We get it. He's an absolute nutcase, he's a smaller guy, and he's not as of a highlight name as some of the other guys in the SMJHL. However, you cannot overlook what Sanyi Kocsis has done for the Kelowna Knights this season alongside of the Quadruplets and the already established cast. Going from a fairly mediocre team to a team who have ingrained themselves in the playoff hunt in the matter of three-four additions and a number of subtractions is amazing.

Actually, it's quite unfair to just mention Sanyi Kocsis by himself for a dark horse ROTY. Nolan Sawchuk and Nickolas Klaus have both been absolute forces for the Knights as well. The fact none of these players are even being recognized for their deeds is the astonishing and fairly upsetting fact.

Going back to Kocsis, one of the main reasons why he should be considered is both his point production, his deployment, and how he has impacted the Knights roster in such a positive way. To start things off, Kocsis leads all rookie defensemen in points so far, with 4 goals and 23 points in 29 games played. He's 2nd in rookie point totals, only behind forward Mika Mayfield of the Anchorage Armada who has 24 points in 28 games played. If the point totals aren't enough to convince you that Kocsis is a legitimate star in the making, then look no further than the competition Kocsis is going up against. He is Kelowna's 2nd best defenseman, only behind Scott Niedermayer Jr., and has been utilized in all 5v5, PK and PP situations. Additionally, in man-down situations, Kocsis has been used to help stabilize Kelowna's 2nd PK unit.

Aside from simply just points and deployment, Kocsis has shown multiple times he can compete against both top SMJHL talent and SHL stars in the making. Playing consistently on the Knights' top pairing has exposed Kocsis to a multitude of players, especially the stacked Montreal Militia. The fact that he has gone from looking completely new to the game back in preseason to looking right at home in the midway point of the SMJHL season speaks loads about Kocsis' experience and ability to play in the North American game. It's even more surprising that he is one of only two rookies who have cracked the Top 30 in SMJHL scoring, the other rookie being Mika Mayfield (although fellow Knights Sawchuk and Klaus are knocking on the door).

The fact that Kocsis is not getting the recognition he deserves is mind boggling. He's one of the big three reasons why Kelowna is in a playoff spot, and is not toiling in the danger of an early summer break. While there are so many good rookies to nominate for Rookie of the Year, if Kocsis does not receive at least some sort of recognition for his feats and outperforming other, higher drafted rookie defensemen like Jalopski, Darrow or Montgomery, and the majority of the S45 Draft Class.