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Kmarko · 07-11-2017, 07:52 PM

Crossfit Jesus is the clear S35 SMJHL MVP. He has dominated for the St. Louis Scarecrows, putting up 46 points and an impressive +22. He excelled at all aspects of the game, complimenting his high powered offense with a handful of hits and blocked shots, as well as a league leading plus/minus. Crossfit was clutch all season, he's second in the league in game winning goals with 6. His efforts have allowed the Crows to nearly clinch the number 1 seed in a very competitive league this season. Crossfit has been magic with the puck, and has consistently found the back of the net, leading the league in goals (24), and leading his team in power play goals. However his 24 goals wouldn't have been nearly as easy without linemates Matthew Auston and John Langabeer. Auston leads the league in points with 48, 33 being assists. Langabeer has tallied 22 goals of his own, giving the Crows the number 1 and 3 goal scorers this season. St. Louis has to capitalize in the playoffs before they lose these 3 to the SHL. This St. Louis first line has been the best line in the SMJHL this season, and the MVP belongs to the backbone of that line, Crossfit Jesus.

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Mook · 07-12-2017, 09:41 AM

Casey Creller know's there is only one pick for the S35 SMJHL MVP. Finn Kruger. While Creller has not been paying any attention to the stats for the last few weeks of the season, he is going off of sheer memory from about 20 games in when Finn and the Mammoths were dominating. Standing above the rest as a D man and points leader, working with the rookie Creller, he exerted his dominance in the first half of the season. Sure, the mammoths apparently are doing stinky now, but one can only presume that Kruger is still their shining beam of hope. I don't even know how long is left in the season, but Kruger definitely needs to step up his game in order to secure his spot for the league MVP. Creller's training has thrown their chemistry off slightly, but has not had much effect on Krugers point production. Going off of another PT, I notice Kruger has 40 points in 41 games, if he hit more guys, then he would easily have this title. Going to be a close one

Sleepy · 07-12-2017, 10:25 AM

MY MVP candidates:

1. Finn Krüger (COL)
2. Crossfit Jesus (STL)
3. Carrick Murray (VAN)

Finn Krüger has posted an impressive state line in the SMJHL, let alone him being a defender. With a shooting percentage of just over 17.5% he has had a dominating season and in my opinion, should be the clear cut winner of MVP voting. Not only is his shot percentage impressive but he is leading defenseman in point production as well with his 15 goals and 30 assists good for 45 points. In a league where scoring is down this year because of such a strong rookie class, Krüger has stood out.

Crossfit Jesus has been one of the most entertaining players on the ice this year. The St Louis forward has been one of the most prolific scorers in the league this year. Not only is his on-ice production impressive, but he is dedicated off the ice in the St Louis area as well. Jesus has potted 24 goals in his 49 games played this year and he is tied for first place with the prolific PGF forward, Dani Forsberg. Today will be an exciting day for both forwards as both vie to secure the scoring title. Along with his 24 goals, Jesus has contributed with 22 assists as well. Do not be surprised if Jesus wins MVP voting instead of other front runners.

Carrick Murray has been an absolute brick wall in net for Vancouver this year leading goalies in every category save for two, penalty shots percentage and losses. It is very rare a goalie is considered in the MVP race but Murray has been a stud and is without a doubt, a key piece in the success of Vancouver this season. With a league leading 7 shutouts, a save percentage of 0.911 and a goals against average of just 2.06 Murray makes a good candidate to win MVP voting this season. Do not be surprised if he is handed the award in a few short weeks.

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prettyburn · 07-12-2017, 01:31 PM

There are always a number of player's who's individual accomplishments could put them in the running for MVP - in Season 35 that includes Jack Hansen for Montreal, putting in over 30 more minutes this season than any other player and showing how valuable he is to his team both on the points (or defensemen) and shots blocked leader boards; Brett Kennedy for St. Louis, showing an incredibly strong all around game, on the leaderboard for every support category you could think of - Hits, Fights, Face-offs, +/-. And you always have the high scorers, like Vratislav ZbynÄ›k from Colorado who not only has 21 goals and 40 points this season, but for whom 1/3 of those goals were game winners.

But I believe the top MVP candidate this season was Carrick Murphy. The Vancouver Whaler's goalie has had a historic season, leading the league in Save Percentage (0.911) and Goals Against Average (2.06 - over .2 goals less per game than the next best goalie in the league) and tying the league record for most shutouts ever in a season with 7. Murphy has had help from his team, who are strong defensively in general, but his play has taken his team to the next level and is a huge part of why they're so close to the top of the standings. There's no question to me that Murphy deserves to win the Raymond Lindsay this season.

soulja · 07-12-2017, 04:55 PM

The MVP is an award that is given to the most coveted individual in the league. It is an award that recognizes the best from the best and judges them to be the player that is the most valuable to their team. The first nomination for the award in my opinion is Mathew Auston from St. Louis Scarecrows. The most obvious reason being is that the dude is leading the league in points with 48. He is an offensive powerhouse and alongside his linemate Crossfit Jesus, the duo are a force to be reckoned with as both of them are also leading the league with a whopping + 22 in +/-. This means when the two are on the line together, there is a high chance one of them is scoring. Another nominee for the MVP is Angelo Odjick from the Whalers. Now, this dude is a little different from Auston. Odjick is one of the best two-way forwards in the league with 45 points and a solid 110 hits for the season. He is also a +20 on his team. He is very similar to Auston, except that he doesn’t shy from the gritty aspect of the game. Many teams adore two way forward and Odjick is no exception. The last nominee for today is Danny Forsberg from Prince George Firebirds. Forsberg is a very similar player to Odjick in that he is also a two way forward. Forsberg also has 138 hits to the season and 46 points, who is only behind Auston. In my eyes, he deserves the MVP. WHY? It is simply because if you were to take a look at PGF, while many of their players are in the negatives, Forsberg is at a +11 which is astonishing. He is simply carrying the team on his shoulders with his play at both spectrums of the ice. This is what an MVP does. He betters the team and when in need takes the charge to help his team and carry them upwards.

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Whikadoodle · 07-12-2017, 06:10 PM

The Most Valuable Player award is a significant honor, and should not be given out lightly. Those voting on the award must keep the whole of the league in mind: what type of year we had, who really stood out, and which individual played the biggest role in his team's success.

Many others in this thread have offered Crossfit Jesus as their MVP candidate, but I don't think he's done enough. It's easy to lead the league in goals when you have a stacked team, including Matthew Auston, playing beside you. Furthermore, Crossfit Jesus isn't even the most efficient player on his team, with all of those minutes, Matthew Auston beats him out. Moreover, you have the addition of John Langabeer, which makes STL the team to beat, but doesn't raise the stock of Crossfit Jesus because there are numerous players who can get things done on that team.

A player who has, day in and day out, been the most valuable player for their team has been Carrick Murray. Currently tied for the all-time record in shutouts in an SMJHL season, Murray has been far and away the best goalie this year. Posting a .911 (never forget) save percentage and 2.06 goals against, Murray has kept his team in games that they didn't belong in. He's seen 30 wins himself this year, and that's quite a feat. I don't think Vancouver would be where they are today without Carrick Murray, and he deserves the MVP award this year.

Banjo · 07-12-2017, 10:49 PM

Michael Walker - Montreal Militia

Michael Walker has had an incredible season. While he may not be at the top of the scoring leaders throughout the SMJHL, he leads Montreal with 40 points on the season. What makes Walker's game so special and so deserving of the MVP is his balance in his play. Walker has 20 goals and 20 assists on the season, proving that he can both score and dish it out to his teammates. Walker has spearheaded the attack all season long for the playoff-bound Montreal Militia, and his efforts are definitely worthy of an MVP award.

Matthew Auston - St. Louis Scarecrows

Matthew Auston's case for the MVP is quite simple, he leads the league in points. With an excellent 48 points in 50 games, Auston can dish it out with the best of them as proven by his 33 assists. Auston's +/- rating of 22 on the season proves how important he was when on the ice for his team. St. Louis has been a top contender all year long, and Auston's efforts all around the ice are a huge reason why.

Carrick Murray - Vancouver Whalers

Without a doubt the best goaltender in the league this season has been Carrick Murray. Playing for a great Whalers team, Murray holds the most wins, best save percentage, and best gaols against average of any goaltenders in the league. Leading those stats alone proves that Murray is an MVP candidate. That, paired with the fact that the Whalers have been the best team in the league show how important it is to have a good goaltender in the SMJHL. Murray is not just a good goaltender, he is an MVP caliber one.

STZ · 07-12-2017, 11:30 PM

SMJHL MVP

Most Valuable Player is always an interesting debate. Is the best player on the best team necessarily the MVP? In some cases, sure. But I think it will be more interesting to look at who is actually most valuable to their team.

Dani Forsberg - To me this is a case where he is clearly the most productive player on his team, and probably most valuable to his team. If you took Forsberg off the Firebirds, they might not be where they are in the standings. While there's a case for the top three goalies, I feel like their numbers are pretty close, and are more the product of the league. Forsberg has 25 of his teams 128 goals scored. He also has 143 of the teams 770 hits (which is a league low). Without his physicality, the Firebirds might be completely pushed around in this league. He is one of five players in the positive side of the +/-, and he is relied on for every situation and is in the top echelon of minutes played for the team.

The stats are clear to show that he is the most valuable to his team.

rowser · 07-13-2017, 01:46 AM

MVP: Most Valuable Player, as most of you should know. The title has morphed from the best player or the highest scorer to the most spirited, or helpful or important, or a combination of all of those categories. With that in mind, I'd like to take a look at how Cody Fletcher (<a href='index.php?showuser=2699' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-67'>Evok</a>) may just clinch the Raymond Lindsay.

With a respectable 29 points, an abysmal -15 +/- rating and 49 hits taken, Fletcher hasn't had the ideal season. Taking into account the poor (current) state of Halifax, those numbers become a little more understandable. However, where Fletcher shines is his work off the ice. From being sociable with other rookies and a fan favourite among them, as well as his leadership position in the locker room of Halifax, Fletcher has established himself as an integral part of the league. Not to mention, his work in the SMJHL head office as intern.

While players like Crossfit Jesus, Jack Hansen, or Auston McJesus may have far more to give on the ice, Fletcher has proved himself as a key player in off ice dynamics in Halifax as well as league wide rookie networks, which in my humble opinion, has much more value in terms of improving the enjoyment of the league, as well as the longevity. As long as Evok is around, I'm sure her presence will make spending time on the SHL a little bit more enjoyable. For those reasons, I believe that Cody Fletcher is truly the best candidate for the Raymond Lindsay trophy of this year. Evok may or may not win the MVP, but she'll always be the MVP of season 36's hearts.

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Å atan · 07-13-2017, 10:31 AM

As much as it hurts to snub Crossfit Jesus and Matthew Auston after the incredible season they've had, the most valuable SMJHL player in my eyes is Finn Kruger of the Colorado Mammoths. Though it is uncommon for a defender to win an MVP award, Kruger's putstanding contributions at both ends of the ice make him more than deserving of the recognition. Kruger finished tied for fourth in league scoring, and first among defenders in points. Kruger earned most of his points through his playmaking ability, finishing third in league assists. His 0.8 P/20 is an unheard-of number among defensemen. Offensive totals such as these are normally reserved for forwards, but Kruger managed to run his team's attack from the point without sacrificing his defensive play. Kruger finished with a +/- rating of 5, which may seam low, but was fourth on the team. Kruger lead the team in TOI, averaging over 22 minutes per game. Capping off Kruger's stellar performance was his special team prowess. Kruger played heavy minutes on both the power play and penalty kill. He scored a team-leading 16 points on the power play, where his rocket of a shot kept other teams weary of the point man. Despite his reluctance to hit, Kruger was more than willing to sacrifice his body for the good of the team, blocking 58 shots over the season. A defender able to play in all situations at the level that Finn has is an extreme rarity, and that is why he deserves to be named MVP.

