Local OUA players make the grade

by Rob Benneian

Five hockey players with local ties have earned awards for their play in the 2012-13 Ontario University Athletic season.

Steve Ferry, 24, was named the top OUA West defenceman after scoring eight goals and 16 assists for the University of Windsor Lancers. He played in all situations for the Lancers, including power play, penalty kill and against the opposition`s top line. Ferry played five Ontario Hockey League seasons with the London Knights and Sarnia Sting. Ferry, who has played four seasons for the Lancers, was a second team all-star in 2011-12.

Goaltender Josh Unice, a 2007 draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, was named a OUA West second team all-star after posting 19 wins for the University of Western Ontario, to go along with a 2.44 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. Unice was a member of the 2009 Windsor Spitfires Memorial Cup championship team, and was backed up at Western this season by former Spit goalie John Cullen.

Derek Holden, who played the final 16 games of his OHL career in a Spitfires uniform, made the OUA West all-rookie team by registering 15 points in his first season with Wilfred Laurier University.

Forwards Jeff Brown and Connor O`Donnell each spent time with the Spitfires in their OHL journey and earned first and second team all-star honours, respectively.