Play of the Year Winner Decided!
Updated Aug. 26 at 11:15 a.m.
It all started way back on June 27, with 32 outstanding hockey plays executed by young hockey players from all over North America selected and poised to compete for the title of MYHockey Rankings 2023-24 Play of the Year.
Since then, during the past eight weeks, we held 31 votes to narrow the field from 32 to two. The two plays that survived and advanced faced off in one final Instagram vote starting Thursday afternoon (Aug. 22).
Along the way we had some landslide wins, some victories by razor-thin margins and one tie that required a run-off. There may have even been a little bit of ballot-box stuffing by friends, families and teammates of those in the running for the past season’s top play.
All in good fun.
And that was always the point of this contest when we first introduced it a year ago. We simply wanted to provide a fun, interactive opportunity for hockey players, fans and families to engage and pass the time during the offseason while bring attention to young players doing amazing things on the ice across the continent.
This year, more than 9,000 votes were recorded during the contest, with momentum building as the voting progressed. First-round matchups averaged 155 votes, with that number improving to 343 votes per matchup in the second and third rounds and 623 votes per matchup in the semifinals. It all culiminated with more than 1,700 votes recorded for the final matchup!
Three matchups, including the finals, generated more than 800 votes, and all three featured the Dallas Stars 10U trio of Cameron Nyland, Ryan Williams and Wyatt Hughes. Their quarterfinal victory over Colorado Rampage 18U goaltender Jack Foy generated 826 votes, while their more recent semifinal decision against Logan Lanti of Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U17 produced 823.
And in the finals, the Dallas Stars boys received better than 900 votes to win MYHockey Rankings Play of the Year honors!
Congratulations to our winners, Cameron Nyland, Ryan Williams and Wyatt Hughes of Dallas Stars Elite 10U!
A hearty congrtulations also goes out to the other finalist, Skylar Ruschpler of Hamilton Hawks U17. Skylar's beautiful backhand goal received 834 votes in the finals.
The Finalists
Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U
While many of our Play of the Year contenders featured incredible individual efforts, this beautiful goal was a total team effort by three 10U players whose hockey IQ far exceeds their years.
First, goalie Cameron Nyland makes a great play to thwart the breakaway attempt. His poke check is scooped up in the defensive zone by Ryan Williams, who makes a perfect indirect feed to Wyatt Hughes and skates hard to join the rush and create a 3-on-2 opportunity. From there, the Stars work a perfectly executed 3-on-2, with Hughes slowing the play down to allow it to set up and Williams joining the rush as the high forward. Hughes hits the trailer Williams in stride with a tape-to-tape pass after crossing the blueline, and the streaking forward buries the wrist shot for a beautiful goal.
Skylar Ruschpler – Hamilton Hawks U15
One of many individual efforts that were in the running for Play of the Year, this beautiful goal has a little bit of everything. Ruschpler shows speed, strong edge work, vision and amazing hands. She picks up a loose puck while gathering steam in the neutral zone and takes on two defenders as she crosses the blueline, dancing between them, cutting back to walk around the second player and then tucking a pinpoint backhand just under the crossbar.
The updated bracket, posted above, included plays that were MHR Play of the Week winners or Play of the Week finalists as well as a few wild-card entries.
Contest voting started on Thursday, June 27, as the field of 32 began to get narrowed down. Voting has taken place only on weekdays during the summer, with the contest running from June 27 through Aug. 22.
