NOJHL This Week

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

Soo stopper Horodziejczyk maintains place among CJHL GAA leaders

SUDBURY -- Much of the success for the defending Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion Soo Thunderbirds has been based on their goaltending.

Both Joel Horodziejczyk and Steven Dombrowski have impressed for the T-Birds sitting first and third respectively in NOJHL goals-against average at 1.87 and 2.64.

As for Horodziejczyk his numbers also continue to rank him among the elite in the entire 128-team Canadian Junior Hockey League.

Looking at the statistics across the CJHL we see the first-year Soo puck stopper is fourth overall in average currently sporting a stingy 1.87 GAA among those who have played a minimum of 600 minutes so far this season.

Only the Superior International Junior Hockey League-leading Minnesota Wilderness tandem of JoJo Jeanetta and Gordie Defiel along with Matt Hrynkiw of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Humboldt Broncos presently possess better goals-against averages.

Jeanetta leads at 1.40 followed by Defiel’s 1.59 and Hrynkiw’s 1.82 mark.

Horodziejczyk’s .928 save percentage ties him for sixth best among the CJHL goals-against average leaders.

He is also knotted for fifth in shutouts in this group of netminders with two.

CJHL goals-against average leaders (Minimum 600 minutes played)

Goaltender                  Team        League GP Record AVG SV%  SO
JoJo Jeanetta              Minnesota SIJHL    12 10-2        1.40 .945 4
Gordie Defiel               Minnesota SIJHL     13 11-1        1.59 .941 3
Matt Hrynkiw               Humboldt  SJHL       18 12-6       1.82 .938 3
Joel Horodziejczyk   Soo           NOJHL   13 10-2-1    1.87 .928 2
Victor Adamo               Trenton     OJHL      12 9-2        1.89 .931 0
Devin McDonald          Camrose   AJHL      16 7-6-1     1.97 .934 1
Shayne Campbell        Truro         MHL        19 15-2-2   1.98 .928 1
Jared D’Amico             Okotoks     AJHL       17 11-5-1   1.98 .927 2
Michael Fredrick           Brooks      AJHL      25 24-1     1.99 .906 4                  

WEEK 13: A six-game slate is in store for week 13 in the NOJHL with action getting underway this evening as the Sudbury Nickel Barons host the Soo Thunderbirds at 7:30 p.m.

Two more tilts will go Friday as North Bay entertains Kirkland Lake at 7 p.m. while the Abitibi Eskimos kick-off a three-game weekend road trip at Elliot Lake. Puck drop in that one is set for 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s competition features Abitibi heading to Sault Ste. Marie and Blind River welcoming Elliot Lake with both match-ups getting underway at 7:30 p.m.

Wrapping up play will be a Sunday matinee as the Beavers entertain the Eskimos at 2 p.m. at the Blind River Community Centre.
  
NOJHL THREE STARS: Both sides of the coin are featured this week as a pair of goalies and a sharp-shooter ,who makes their life difficult, swept the honours in this latest installment of the NOJHL Three Stars of the Week for the time frame concluding Dec. 2.

DARCY HAINES – SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS: It was feast or famine for Valley East native Darcy Haines and his Sudbury teammates last week. The eighteen-year old forward struck for a five-goal performance at home on Wednesday night as the Nickel Barons dumped the Blind River Beavers 7-2.

Unfortunately, the tables were completely turned Saturday night in Iroquois Falls as Haines and company were shutout 7-0 by the Abitibi Eskimos.

Still, his offensive outburst earlier in the week leaves Haines second only to Eskies captain Richard Therrien in the goal-scoring parade, finding the back of the net 22 times in as many games.

JACKSON WINKLER – ABITIBI ESKIMOS: There is no question the 2012-13 edition of the Abitibi Eskimos can score goals. Now the team is hoping the answer to keeping the other team off the board might have been found.

Starting just his third game between the pipes for the Eskies, Jackson Winkler tossed a shutout against the Sudbury Nickel Barons Saturday night, turning aside all 39 shots he faced.

The 20-year-old puckstopper was acquired a few weeks back from the Fairfield Flyers in Alberta.

BRANDON CURRIE – BLIND RIVER BEAVERS: Capreol native Brandon Currie has faced more than his fair share of rubber since making the jump from the Great North Midget League to the NOJHL a few years back.

Facing the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners at home last Saturday night, Currie would keep his net clear of the Goodyear product, making 32 saves in chalking up his first shutout of the year.

The 19-year-old Nickel City Sons alumnus has split the time in net this year with Aaron Cormier, helping to keep Blind River just ahead of Elliot Lake in the league standings and within striking distance of Abitibi.

2013 DUDLEY-HEWITT CUP: The North Bay Trappers will serve as the host team for the 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship tournament.

The five-day event will be held at North Bay Memorial Gardens April 30 through May 4. It will feature the Trappers along with the champions of the NOJHL, Ontario Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League taking part.

Should North Bay go on to capture the NOJHL championship, then the league finalist will round out the four-team field with a berth to the Royal Bank Cup national Jr. A championship in Summerside, P.E.I. in May on the line.

CJHL TOP 20: The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League-leading Soo Thunderbirds maintained their position in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 rankings while the North Bay Trappers have also moved back in the mix.

Earning themselves a second consecutive week in seventh spot overall in the CJHL listings released Monday; the Thunderbirds remain in the top 10 with the Trappers garnering Honourable Mention laurels.

Currently sitting in first place in the NOJHL with a league-best 17-2-2-2 overall record on 38 points, the T-Birds have gone 14-1-2 in their past 17 outings as they continue to be one of the premier squads among the 128-team CJHL.

