Daniel Del Paggio has put together quite a debut campaign with the Thunder Bay North Stars.
The 17-year-old forward, who finished his first regular season at or near the top of all major scoring categories, picked up his most significant accolade yet by being named the league’s Pizza Hut player of the year on Friday.
The Thunder Bay product finished second in the league in scoring with 105 points, but led all players by averaging more than two points per game.
He also concluded the regular season with a 36-game point streak, en route to finishing with 36 goals and a league-high 69 assists.
Del Paggio edged forwards Lucas Debenedet of the Fort Frances Lakers and John Morales of the English River Miners in voting.
Debenedet was earlier announced as the league’s rookie of the year.
The selection makes him the third North Star to be named most valuable player, joining former standouts Trevor Gamache and Nathan Breukelman in receiving the honour.
Del Paggio, who represented the league at the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s prospects games earlier this year, is the nominee for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s RBC player of the year award, which will be announced in May.
The North Stars will play the final contest in their two-game total goals series against the Lakers tonight in Fort Frances. Thunder Bay leads 4-3 with the winner earning the right to choose their semifinal opponent.
