NOJHL announces 3 Stars of the week

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA RELEASE

Release date: Monday, Nov. 25, 2013

NOJHL announces 3 Stars of the week

SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey announced Monday that forwards Darcy Haines of the Soo Thunderbirds and Brennen Dubchak of the Espanola Rivermen along with defenceman Khadyn Butterfly of the Sudbury Nickel Barons have been named “3 Stars” of the week for the period ending Nov. 24.

DARCY HAINES, (F) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – In two games last week the 20-year-old forward played a pivotal role in helping the Thunderbirds skate to victories in both of them and move back into sole possession of first place in the league standings.

The 2012-13 NOJHL most valuable player began by dishing out three assists including setting up the deciding tally in a 7-1 romp over Elliot Lake Saturday.

Then on Sunday afternoon Haines buried the game-winner and added a helper as Sault Ste. Marie stormed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Kirkland Lake 6-2 in a showdown between the top two clubs in the overall standings.

In four games since being acquired by the Thunderbirds from Pembroke of the CCHL, Haines has points in all of them registering a trio of tallies along with six helpers.

BRENNEN DUBCHAK, (F) ESPANOLA RIVERMEN – A five-point week for the 20-year-old Kenora, Ont., native aided Espanola as they skated to a pair of victories in as many outings.

In his opening contest Friday Dubchak assisted on the tying goal and then wired home the winner in double overtime as the Rivermen edged the Gold Miners 2-1.

He followed that up Sunday by setting up the eventual game-winner and adding two more helpers on top of that as Espanola skated past Blind River 7-2.

Dubchak’s offensive outburst allowed him to take over the NOJHL scoring lead with 44 points in 27 games while also extending a consecutive game point streak to 10 straight outings. He has amassed five goals and 17 assists in that span.

KHADYN BUTTERFLY, (D) SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS – Taking to the ice twice during the week that was the 18-year-old Moosenee, Ont., product picked up three points helping the Nickel Barons pick-up three out of four points in the standings.

He began with a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime setback to Elliot Lake this past Wednesday.

Butterfly then followed that up with another assist Saturday evening as Sudbury defeated Abitibi 4-2.

His efforts last week also allowed him to extend a point streak to eight consecutive games, which is currently tops among NOJHL defencemen.

Overall the Nickel Barons blueliner is currently second in both goals and points among league rearguards with six and 18 respectively.

2013-14 NOJHL 3 Stars of the Week recipients

Week 12
Darcy Haines, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Brennen Dubchak, (F) Espanola Riverman
Khadyn Butterfly, (D) Sudbury Nickel Barons

Week 11
Samuel Wilbur, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Brady Clouthier, (F) Abitibi Eskimos
Kenny Fitzgerald, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Week 10
Corbin Bean, (F) Espanola Rivermen
Everett Thompson, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Brett Wagner, (F) Elliot Lake Bobcats

Week 9
Michael Muzyka, (G) Sudbury Nickel Barons
Ned Simpson, (D) Elliot Lake Bobcats
Andrew Palushaj, (F) Elliot Lake Bobcats

Week 8
Erick Robichaud, (F) Abitibi Eskimos
Dustin Hummel, (G) North Bay Trappers
Steven Babin, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Week 7
Joel Horodziejczyk, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
Sylvain Morin, (G) Abitibi Eskimos
Joakim Jutras, (G) Espanola Rivermen

Week 6
Joel Horodziejczyk, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
Ryan Scherer, (D) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Owen Headrick, (D) Soo Thunderbirds

Week 5
Joel Horodziejczyk, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
Giovanni Foschia, (F) Sudbury Nickel Barons
Grant Syrette, (F) Soo Thunderbirds

Week 4
Brennen Dubchak, (F) Espanola Rivermen
Etienne Roy, (G) Elliot Lake Bobcats
Steven Babin, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Week 3
Gavin Burbach, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Kyle Baril, (F) North Bay Trappers
Ben Miller, (F) Abitibi Eskimos

Week 2
Brennen Dubchak, (F) Espanola Rivermen
Jeremy Picard-Fiset, (D) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Anthony Miller, (F) Soo Thunderbirds

Week 1
Mathieu Lecompte, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Tyler Shanush, (F) Blind River Beavers
Matt Young, (G) Blind River Beavers