April 4, 2024, Mississauga, ON – …. David Elmy of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Buzzers is the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Most Improved Player for the 2023-24 season, the league announced today.
The 19-year-old made the massive jump from 21 points (11 goals/10 assists) in his rookie season in the OJHL, 2022-23, to 81 (44 goals/37 assists) this past season.
People noticed. The Mississauga resident committed to NCAA Division I Canisius College in Buffalo in January.
How did he go from 21 to 81 points?
“A lot of offseason work, a lot of hard work,” Elmy told the OJHL. “From training to watching my game from last year to watching the older guys I played with. To trying new things and going through their steps and their process. Basically working the hardest I could to try and get better.”
Elmy only missed a handful of days in the gym last summer, working out by himself and adding 15 to 20 pounds of muscle on his six-foot frame.
He had 21 points (eight goals/13 assists) in 11 playoff games this spring, good for a second-place tie with teammate Jonathan Morello across the league through the first two rounds of the postseason.
Three of his playoff goals were game-winners.
He had another three GWGs and five while the Buzzers were short-handed during the regular season.
“David came in this year highly focused with an exceptional practice work ethic,” Buzzers Head Coach and General Manager Rich Ricci told the OJHL. “You could see he meant business and his play has shown it. We are seeing the elevation here of a heavy player with elite level skill.”
“He’s a great kid who is mature and wants to win, he wants to be the guy. We look for him to be in the league’s best next season while being a leader of this team.”
Elmy was named OJHL Warrior East Conference Player-of-the-Month for February after he tallied nine goals and nine assists during nine games.
“My experience playing in the OJHL has been excellent and a great challenge,” Elmy told the OJHL earlier this season. “It has helped me to better prepare for the next level. It also has enhanced my understanding of the game and my overall skill set.”
“St. Michael’s has been a great fit for me. Being able to experience and play at the junior level has been a key role to my game. Being coached by Rich Ricci and Vic Criscuolo has helped me develop tremendously; having the opportunity to be coached by two people who have been around this league for many years is a great privilege and opportunity to learn from their experience.”
Elmy will be honoured along with the other OJHL award recipients at a ceremony during the OJHL Nutrafarms Championship Series in late April.
