SIJHL names all-star teams

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Monday its CCM Hockey first and second all-star teams, for the 2016-17 season.

These annual awards, which are presented by CCM Hockey, recognize the individual accomplishments of six forwards, four defencemen and two goaltenders during the course of regular season play in the SIJHL.
Along with the players, two head coaches, general managers and individuals who serve in trainer and/or equipment manager capacities with the their respective clubs have also been honoured for their efforts over the 2016-17 campaign. The CCM first and second all-stars were selected, in part, by voting done by each of the SIJHL’s member clubs.

“The SIJHL would like to congratulate each of the recipients of the CCM Hockey all-star team awards for their worthy efforts and accomplishments during the course of the 2016-17 regular season,” stated SIJHL Commissioner Bryan Graham. “We at the entire SIJHL would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to CCM Hockey for their commitment and partnership of this, the fourth annual CCM Hockey first and second all-star teams,” added Graham.

The following are the CCM Hockey first and second all-star team recipients for the 2016-17 SIJHL season:

CCM HOCKEY 1ST ALL-STAR TEAM

FORWARD: BRAEDEN ALLKINS, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – Earns his second consecutive first team all-star nod. … He led the SIJHL in both goals and points with 53 and 97 respectively. … His totals set a new club mark for goals and points in a single season. … The 20-year-old Golden, B.C. product also led the way in SIJHL power play markers with 16 and game-winning goals with eight. … He was tied for first in shorthanded goals with four. …Is a finalist for the Mallon’s Corporate Impressions/Play It Again Sports SIJHL Most Valuable Player award.

FORWARD: JACEN BRACKO, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – A tremendous first season in the SIJHL saw the 19-year-old Calgary, Alta., native end up second in league scoring with 81 points in 56 outings. … He was also second in goals with 41and chipped in with 40 assists.

FORWARD: JARED VIRTANEN, FORT FRANCES LAKERS – Finished second in league point-per-game average at 1.68 while also leading all SIJHL skaters in assists with 52. … Virtanen’s 74 points in just 44 games allowed him to secure fourth in league scoring. … The 20-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., produced 22 multi-points contests in 2016-17. … He’s also a finalist for SIJHL MVP.

DEFENCE: TREVOR PEREVERZOFF, ENGLISH RIVER MINERS – Was named the CCM Hockey Top Defenceman award recipient in the league this season for his efforts with the English River Miners. … Topped all SIJHL rearguards in goals with 19 and finished second overall in points among D-men with 51, which was just one off the league lead. The 20-year-old hails from Kelowna, B.C.

DEFENCE: RYAN WALSH, THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – The North Stars veteran defencemen led all league blueliners in offensive production with 52 points. … His 43 assists paced all SIJHL D-men as did his 28 power play points. … His hometown is Thunder Bay.

GOALTENDER: – PATRICK ZUBICK, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – In 29 appearances, the 20-year-old Castlegar, B.C., product posted a solid 21-4-3-0 record. … He led all SIJHL netminders in goals-against average and save percentage at 2.30 and .931 respectively. … He also registered one shutout. … Won his last six starts and his 21 victories was one off the league lead. … Zubick went 11-2-1-0 after Jan. 1.

COACH: KURT WALSTEN, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – Guided Dryden to a first place finish in the SIJHL regular season standings posting a franchise-best 45-win campaign while finishing with a club-record 94 points. Dryden was 12th overall in the final CJHL Top 20 rankings.

GENERAL MANAGER: KEVIN MCCALLUM, THIEF RIVER FALLS NORSKIES – Did a tremendous job with the expansion club that led the SIJHL in attendance while also helping build a Norskies’ roster that produced 30 wins in their inaugural campaign in the league.

TRAINER/EQUIPMENT MANAGER: NEAL BRUETSCH, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – A valued member of the GM Ice Dogs who was recognized for his contributions with Dryden’s training and equipment staff in helping his side finish first overall in the league standings.

