NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Blind River’s Adam Newkirk named NOJHL’s top defenceman
SUDBURY — The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Wednesday that Adam Newkirk of the Blind River Beavers has been named the 2012-13 recipient of the NOJHL Trophy, which is presented annually to the league’s top defenceman.
The veteran six-foot, 185-pound blueliner, who hails from Chicago, Ill., is in his last year of junior hockey and skated in all but two games for the Beavers during the regular season amassing 25 points on seven tallies and 18 assists.
He becomes the first Beavers’ player to win the award in a campaign in which he also easily surpassed his goal, assist and point totals from a year ago.
As Blind River’s team captain, Newkirk logged plenty of minutes each night helping solidify his teams’ defensive efforts on a nightly basis.
He was also earlier named a NOJHL first team all-star for efforts in helping bolster the Beavers’ defensive corps.
The following is the all-time list of the NOJHL top defenceman recipients:
BEST DEFENCEMAN SEASON TEAM
Adam Newkirk 2012-13 Blind River Beavers
Corey Jackson 2011-12 Soo Thunderbirds
Joel Gagnon 2010-11 Sudbury Kal Tire Jr. Wolves
Bronson Kovacs 2009-10 Soo Thunderbirds
Drew Otto 2008-09 Soo Thunderbirds
Ben Davey 2007-08 Soo Thunderbirds
Mitch Champagne 2006-07 Abitibi Eskimos
Quinn Waller 2005-06 North Bay Skyhawks
Quinn Waller 2004-05 North Bay Skyhawks
Bruce Winn 2003-04 North Bay Skyhawks
Bruce Winn 2002-03 North Bay Skyhawks
Jason Michelutti 2001-02 Rayside Balfour Sabrecats
Jeff Cochrane 2000-01 Soo Thunderbirds
Serge Dube 1999-2000 Rayside Balfour Sabrecats
Troy Turyk 1998-99 Rayside Balfour Sabrecats
Serge Dube 1997-98 Rayside Balfour Sabrecats
Sheldon Cappadocia 1996-97 Sturgeon Falls Lynx
Derek Lahnalampi 1995-96 Rayside Balfour Sabrecats
Nicolas Cossette 1994-95 Rouyn-Noranda Capitales
Nicolas Cossette 1993-94 Rouyn-Noranda Capitales
Peter Johansson 1992-93 Timmins Golden Bears
George Wilson 1991-92 Powassan Hawks
Randy Koski 1990-91 Sudbury Cubs
Randy Koski 1989-90 Sudbury Cubs
Not Available 1988-89 N/A
Not Available 1987-88 N/A
Not Available 1986-87 N/A
Not Available 1985-86 N/A
Not Available 1984-85 N/A
Not Available 1983-84 N/A
Not Available 1982-83 N/A
Bill Mills 1981-82 Onaping Falls Huskies
Robin Chuipka 1980-81 Capreol Hawks
Robin Chuipka 1979-80 Capreol Hawks
Brian Gratton 1978-79 Rayside Balfour Canadians
No League 1977-78 N/L
No League 1976-77 N/L
No League 1975-76 N/L
No League 1974-75 N/L
No League 1973-74 N/L
No League 1972-73 N/L
John Flesch 1971-72 Sudbury Wolves
Gerry Egers 1970-71 Sudbury Wolves
Dave Fortier 1969-70 Chelmsford Canadiens
Bill Slewidge 1968-69 Soo Greyhounds
Don McCulloch 1967-68 Espanola Eagles
Rich Pagnutti 1966-67 Garson-Falconbridge Native Sons
Ron Burman 1965-66 North Bay Trappers
Archie Orazietti 1964-65 Soo Greyhounds
Wayne McQuaig 1963-64 Sudbury Cubs
No Winner 1962-63 N/W
List courtesy David Harrison, NOJHL Historian
Please contact NOJHL Historian David Harrison at statsman@eastlink.ca with information pertaining to previous league award winners from the missing 1982-83 through 1988-89 seasons.
Photo credit: NOJHL Photo Library
