CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) announced on Thursday that Joe Colborne of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Camrose Kodiaks has been named the 2008 RBC Canadian Junior A Hockey League Player of the Year.

In his second season with the Kodiaks, Colborne finished second in AJHL scoring with 90 points (33 goals, 57 assists) and took part in the 2007 CJAHL Prospects Game and 2008 AJHL All-Star Game. He also won a gold medal with Canada West at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge in Trail and Nelson, BC.

In the playoffs, Colborne led his team with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) and was named AJHL Playoff MVP as the Kodiaks won their second consecutive AJHL championship and Doyle Cup and advanced to the RBC Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship for the second consecutive year and fifth time in eight seasons.

The 18-year-old Colborne, who is ranked 28th by NHL Central Scouting for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, had a busy 2006-07 season, earning co-rookie of the year honours with the Kodiaks and playing in the 2007 AJHL All-Star Game and the 2007 Canada Winter Games with Team Alberta, winning a bronze medal. He was also named most sportsmanlike player at the 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup in Prince George, BC, where the Kodiaks lost in the semi-final, and took part in the National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp in his hometown of Calgary, AB.

In addition to his on-ice exploits, Colborne has been very involved with the Camrose community off the ice, working with a number of groups. He is also accomplished in the classroom, maintaining a 90% average in school despite his busy hockey schedule, and will continue his education and his hockey career at the University of Denver in 2008-09, where he will major in Business.

“RBC is very proud to support the Canadian Junior A Hockey League Player of the Year award,” said Mike Haley, RBC’s regional vice-president for eastern Ontario. “The award was designed to provide an opportunity for Junior A players to be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments both on and off the ice. We are continuously pleased by the strong applicants that we receive from across the country on an annual basis. Applicants who volunteer hours of their time to charitable initiatives, spend a great deal of their time in a classroom and excel in their contributions on the ice in a leadership and performance role are the type of student athletes we are happy to recognize. RBC is pleased to continue being a part of this important initiative and assisting in the development of Canadian athletes.”

Colborne beat out runners-up Jordie Johnston of the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves and Danny Mireault of the LHJAAAQ’s Action de Joliette, joining an elite group of winners including 2007 player of the year Kyle Turris, who made his NHL debut for the Phoenix Coyotes in April.