A Lion from every area of the ice was honoured on Thursday (Mar. 10) as forward Trevor Petersen, defenceman Derek Sheppard, goaltender Chris Perugini and head coach Chris Dennis were all named as part of the 2015-16 OUA men's hockey major award winners and all-stars for the West Division.

Second-year forward Petersen (Thornhill, Ont.) was named an OUA West Division first-team all-star for the first time in his career. He completed his successful sophomore season ranked sixth in the OUA in goals with 17 and second on the Lions with 29 points. Petersen was also deadly with the man advantage this season, as he ranked fourth in the OUA in powerplay goals (7) and helped the Lions to a 26.5 power play percentage, ranked third overall in the OUA.

Rugged defenseman Sheppard (Ajax, Ont.) joins Petersen as part of the OUA West first-team all-stars. Sheppard led the Lions in scoring with 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 2015-16, up from 19 points in his rookie season. The second-year rearguard also ranked fourth overall in points by a defenceman in the OUA, and was a physical presence in the Lions line up game after game, racking up a team leading 100 penalty minutes (fourth overall in the OUA).

Graduating netminder Perugini (King City, Ont.) also had the best season of his OUA career, as he led the first place Lions with a 14-11 record and a 2.31 goals against average and .920 save percentage. Perugini was named an OUA West second-team all-star, as he was one the top goaltenders in the OUA throughout the season and was a big reason why the Lions cut their team goals against average from 3.25 in 2014-15 to 2.61 in 2015-16.

Lions head coach Chris Dennis was named OUA Coach of the Year for 2015-16 in his first season behind the Lions bench. Dennis engineered a worst to first turnaround for the Lions, as they went from a last team in 2014-15 to winning the OUA West Division Title in 2015-16. It was the first time the Lions won their division since the 2008-09 season and the first time ever in the OUA's two-division format. Dennis, along with new assistant coaches Russ Herrington, Jesse Messier and former NHLer Andreas Karlsson, took over a roster this season largely unchanged from the 2014-15 season, with 18 returning players, making the quick turnaround to first place all the more impressive. 

The Lions will be back on the ice next fall as they take to the ice for the 2016-17 season.
OUA Major Award Winners
Player of the Year: Colin Behenna – Forward – Waterloo Warriors
Rookie of the Year: Justice Dundas – Forward – Windsor Lancers
Randy Gregg Award of Merit: Mike Moffat – Defenceman – Waterloo Warriors
Most Sportsmanlike Award: Billy Jenkins - Forward - Lakehead Thunderwolves
Defenceman of the Year: Derek Sheppard – Defence – York Lions
Goalie of the Year: Andrew D'Agostini – Goaltender – Guelph Gryphons
Coach of the Year: Chris Dennis – York Lions

OUA First-Team All-Stars
Colin Behenna – Forward – Waterloo Warriors
Michael Fine – Forward – Ryerson Rams
Trevor Petersen – Forward – York Lions
Derek Sheppard – Defence – York Lions
Nick Trecapelli – Defence – Guelph Gryphons
Andrew D'Agostini – Goaltender – Guelph Gryphons

OUA Second-Team All-Stars
Chris Maniccia – Forward – Brock Badgers
Patrick Marsh – Forward – Toronto Varsity Blues
Christian Finch – Forward – Toronto Varsity Blues
Joe Underwood – Defence – Waterloo Warriors
Mike Moffat – Defence – Waterloo Warriors
Chris Perugini – Goaltender – York Lions

OUA All-Rookie Team
Justice Dundas – Forward – Windsor Lancers
Matt Campagna – Forward – Toronto Varsity Blues
Billy Jenkins – Forward – Lakehead Thunderwolves
Brandon Devlin – Defence – Ryerson Rams
Mac Clutsam – Defence – Laurier Golden Hawks
Blake Richard – Goaltender – Windsor Lancers