Scoring champion Brian Bunnett of the Picton Pirates has been named most valuable player in the Empire Junior C Hockey League, the league announced Thursday night.

Bunnett, who had 61 points (14 goals and 47 assists in 37 games) was chosen in a poll of the league’s coaches and managers.

He was one of two Pirates to receive an individual award. Austin Labelle, who was tenth overall in league scoring with 16 goals and 43 points in 39 games, was named rookie of the year.

The league’s clubs recognized that the Port Hope Panthers’ regular-season championship was built on defence. Cameron McGill was named the league’s top defenceman, and goaltenders Branson Schell and Alec Brown won the award for the league’s best goals-against average. The Panthers allowed 24 fewer goals than the next-best team.

McGill had 27 points, including eight goals, in 26 games, while Schell and Brown posted goals-against averages of 2.47 and 2.57, respectively.

Ryan Kaszuba of Amherstview was named the league’s most valuable goaltender. Kaszuba had a 3.39 goals-against average and one shutout in 30 games with the Amherstview Jets.