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 seven-plus weeks, we’ve held 30 votes to narrow the field from 32 to two. Now, the two plays that have survived and advanced will compete in the finals starting Thursday afternoon (Aug. 22).

Along the way we’ve 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 7,800 votes were cast 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.

Two matchups generated more than 800 votes, and both included 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.

We look forward to seeing how many people will vote on their matchup against Skylar Ruschpler of Hamilton Hawks U17. Voting will take place starting Thursday afternoon (Aug. 22) on our Instagram story and continue for 24 hours.

 

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 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

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.