’s a tremendous honour to receive this award. There are a lot of great players that have received it and it’s an honour to be able to be named. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Kitchener organization. I have tremendous support here during my four years and my coach has given me this opportunity. I’d also like to thank my teammates and my linemates that I had all year. Without them, I don’t think any of this would be possible.”

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“The (new) rules have helped me a lot. Being a smaller player and playing against bigger guys really I think it opened up a lot of ice and the clutching and grabbing was really cracked down on. I think that kind of helped me out a bit.”

“I think Pete was the one that said that I would be leading the league in scoring one of these years. I didn’t think I’d be actually receiving this award but I knew I could be fairly successful in this league.”

“Two years ago I was invited to the Atlanta Thrashers rookie camp. That’s really the only experience I’ve had. (About his pro prospects) I actually don’t even know right now. I’ve been trying not to think about it too much. I think I’ll get a tryout somewhere but I don’t think anybody really knows what will happen. I think you’ve got to prove yourself no matter where you go. I am a smaller guy and I’ve been trying to prove to everybody that I can play at a higher level my whole life growing up. It’s nothing new to me.”

“I was surprised actually. There are a lot of great players in this league and I wouldn’t say that I had my fingers crossed but I had the year that I wanted to have. I came in and I did my best to lead this team. We’ve been doing a good job so far. I didn’t expect to get it, but I was hoping for the best.”

Peter DeBoer, Head Coach and General Manager, Kitchener Rangers

“I disagree a little bit with the new rules stuff. I think it’s helped everybody in the league and it’s made it a better game, but when I saw Justin play under the old rules playing junior B, he was just as successful, just as dynamic and just as dominant playing under the old rules. I think the nice thing about Justin is that he doesn’t know he’s only five-foot-eight. No one’s told him. He plays a lot bigger. I think whatever rules you put out there in a game, this is the kind of kid that’s going to find a way to get the puck in the net.”

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