As for North Bay, they currently hold down second spot in the NOJHL standings a mere one point in arrears of the Soo with a 16-3-2-3 mark and 37 points.

The CJHL Top 20 is formulated each week in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting and is based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams belong to as well as regular season results.

Boasting a spectacular 27-1 overall record heading into play this week, the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits are once again rated the top club in the CJHL.

At 19-3-0-3 the Truro Bearcats of the Maritime Hockey League come in at No. 2 overall while the Minnesota Wilderness (21-3) of the Superior International Junior Hockey League have jumped one notch to third in the rankings.

The following are the CJHL Top 20 as of Dec. 3 listing the overall ranking, their listing last week, the team as well as the league they are a member of.

1. (1) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
2. (2) Truro Bearcats (MHL)
3. (4) Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)
4. (5) Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
5. (3) Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
6. (6) OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
7. (7) Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
8. (8) Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)
9. (11) Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
10. (10) Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)
11. (9) Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
12. (16) Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)
13. (15) Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
14. (13) Penticton Vees (BCHL)
15. (12) Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
16. (NR) Dauphin Kings (MJHL)
17. (HM) St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL)
18. (19) Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
19. (20) Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)
20. (NR) College Francais Longeueil (LHJAAAQ)

Honourable Mention: North Bay Trappers (NOJHL), Surrey Eagles (BCHL), Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), Nepean Raiders (CCHL)

The CJHL is an amalgamation of 10 Junior A hockey leagues from across Canada.

More information on the CJHL can be found by clicking on the league website www.cjhlhockey.com.

TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTEBOOK

ABITIBI ESKIMOS – Riding a mini two-game win streak the Eskimos take to the road this weekend with a trio of away contests in Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie and Blind River. … The club remains fifth in the league standings with an 8-12-0-1 overall record. … Abitibi’s leading scorer, in Richard Therrien, has been on a real tear as of late racking up 16 points in his past six games.  … Therrien leads all NOJHL skaters in goals with 24 and has moved into third spot in league offensive production with 39 points. … Peter Poulin-Roy is next on 22 points and is tied for 12th best overall.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – Fresh off their first shutout of the season in their last outing the Beavers look to continue their winning ways this weekend with home games Saturday and Sunday against Elliot Lake and Abitibi. … The club trails the Eskimos by two points in the race for fifth in the league standings with a 5-14-2-3 mark. … Samuel Wilbur has 10 points in his past six outings and is tied for eighth in NOJHL scoring with 25 points.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS – The Bobcats take to the ice twice this weekend as they host Abitibi on Friday before heading to Blind River Saturday. … The team remains seventh in the NOJHL standings with a 6-15-0-1 mark. … They have gone 3-2 in their last five games. …Elliot Lake has scored the fewest goals in the league so far this season at 57 while their 112 against is the most given up in the league. … Steve Gaul leads the team in scoring with 14 points. … When scoring first in a game the Bobcats are 5-0-1, but a mere 1-15 when their opposition strike first.
 
KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS – The Gold Miners will look to get back to their winning ways after going 0-2-1 on the road last weekend. … The club’s lone contest this week will be in North Bay Friday. … Kirkland Lake sits in third place in the league standings with a 13-10-2-1 overall record. … The club has allowed third fewest goals against to date with 82. … Jordan Briand has points in nine of his past 11 games and leads the team offensively with 22 points. … Connor McNally and Royce King are tied for second on the squad with 20 points apiece. … Chris Komma sits fourth in NOJHL goals-against average at .2.95 while playing the most minutes overall at 1200:33. … He is second in the NOJHL in victories with 11.

NORTH BAY TRAPPERS – Second place North Bay earned Honourable Mention in the most recent CJHL rankings. … The Trappers have one game this week and it is vs. Kirkland Lake Friday. …They have allowed the second fewest goals in the NOJHL this season at 60. … Goalkeeper Greg Dodds leads the league the NOJHL in wins with 12. He is second in goals-against average in the league at 2.28 and in save percentage at .928. … Brandon Janke is sixth NOJHL scoring with 29 points. … Brennen Dubchak and Corbin Bean are next on the club with 23 points, which knots them for 10th in NOJHL scoring. … Cole Klippenstein leads all NOJHL D-men in points with 19. … North Bay is 9-0-1 when Graham Pickard picks up a point in a game.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Two games are on tap for the Soo this week beginning tonight at Sudbury. … The Thunderbirds were seventh in the CJHL rankings for a second straight week. … They sit in first place in the NOJHL standings with a 17-2-2-2 record. They have scored the second most goals in the league with 106 and have allowed the fewest against at 53. … Rookie netminder Joel Horodziejczyk leads all NOJHL netminders in goals-against average at 1.87 and save percentage at .928. His GAA is the fourth best in the 128-team CJHL. … Another first-year netminder in Steven Dombrowski has won his last seven starts and sits third in GAA at 2.64 and in save percentage at .912. … Adam Ritchie leads the T-Birds with 37 points and is fourth overall in the league. … Darcy Casola is fifth in the NOJHL with 35 points. Derek Battagin (28pts) and Greg Sartoretto (25pts) sit seventh and tied for eighth respectively in league offensive numbers.

SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS – Sudbury entertains Sault Ste. Marie this evening in their lone NOJHL contest of the week… The club features the top two scorers in the league with Sebastien Leroux and Darcy Haines having 45 and 40 points respectively. … Leroux has been held of the score sheet three times in 23 games this season. … Haines is second in the league in goals with 22. … Sudbury is third overall in goals scored with 97, but has allowed the fifth most against at 102. … Michael Muzyka remains fifth in the NOJHL in goals-against average at 3.66. … Sudbury plays two straight at home before two away. … The Nickel Barons have gone 4-10 in their past 14 games after starting the year 8-0.