TORONTO – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced Thursday that Ed McNeill of the Summerside Western Capitals (MHL) has been named its Top Defenceman Award winner for 2022-23.
McNeill picked up the honour over fellow Top Defenceman finalists Caleb MacDonald, Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL); Trent Sambrook, Winkler Flyers (AJHL); Alex Little, Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) and Cooper Bertrand, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) following a voting process completed by the CJHL’s nine-member leagues, for their respective efforts during the course of the regular season.
Skating for his hometown Western Capitals side, the 20-year-old blueliner finished seventh in MHL scoring with sixteen goals and 61 assists, which also placed him second overall on head coach Billy McGuigan’s club.
His 77 total points saw him easily double his personal single-season totals for Summerside as he wrapped his career totals with 146 in 166 contests in five campaigns in the MHL.
McNeill was tied with teammate Isaac Wilson in goals among defencemen and was tied with fellow MHLer, Daryk Dube-Plouffe, for the overall league lead in assists.
He had the second-most powerplay points in the league with 44, and was named the MHL’s Top D-man of the month twice, while earning honourable mention laurels once.
McNeill will continue his career and further his education in the fall at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., where he will compete in OUA/USPORTS with the Thunderwolves’ men’s hockey program.
With files from James Faulkner, Director of Communications (MHL)
Photo credit: Summerside Western Capitals