CCM HOCKEY 2ND ALL-STAR TEAM

FORWARD: BRAEDYN AUBIN, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – The 18-year-old from Woodstock, Ont., was third overall in league scoring. … Aubin’s 29 tallies, 51 assists and 80 points were all single-season highs for the GM Ice Dogs standout. … His efforts earned him SIJHL Most Improved Player laurels for 2016-17. … He was second in the league in game-winning goals with seven.

FORWARD: SIDNEY GLADUE, ENGLISH RIVER MINERS – Gladue led his English River Miners in offensive production this season totalling 69 points in 55 games, including 27 markers. … That was good enough to place him fifth in league scoring. … The veteran forward, who is in his last year of Jr. ‘A’ hockey is from Wabasca, Alta.

FORWARD: DYLAN KOONER, FORT FRANCES LAKERS – Was earlier named the SIJHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player. … Finished sixth in SIJHL scoring while setting personal single-season highs in goals and points with 37 and 68 respectively. … Serving as Lakers’ captain, Kooner hails from Abbotsford, B.C.

DEFENCE: TRISTAN KNOTT, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – Helping anchor the Dryden defensive corps, the towering six-foot-five-inch, 240-pound Red Lake Falls, Minn., product set individual career highs for the GM Ice Dogs in goals, assists and points with 10, 27 and 37 respectively. … Knott was also fourth in scoring among all league defencemen.

DEFENCE: JOE NEWHOUSE, THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – Wrapping up the campaign third in points among all SIJHL blueliners, 20-year-old Thunder Bay native registered 39 in 2016-17 with six tallies and 33 helpers. … The assist totals for Newhouse was the second-highest among all league rearguards.

GOALTENDER: MICHAEL LENKO, ENGLISH RIVER MINERS – Lenko was instrumental in helping the Miners remain in contention all season long. … The 19-year-old from Gabriola, B.C., played the second-most minutes of any league netminder at 2,276. … He tied for the SIJHL lead in wins with 22. … Lenko was second overall in save percentage at .920 and was third in goals-against average at 2.87.

COACH: COLE WORKMAN, THIEF RIVER FALLS NORSKIES – The first-year coach in the SIJHL led the expansion Thief River Falls Norskies to an impressive 30-win season in 2016-17. … Workman’s efforts saw him named a finalist for the league coach of the year award.

GENERAL MANAGER: DEREK SWEET-COULTER, ENGLISH RIVER MINERS – Built and coached the English River roster that recorded a franchise-record 31 victories this season. … The Miners also finished third in the SIJHL standings with a 31-21-1-3 overall mark.

TRAINER/EQUIPMENT MANAGER: KURTIS MCCALLUM, THIEF RIVER FALLS NORSKIES – McCallum stepped into the role with the first-year Norskies to manage their training and equipment needs performed admirably on a daily basis for the SIJHL expansion club in Thief River Falls.

HONOURABLE MENTION

FORWARD
Nic Noseworthy, Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Keaton Huot, Thief River Falls Norskies
Jack Stensgard, Minnesota Iron Rangers

DEFENCE
Cole Thompson, Minnesota Iron Rangers
Maverick Lynes, Fort Frances Lakers

GOALTENDER(S)
Ben Dennis, Dryden GM Ice Dogs (Co-recipient)
Ryan Buttazzoni, Thief River Falls Norskies (Co-recipient)

COACH
Jeremy Adduono, Thunder Bay North Stars

GENERAL MANAGER
Wayne Strachan, Fort Frances Lakers

TRAINER/EQUIPMENT MANAGER
Don Dowswell, Thunder Bay North Stars

ABOUT THE CCM HOCKEY 1ST & 2ND ALL-STAR TEAMS – This marks the fourth time in the 16-season history of the SIJHL that that league has awarded first and second all-star teams. Through partnership with CCM Hockey the two all-star squads honours the elite talent within the league on and off the ice as well as behind the bench.