The Emms Family Award is presented annually to the Rookie of the Year (top first-year player) in the Ontario Hockey League. The winner is also nominated for the CHL Rookie of the Year. The award was donated by Hap Emms. Leighton "Hap" Emms was a coach, owner, general manager and pioneer of the game, with a 33-year presence in the Ontario Hockey Association. His involvement in the Barrie Flyers, Niagara Falls Flyers, and St. Catharines Black Hawks, led to eight Memorial Cup tournament appearances, winning four times.
Winners List of winners of the Emms Family Award. Blue background denotes also named CHL Rookie of the Year
Season Winner Team1972–73 Dennis Maruk London Knights1973–74 Jack Valiquette Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds1974–75 Danny Shearer Hamilton Fincups1975–76 John Tavella Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds1976–77 Mike Gartner Niagara Falls Flyers1977–78 Wayne Gretzky Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds1978–79 John Goodwin Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds1979–80 Bruce Dowie Toronto Marlboros1980–81 Tony Tanti Oshawa Generals1981–82 Pat Verbeek Sudbury Wolves1982–83 Bruce Cassidy Ottawa 67's1983–84 Shawn Burr Kitchener Rangers1984–85 Derek King Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds1985–86 Lonnie Loach Guelph Platers1986–87 Andrew Cassels Ottawa 67's1987–88 Rick Corriveau London Knights1988–89 Owen Nolan Cornwall Royals1989–90 Chris Longo Peterborough Petes1990–91 Cory Stillman Windsor Spitfires1991–92 Chris Gratton Kingston Frontenacs1992–93 Jeff O'Neill Guelph Storm1993–94 Vitali Yachmenev North Bay Centennials1994–95 Bryan Berard Detroit Junior Red Wings1995–96 Joe Thornton Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds1996–97 Peter Sarno Windsor Spitfires1997–98 David Legwand Plymouth Whalers1998–99 Sheldon Keefe Barrie Colts1999–00 Derek Roy Kitchener Rangers2000–01 Rick Nash London Knights2001–02 Patrick O'Sullivan Mississauga IceDogs2002–03 Rob Schremp Mississauga IceDogs2003–04 Bryan Little Barrie Colts2004–05 Benoit Pouliot Sudbury Wolves2005–06 John Tavares Oshawa Generals2006–07 Patrick Kane London Knights2007–08 Taylor Hall Windsor Spitfires2008–09 Evgeny Grachev Brampton Battalion2009–10 Matt Puempel Peterborough Petes2010–11 Nail Yakupov Sarnia Sting2011–12 Aaron Ekblad Barrie Colts2012–13 Connor McDavid Erie Otters2013–14 Travis Konecny Ottawa 67's2014–15 Alex DeBrincat Erie Otters2015–16 Alexander Nylander Mississauga Steelheads2016–17 Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm2017–18 Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts2018–19 Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves2019–20 Shane Wright Kingston Frontenacs2020–21 Not awarded, season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2021–22 Cam Allen Guelph Storm2022–23 Michael Misa Saginaw Spirit2023–24 Jake O'Brien Brantford Bulldogs2024–25 Pierce Mbuyi Owen Sound Attack2025–26 Nikita Klepov Saginaw Spirit
See also RDS Cup – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy – Western Hockey League Rookie of the Year List of Canadian Hockey League awards
References
External links Ontario Hockey League