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***Ace*** · 07-13-2017, 12:10 PM

Iâ€™ve been asked to provide my insight on the MVP for this season. I could easily go through and justify the value of 3-4 of my Scarecrows teammates, they rightful owners of this seasonâ€™s Laurifer Trophy. With that said, I am not going to actually do that. I am going to take an unconventional approach to who I believe deserves the SMJHL MVP for this season.

The fans of St. Louis are the SMJHL MVP in my eyes for this season. The Scarecrows fans have been lucky enough to see a fabulous product on the ice last year and this year. The Crows were primed for a deep, successful playoff run last season and somehow fell just short against the Falcons. Those fans poured their hearts, souls and wallets out for their SMJHL franchise, and the Scarecrows didnâ€™t deliver.

Rather than being down or having doubts or casting blame, the Scarecrows faithful continued to turn out in droves, filling the Scottrade Center for each and every home game weâ€™ve had this season so far. Weâ€™ve accomplished a lot so far this season in St. Louis with the support of our fans, and weâ€™ve got a lot of work left to go until weâ€™ve accomplished our goal. But without the fans, I am not sure weâ€™d be where we are today.

S36 SMJHL MVP â€“ Scarecrows

FANS

WinGretzky · 07-13-2017, 12:12 PM

In no particular order, here are my selections:

Whalers

Carrick Murray Whalers

Carrick Murray had a hell of a season posting the highest save percentage (0.908) and lowest goals against average (2.13) in the league. He also had a league high 7 shutouts (2 more than 2nd place) and the most Wins in the league. The Whalers finished the year extremely strong including a stretch of 8 wins in a row (2 back to back shutouts), and winning 14 out of 15 games and Carrick Murray was a large part of that.

Firebirds

Dani Forsberg Firebirds

Forsberg lit the league on FIRE (GET IT?!?! Wink

and was one of the leaders the league in points with 25 goals and 22 assists. Forseberg also had a +10 rating and a very solid 13.66% over a large number of attempts (183). Although Dani did not lead the league in Game winning goals, but he was close behind the number 1 spot of 7, with 6. Dani clearly brought his A game more often than not and is very deserving of league MVP.

Scarecrows

Crossfit Jesus Scarecrows

CFJ is a monster! Probably my favorite pick for MVP not only due to performance, but for the amazing name to go with it. Tallying 24 goals and 22 assists, CFJ was only one goal behind our previous nominee. Snagging a team high 6 game winning goals, and a team high 2 game tying goals, Crossfit Jesus was just as scary on the ice as you would imagine a stationary straw stuffed bird scaring man thing is in the field (to the birds of course).

nour · 07-13-2017, 01:53 PM

As the SMJHL regular season comes to a close, an exciting individual race runs alongside the race for the leagueâ€™s championship during the playoffs. Yes, the battle for the Raymond Lindsay is underway, with a lot of fierce competition from the leagueâ€™s top players for the coveted trophy. Despite outstanding performances from many of the leagueâ€™s top players, two in particular stand ahead of the rest after their stellar regular season performances. Crossfit Jesus and Matthew Auston of the Scarecrows, teammates on the ice but rivals for the leagueâ€™s best player off of it, are both vying for the Lindsay after fantastic seasons where they were the cornerstone of the Crows offence. Letâ€™s take a closer look at what makes either player such a strong candidate to win.

Crossfit Jesus - Crossfitâ€™s season has been nothing short of stellar. With 24 goals and 46 points total, through the SMJHLâ€™s 50-game season, Crossfit was far and away one of the best forwards this season and it wasnâ€™t even close. Besides the raw numbers, Crossfit was absolutely clutch for his team this year as well, managing 6 GWG and 7 PP goals, really showing up big when his team needed him most. He dominates most statistical categories, with a +22 in plus/minus, a 0.89 Points/20, and 186 shots, Crossfit would be the clear-cut number one choice any other year. However..

