NOJHL names its Players of the Month for November

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday its respective player, defenceman, goaltender and rookie of the month for November.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH – NICK SMITH, (F) SOO THUNDERBIRDS: In seven appearances last month for surging Sault Ste. Marie, Smith racked up 16 points on six goals and 10 assists.

Five of the outings saw the league-leading Thunderbirds’ forward register multi-point affairs.

On the season Smith sits tied for second in NOJHL scoring with 37 points on 17 tallies and 20 helpers.

Honourable Mention: Riley Nadeau, (F) Blind River Beavers; Philippe Daoust, (F) French River Rapids

Monthly recipients
September: Cade Herd, (F) Powassan Voodoos
October: Derek Seguin, (F) Timmins Rock
November: Nick Smith, (F) Soo Thunderbirds

DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH – ALEC JOHNSON, (D) HEARST LUMBERJACKS: Playing at over a point-per-game pace in November, Johnson racked up 10 in nine contests as he scored twice and helped set-up eight others for the Lumberjacks.

Since rejoining the club at the beginning of last month, the 19-year-old from Maple Grove, Minn., has 13 points in to his credit with four markers and nine assists.

Honourable Mention: Quinn Schneidmiller, (D) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners; Ryan Mulligan, (D) Blind River Beavers

Monthly recipients
September: Steven Bellini, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
October: Steven Bellini, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
November: Alec Johnson, (D) Hearst Lumberjacks

GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH – TYLER MASTERNAK, (G) TIMMINS ROCK: It was a record-setting month for Masternak as he set a NOJHL mark for shutouts in a season with still three months left to go in the season.

Along with picking up five wins, the 18-year-old from Oshawa, Ont., produced a 1.50 goals-against average in the time frame along with a .947 save percentage and three shutouts.

On the year, Masternak leads all league netminders in both victories and average with 16 and 2.04 respectively while his .922 puts his sixth overall.

Honourable Mention: Marshall Frappier, (G) French River Rapids; Colin Ahern, (G) Soo Thunderbirds

Monthly recipients
September: Gregory Brassard, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
October: Tyler Masternak, (G) Timmins Rock
November: Tyler Masternak, (G) Timmins Rock

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH – PHILIPPE DAOUST, (F) FRENCH RIVER RAPIDS: The first-year French River forward earns NOJHL rookie accolades for a second straight month after racking up 17 points in November.

Among his efforts were eight markers and nine helpers along the way.

The 17-year-old Barrie, Ont., native currently leads all NOJHL rookies in offensive production with 32 points having tallied 13 times and dishing out 19 assists.

Honourable Mention: Hunter Brazier, (F) French River Rapids; Vinny DeSanctis, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Monthly recipients
September: Justin Mauro, (F) Blind River Beavers
October: Philippe Daoust, (F) French River Rapids
November: Philippe Daoust, (F) French River Rapids