North Stars Aiken named SIJHL's top goaltender

THUNDER BAY -- The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Monday that Brock Aiken of the Thunder Bay North Stars has been named its Top Goaltender Award recipient for the 2018-19 regular season.

Aiken edged out fellow top goaltender award finalists Zach Willms of the Red Lake Miners and Bailey Schmitz of the Thief River Falls Norskies for the honour in voting conducted by each of the SIJHL’s member clubs.

The 20-year-old Thunder Bay native led all SIJHL netminders in goals-against average (2.12), save percentage (.931) and shutouts (8) during the course of the campaign, while posting an impressive 23-2-1-0 overall record.

With the honour, Aiken will serve as the SIJHL’s nominee for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Goaltender honour.

Of note, Aiken’s league-best eight shutouts were just two off the SIJHL single-season record of 10 set by another Top Goaltender Award honouree, in current Buffalo Sabres netminder Carter Hutton, who back during the 2005-06 season helped lead the North Stars to a Bill Salonen Cup crown, a Dudley-Hewitt Cup title and a semifinal berth at the Canadian National Jr. A Championship.

The following is the list of the SIJHL’s all-time top goaltender winners:

2018-19: Brock Aiken, Thunder Bay North Stars
2017-18: Brandon Bodnar, Thunder Bay North Stars
2016-17: Patrick Zubick, Dryden GM Ice Dogs
2015-16: Riley Corbin, Thunder Bay North Stars
2014-15: Nathan Park, Fort Frances Lakers
2013-14: Eric Mann, Thunder Bay North Stars
2012-13: Gordy Defiel, Minnesota Wilderness
2011-12: Tanner Milliron, Wisconsin Wilderness
2010-11: John McLean, Wisconsin Wilderness
2009-10: Jameson Shortreed, Fort Frances Lakers
2008-09: Ryan Faragher, Fort Frances Jr. Sabres
2007-08: Drew Strandberg, Thunder Bay Bulldogs
2006-07: Kyle Cantlon, Marathon Renegades
2005-06: Carter Hutton, Fort William North Stars
2004-05: Viktor Saari, Fort William North Stars
2003-04: Daniel Beardy, Fort William North Stars
2002-03: Dan Hoehne, Borderland Thunder
2001-02: Rob Hrabec, Borderland Thunder