Niagara IceDogs pair recognized in OHL coaches’ poll

Russian forward Danil Gushchin, of the Niagara IceDogs, was recognized in the Ontario Hockey League coaches’ poll that was released today.

Gushchin, a San Jose Sharks draft choice who is line to turn pro as a 20-year-old next season, received first-place recognition in two categories, along with second- and third-place nods. Goalie Josh Rosenzweig, an 18-year-old from Toronto, was named the top puck-handling goalie in the Eastern Conference. The coaches’ poll recognizes players in each conference in 20 different statistical categories.

In what will likely be his lone OHL season, Gushchin scored 41 goals and 71 points in 51 games for a rebuilding IceDogs squad. That led to the Yekaterinburg, Russia native being named the conference’s best stickhandler and best shootout shooter. In both cases, Gushchin took the vote by a narrow margin over a forward from the Kingston Frontenacs — Lucas Edmonds in stickhandling and top NHL Draft prospect Shane Wright in shootouts.

Gushchin also placed second in the most dangerous in goal area category, where the top nod went to the Hamilton Bulldogs’ Mason McTavish. Gushchin also tied for third in hardest shot, with McTavish also taking first in that category.

Rosenzweig was a decisive winner in the goalie puckhandling category, earning 25 points in the voting to the 13 of the runner-up, Hamilton Bulldogs’ Marco Costantini. Rosenszweig became Niagara’s No. 1 netminder this season as a first-year player, finishing with a 4.35 goals-against average and .882 save percentage while seeing almost 37 shots per game. But he earned seven assists during the season, giving him as many points as one of the team’s regular defencemen.

The IceDogs were 22-42-4 this season, and have received the No. 4 overall choice for the OHL priority selection draft. The draft is April 29-30.