NOJHL announces final Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week of the season

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Monday, April 25, 2016

NOJHL announces  final Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week of the season

SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that the Soo Thunderbirds trio of netminder Connor Ryckman, defenceman Aidan Salerno and forward Jaren Bellini have been named the final Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the week for the 2015-16 season.

CONNOR RYCKMAN, (G) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Ryckman capped off an incredible NOJHL playoff run last week by adding two more victories in backstopping the Thunderbirds to their second consecutive Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy league championship.

The 19-year-old native of Minesing, Ont., began by stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced in a 5-1 triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in Game 3 of the finals.

One night later Ryckman turned aside all 25 attempts he saw to blank the Gold Miners 7-0 and secure the NOJHL title for the T-Birds.

The Sault Ste. Marie stopper was all but invincible in the postseason going 11-1 overall with his only blemish coming in an overtime defeat on the road at Elliot Lake in the divisional final.

He went on to record a stingy 1.06 goals-against average along with a stellar .952 save percentage.

Ryckman also posted an amazing six shutouts in his 12 starts to top all netminders in the entire 131-team Canadian Junior Hockey League in that department.

AIDAN SALERNO, (D) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – The 20-year-old defenceman from Long Beach, N.Y., chipped in on both ends of the ice bolstering the Thunderbirds efforts in rolling to the NOJHL championship.

In Game 3 of the final against Kirkland Lake he dished out an assist and followed that with a pair of tallies in the finale.

Salerno saw action in seven postseason contests and averaged a point-per-game with seven in as many outings on two goals and five helpers.

That was among the 51 points the entire Soo defensive corps racked up in the playoffs while combining to keep their opponents to just 13 goals against in as many games.

JAREN BELLINI, (F) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Some timely points helped the 19-year-old win a second straight NOJHL crown with his hometown club.

Bellini notched the game-winner in the third contest in the series with the Gold Miners before adding an assist in Game 4.

In postseason play the veteran Soo forward registered 10 points by scoring four times and setting up six others.

In all Bellini combined for nine game-winning goals in the regular season and playoffs.

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2016 NOJHL Playoffs 3 Stars

Week 1
Roman Gaudet, (F) Soo Eagles
Cam Bruggrabe, (G) Soo Eagles
Chris Murphy, (F) Soo Eagles

Week 2
Aaron Mackay, (G) Elliot Lake Wildcats
Garrett Forrest, (G) Powassan Voodoos
Joe Marcoullier, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Week 3
Connor Ryckman, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
Dustin Cordeiro, (F) Cochrane Crunch
Cole Hepler, (F) Elliot Lake Wildcats

Week 4
Logan Fredericks, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Dustin Cordeiro, (F) Cochrane Crunch
Jaren Bellini, (F) Soo Thunderbirds

Week 5
Matthew Busby, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
Brayden Stortz, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Joel Fortin, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Week 6
Joe Marcoullier, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Connor Ryckman, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
Matthew Caruso, (F) Soo Thunderbirds

Week 7
Connor Ryckman, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
Aidan Salerno, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
Jaren Bellini, (F) Soo Thunderbirds