The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Monday that Thunder Bay North Stars defenceman Kyle Breukelman has been named Pizza Hut player of the week for the period running Dec. 5-11.
In two games this past week the 20-year-old Thunder Bay native recorded six points on a pair of goals and four assists helping the North Stars sweep a two-game weekend set against Duluth.
Breukelman began by scoring once and assisting on another in a 6-3 home ice triumph vs. the Clydesdales Friday and followed that up by notching an additional marker and setting up three more tallies, including the game-winner, in a 10-2 Stars victory Saturday.
The veteran blueliner, who is closing in on the SIJHL record for most games played all-time among SIJHL defencemen at 181, has moved into third in the league this season in D-man scoring with 23 points. He also tops all rearguards in goals to date with 10.
Honourable mentions for the player of the week award went to Gordy Defiel, (G) Wisconsin Wilderness; Chris Belhumer, (F) Dryden Ice Dogs; Hunter Scott (F) Duluth Clydesdales; Alex Bruess, (F) Fort Frances Lakers; Dane Morin, (F) Sioux Lookout Flyers and Saylor Preston (F) Iron Range Iron Heads.
To recognize his on-ice efforts, Breukelman will be presented with a gift card courtesy of Pizza Hut.
At the conclusion of the 2011-12 regular season the top performer in the SIJHL will be presented with the Pizza Hut player of the year award.
2011-12 Pizza Hut player-of-the-week recipients
Week 1: (Sept. 12-18) Bram Erickson, (F) Wisconsin Wilderness
Week 2: (Sept. 19-25) Jordan Larson, (F) Fort Frances Lakers
Week 3: (Sept. 26-Oct. 2) Zach Blaisdell, (F) Wisconsin Wilderness
Week 4: (Oct. 3-9) Tyler Ampe, (G) Fort Frances Lakers
Week 5: (Oct. 10-16) Marc Nother, (G) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 6: (Oct. 17-23) Jeremy Johnson, (F) Wisconsin Wilderness
Week 7: (Oct. 24-30) Jordan Shockley, (F) Duluth Clydesdales
Week 8: (Oct. 31-Nov. 6) Quinn Rempel, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 9: (Nov. 7-13) Jason Dzurik, (G) Duluth Clydesdales
Week 10: (Nov. 14-20) Jayme Brattengeier, (G) Sioux Lookout Flyers
Week 11: (Nov. 21-27) Byron Katapaytuk, (F) Fort Frances Lakers
Week 12: (Nov. 28-Dec. 4) Ryan Lobreau, (F) Dryden Ice Dogs
Week 13: (Dec. 5-11) Kyle Breukelman, (D) Thunder Bay North Stars
