North Stars’ Bodnar tabbed SIJHL’s top goaltender for 2017-18

THUNDER BAY – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Wednesday that Brandon Bodnar of the Thunder Bay North Stars has been named its Top Goaltender award recipient for the 2017-18 season.

Bodnar garnered the laurels over fellow top goaltender award finalists Bailey Schmitz of the Thief River Falls Norskies and Michael Lenko of the English River Miners in voting conducted by each of the SIJHL’s member clubs.

On the year, the 20-year-old Fort Frances, product led all league goalkeepers in wins while going 23-7-2-1 overall with a 2.64 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Of note, Bodnar’s league-best eight shutouts was just two off the SIJHL single-season record of 10 set by another Top Goaltender award honouree, in current St. Louis Blues netminder Carter Hutton, who back during the 2005-06 campaign helped lead the North Stars to a Bill Salonen Cup crown, a Dudley-Hewitt Cup title and a semifinal berth at the RBC Cup.

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

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