Here are the full contest results:
First Round Voting & Matchups
June 27
Brayden Willis – Dean Mindeman, Jr. Coyotes 14U vs. Bess Elkins, MassConn United 12U
Winner: Brayden Willis – Dean Mindeman (79% - 21%)
June 28
Reese Landin – Magdalene Good, West Dundee Leafs 16U vs. Brady Henderson, Shakopee Bantam A
Winner: Reese Landin – Magdalene Good, West Dundee Leafs 16U (69% - 31%)
July 1
Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 vs. Brittyn Lybecker - Piper Gwinn, Culver Academies 16U
Winner: Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 (58% - 42%)
July 2
Carter Wagner, Shakopee Bantam A vs. Pavel Goryachev, Moorheand Bantam AA
Winner: Pavel Goryachev, Moorheand Bantam AA (63% - 37%)
July 8
Henry Clancy, Skaneateles 10U Gold vs. Logan Hamilton, Columbus Mavericks 10U
Winner: Logan Hamilton, Columbus Mavericks 10U (57% - 43%)
July 9
Aedan Burrows, Niagara North Stars U12 vs. Callum Stronach, North London Nationals ‘12
Winner: Aedan Burrows, Niagara North Stars U12 (54% - 46%)
July 10
Ella Sabourin, Sudbury Lady Wolves U13 vs. KJ Williams Philadelphia Jr. Flyers 15O
Winner: Ella Sabourin, Sudbury Lady Wolves U13 (64% - 36%)
July 11
Ryan Lombardo, Mid-State Mustangs vs. Tarik Mrkva, NJ Titans 18U
Winner: Ryan Lombardo, Mid-State Mustangs (61% - 39%)
July 15
Olivér Kiraly, Ontario Hockey Academy U18 vs. Brooks Dillon – Noah Dugan, Indy Jr. Fuel 10U
Winner: Olivér Kiraly, Ontario Hockey Academy U18 (72% - 28%)
July 16
Taelah Schnurr, Parkland Fire U15 vs. Isaiah Van Noord, Compuware 18U
Winner: Taelah Schnurr, Parkland Fire U15 (54% - 45%)
July 17
Jack Foy, Colorado Rampage 18U vs. Caleb Bauer, Lake County Vipers ‘12
Winner: Jack Foy, Colorado Rampage 18U (73% - 27%)
July 19
Noah Clendenen, Wheatfield Blades 14U vs. Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U
Winner: Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U (70% - 30%)
July 22
James Whalen, Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers ’14 vs. Lena Travis, Arizona Kachinas 12U
Winner: Lena Travis, Arizona Kachinas 12U (60% - 40%)
July 23
Alexis Haught, Adirondack 46ers 12U vs. Jaggar John, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15
Winner: Alexis Haught, Adirondack 46ers 12U (56% - 44%)
July 24
Anthony DePrisco, CCYHA Blue Jackets 12U vs. Alec Walker, Florida Alliance ‘10
Winner: Anthony DePrisco, CCYHA Blue Jackets 12U (64% - 36%)
July 25
Logan Lanti, RHA Kelowna U17 vs. Brenna Ziter, CT Polar Bears 16U
Winner: Logan Lanti, RHA Kelowna U17 (72% - 28%)
Round of 16 Voting
July 29
Brayden Willis – Dean Mindeman, Jr. Coyotes 14U vs. Reese Landin – Magdalene Good, West Dundee Leafs 16U
Winner: Reese Landin – Magdalene Good, West Dundee Leafs 16U (55%-45%)
July 30
Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 vs. Pavel Goryachev, Moorheand Spuds Bantam AA
Winner: Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 (61% - 39%)
July 31
Logan Hamilton, Columbus Mavericks 10U vs. Aedan Burrows, Niagara North Stars U12
Winner: Logan Hamilton, Columus Mavericks 10U (67% - 33%)
August 1
Ella Sabourin, Sudbury Lady Wolves U13 vs. Ryan Lombardo, Mid-State Mustangs 14U
Winner: Ella Sabourin, Sudbury Lady Wolves U13 (57% - 43%)
August 5
Olivér Kiraly, Ontario Hockey Academy U18 vs. Taelah Schnurr, Parkland Fire U15
Winner: Olivér Kiraly, Ontario Hockey Academy U18 (56% - 44%)
August 6
Jack Foy, Colorado Rampage 18U vs. Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U
Winner: Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U (59% - 41%)
August 7
Lena Travis, Arizona Kachinas 12U vs. Alexis Haught, Adirondack 46ers 12U
TIE - 154 votes each; tie-breaker vote on August 10!!
Winner: Lena Travis, Arizona Kachinas 12U (62% - 38%)
August 8
Anthony DePrisco, CCYHA Blue Jackets 12U vs. Logan Lanti, RHA Kelowna U17
Winner: Logan Lanti, RHA Kelowna U17 (55% - 45%)
Final 8 Voting
August 12
Reese Landin – Magdalene Good, West Dundee Leafs 16U vs. Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15
Winner: Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 (55% - 45%)
August 13
Logan Hamilton, Columbus Mavericks 10U vs. Ella Sabourin, Subury Lady Wolves U13
Winner: Logan Hamilton, Columbus Mavericks 10U (53% - 47%)
Aubust 14
Olivér Kiraly, Ontario Hockey Academy U18 vs. Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U
Winner: Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U (55% - 45%)
August 15
Lena Travis, Arizona Kachinas 12U vs. Logan Lanti, Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U17
Winner: Logan Lanti, Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U17 (52% - 48%)
Semifinal Voting
August 19
Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 vs. Logan Hamilton, Columbus Mavericks 10U
Winner: Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 (57% to 43%)
August 20
Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U vs. Logan Lanti, Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U17
Winner: Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U (53% to 47%)
Championship Voting
August 22
Skylar Ruschpler, Hamilton Hawks U15 vs. Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U
Winner: Cameron Nyland – Ryan Williams – Wyatt Hughes, Dallas Stars Elite 10U (52% - 48%).
Congratulations to all of the great players who included in this contest, and thank you to everyone who submitted clips for Play of the Week and Play of the Year consideration during the 2023-24 season. We will do it all over again for the 2024-25 campaign, starting with our first Play of the Week contest the week that we post our first rankings in late September.
