NOJHL names its Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that forward Nicholas DeGrazia (Rayside-Balfour Canadians); defenceman Matais Salem (Espanola Express) and goaltender Liam Oxner (Hearst Lumberjacks) have been named its Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week for the period ending Oct. 13.

NICHOLAS DEGRAZIA, (F) RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS – In a pair of games last week, DeGrazia collected four goals and dished out two assists as Rayside-Balfour took a home-and-home set vs. Elliot Lake.

One of his markers was a game-winner and he now has points in four straight heading into the NOJHL Showcase Tuesday in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The 17-year-old Thunder Bay, Ont., product currently leads all league rookies in scoring with 16 points in 14 outings on seven tallies and nine helpers.

DeGrazia also tops all NOJHL skaters in shorthanded markers with two.

MATAIS SALEM, (D) ESPANOLA EXPRESS – One of those leading Espanola to back-to-back victories during the time frame was blueliner Salem.

Hailing from Brampton, Ont., the 19-year-old rearguard began by dishing out three assists as the Express registered their first-ever victory over the Soo Thunderbirds in a game held Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie.

He then scored once and helped set-up the game-winner, late in regulation, in another road triumph Sunday, at Elliot Lake.

Sporting a modest three-game point streak, Salem presently paces all NOJHL defencemen in offensive numbers with 18 points, including four goals, while playing a part in 40% of his team’s tallies so far this season.

LIAM OXNER, (G) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – The 18-year-old from Halifax, N.S. continued his solid rookie campaign in the league by posting a 2-0 record, in as many starts, last week for the Lumberjacks.

Along with registering a 1.50 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage during the period, he has only given up three goals in net for Hearst in his past 160 minutes of game action.

Boasting a 5-1 mark in his initial year in the league, Oxner sits second among all NOJHL netminders with a 1.80 average and is third overall with a .935 save mark.

Eastlink TV 3 Stars

Week 1
Stephen Minichiello, (F) Cochrane Crunch
Owen Say, (G) Powassan Voodoos
Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers

Week 2
Gabinien Kioki, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Lucas Adams, (F) Blind River Beavers
Max Griffioen, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks

Week 3
Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers
Shane Brancato, (G) Soo Eagles
Matthew Belanger, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians

Week 4
Parker Bowman, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Mitchell Martin, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Landis Antonic, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Week 5
Blake Vaca, (F) Soo Eagles
Gregory Trudeau-Paquet, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Derek Seguin, (F) Timmins Rock

Week 6
Nicholas DeGrazia, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Matais Salem, (D) Espanola Express
Liam Oxner, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks