# Emms Family Award

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 | Team |
| 1972–73 | Dennis Maruk | London Knights |
| 1973–74 | Jack Valiquette | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1974–75 | Danny Shearer | Hamilton Fincups |
| 1975–76 | John Tavella | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1976–77 | Mike Gartner | Niagara Falls Flyers |
| 1977–78 | Wayne Gretzky | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1978–79 | John Goodwin | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1979–80 | Bruce Dowie | Toronto Marlboros |
| 1980–81 | Tony Tanti | Oshawa Generals |
| 1981–82 | Pat Verbeek | Sudbury Wolves |
| 1982–83 | Bruce Cassidy | Ottawa 67's |
| 1983–84 | Shawn Burr | Kitchener Rangers |
| 1984–85 | Derek King | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1985–86 | Lonnie Loach | Guelph Platers |
| 1986–87 | Andrew Cassels | Ottawa 67's |
| 1987–88 | Rick Corriveau | London Knights |
| 1988–89 | Owen Nolan | Cornwall Royals |
| 1989–90 | Chris Longo | Peterborough Petes |
| 1990–91 | Cory Stillman | Windsor Spitfires |
| 1991–92 | Chris Gratton | Kingston Frontenacs |
| 1992–93 | Jeff O'Neill | Guelph Storm |
| 1993–94 | Vitali Yachmenev | North Bay Centennials |
| 1994–95 | Bryan Berard | Detroit Junior Red Wings |
| 1995–96 | Joe Thornton | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1996–97 | Peter Sarno | Windsor Spitfires |
| 1997–98 | David Legwand | Plymouth Whalers |
| 1998–99 | Sheldon Keefe | Barrie Colts |
| 1999–00 | Derek Roy | Kitchener Rangers |
| 2000–01 | Rick Nash | London Knights |
| 2001–02 | Patrick O'Sullivan | Mississauga IceDogs |
| 2002–03 | Rob Schremp | Mississauga IceDogs |
| 2003–04 | Bryan Little | Barrie Colts |
| 2004–05 | Benoit Pouliot | Sudbury Wolves |
| 2005–06 | John Tavares | Oshawa Generals |
| 2006–07 | Patrick Kane | London Knights |
| 2007–08 | Taylor Hall | Windsor Spitfires |
| 2008–09 | Evgeny Grachev | Brampton Battalion |
| 2009–10 | Matt Puempel | Peterborough Petes |
| 2010–11 | Nail Yakupov | Sarnia Sting |
| 2011–12 | Aaron Ekblad | Barrie Colts |
| 2012–13 | Connor McDavid | Erie Otters |
| 2013–14 | Travis Konecny | Ottawa 67's |
| 2014–15 | Alex DeBrincat | Erie Otters |
| 2015–16 | Alexander Nylander | Mississauga Steelheads |
| 2016–17 | Ryan Merkley | Guelph Storm |
| 2017–18 | Andrei Svechnikov | Barrie Colts |
| 2018–19 | Quinton Byfield | Sudbury Wolves |
| 2019–20 | Shane Wright | Kingston Frontenacs |
| 2020–21 | Not awarded, season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Not awarded, season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021–22 | Cam Allen | Guelph Storm |
| 2022–23 | Michael Misa | Saginaw Spirit |
| 2023–24 | Jake O'Brien | Brantford Bulldogs |