Matthew Auston - The only person who can stand against Crossfit on equal footing has got to me Auston, who finished the season tied for first in assists with 33 and and leading the league in total points with 48. He remains neck and neck with crossfire, edging him in some categories and falling short in some others. Sporting the same +22 in plus/minus, he also lead the entire league in Points/20, finishing with 0.94 and also leads with shots at 189. As the leagueâ€™s Jared Hanson winner, Auston makes a great case for himself as the leagueâ€™s MVP

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**First GM in SMJHL history to win 3 Four Star Cups back-to-back-to-back**

Theo667 · 07-13-2017, 05:59 PM

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In every sportswriter's career, there comes at least one time where a gut feeling overcomes their better judgement. Sometimes, it's a statistical mistake. Other times, it's analysis of a prospect that's about to bust. Generally, when things such as Most Valuable Players and other personal awards are concerned, there is no gut judgement involved. It's always just comparing stats and quantifiable data. Well, I'm here today to petition you to put away the fancy stats for a minute and understand why Cody Fletcher was the undeniable Most Valuable player, if not for the league, at least for the Halifax Raiders.

Fletcher started the season as a rookie, coming in to the SMJHL with virtually no prior professional hockey experience. The Quebec native put together a solid rookie campaign, accruing 129 shots and netting 12 of them. Additionally, the pass happy playmaker was tallied for 17 assists, totaling 29 points in 50 games for .58 PPG. He suffered a below-average shooting percentage of 9.3% but his tenacity and ability to get shots on net in every situation was invaluable to Halifax's limited success. The winger logged 21.21 average minutes per game, second most out of all Raider forwards. In addition to his second and fourth line 5-5 responsibilities, Fletcher played on both the first power play and penalty kill units. On the PP, Fletcher scored 11 points, 4 of which were goals. Additionally, in game Fletcher scored on the penalty kill on a tic-tac-toe passing play by Ted Glass and Trucker Grogan, tying him for first league-wide in short handed goals. He would end up playing a total of 164 minutes on the penalty kill over the season.

Off ice, Fletcher was a constant presence in the locker room. He provided positive motivation for his teammates, an important asset for a team going through a rebuilding phase with rough on-ice performance. He also spent a significant amount of his off-ice time giving back to the Halifax community, volunteering at local homeless shelter as well as a local orphanage.

Cody Fletcher was a locker room force, and a strong presence in all three zones on the ice. For this kind of rookie season tour-de-force, only the Raymond Lindsay could serve as an appropriate reward for the hard work and dedication that Fletcher showed.

artermis · 07-13-2017, 10:34 PM

<div align="center">My Candidates as Based on STHS's Stars of The Game</div>

In Third
Carrick Murray

With 7 1sts, 4 2nds, and 1 3rd

Carrick had a dominant record of thirty wins, already enough to give him a strong bid for most valuable player, but he also adds 2.13 goals against average, an okay save percentage of 0.908 and an impressive seven shutouts while facing just over a thousand shots. Despite having a low saving percentage, this is the SMJHL, so it was enough to give him the best save percentage in the league, best GAA in the league, most shutouts and most wins while playing a lot of hockey and facing a reasonable, if not bloated amount of shots. Carrick was an essential part of his team's success.

In Second
Dani Forsberg

With 7 1sts, 6 2nds and 5 3rds

Dani Forsberg shined on a team lacking stars outside their first line, pairing and starter. Twenty-five goals, twenty-two assists making forty-seven points was enough for the goal-
scoring title by a slim margin, third in total shots, short by just six, a solid p/20 rating and even more, including hits and power-play success, the list of accolades just goes on and on for this kid. The Firebirds needed Forsberg for their success this year.

In First
Jimmy Wagner

With 8 1sts, 4 2nds and 4 3rds

Wagner looked good on a very good St. Louis squad, putting up twenty-nine wins, just one shy of Carrick's thirty, not to mention a save percentage and GAA close to Carrick's and five shutouts (2 short of Carrick). Although, Wagner did play less hockey (two-hundred minutes worth) and faced less shots because of this, one could argue that given those two-hundred minutes Wagner could come close to or surpass Carrick's superb numbers, and that's why Wagner's here . . . I guess.

The only thing I've learned is that the race for MVP is much closer than I thought.

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