This year's Jewish athlete of the year is  Brendan Leipsic, an 18-year-old hockey player with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League,

This was was announced at the 40th Annual "Y" Sports Dinner, held Tuesday, June 19th, at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

On Saturday June 24, it was reported that Portland Winterhawks players Brendan Leipsic and Taylor Leier were selected in the National Hockey League Entry Draft Saturday. Leipsic was drafted in the third round, 89th overall by the Nashville Predators and Leier went in the fourth round, 117th overall to the Philadelphia Flyers. http://www.kxl.com/06/24/12/Winterhawks-Leipsic--Taylor-get-selected/landing.html?blockID=616786&feedID=10528.  See also http://www.kxl.com/06/24/12/Winterhawks-Leipsic--Taylor-get-selected/landing.html?blockID=616786&feedID=10528

The 5 foot 9, 175 pund Leipsic has been described as  playing a "gritty high termpo" game and as a very competitive young man.

To read a thorough article about Leipsic describing his talents go to "WHL playoffs: Too small? Portland's Brendan Leipsic plays surprisingly big for his size"

http://www.oregonlive.com/hawks/index.ssf/2012/04/whl_playoffs_too_small_by_more.html.

In the article, Craig Heisinger, the former equipment manager with the WHL's Winnipeg Warriors and Brandon Wheat Kings -- now the assistant general manager with the NHL's Winnipeg Jets -- and one of the foremost experts .

He is also descrived as "an  an energy guy,"  and "When he's emotionally and physically engaged in the game, he sets the bar for the rest of the guys.

Leipsic has been selected to play for Team Canada at the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge in August and had 28 goals and 30 assists in 68 regular-season games for the Winterhawks. He added seven goals and eight assists in 20 playoff games.

 Brendan Leipsic is the son of Greg and Kathleen Finnegan.