NOJHL names its Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that forwards Cooper Smyl (Soo Thunderbirds), Luke Bibby (Espanola Express) and Cooper Bowman (French River Rapids) have been named its Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week for the period ending February 28.

COOPER SMYL, (F) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – A tremendous return to the ice saw the 18-year-old Smyl score five times, including collecting a game-winner, in a trio of triumphs over the Blind River Beavers.

After tallying in the opener of their six-game set vs. the Beavers, he notched another marker in Game 2 and also had the lone goal in the shootout as the Thunderbirds pulled out a narrow win.

He followed that up Sunday by registering his first NOJHL hat trick, which featured getting the eventual winner on a first period penalty shot as the Soo won in Blind River.

Smyl has played at over a point-per-game pace this season with 13 in 11 outings, including nine tallies.

LUKE BIBBY, (F) ESPANOLA EXPRESS – The forward continued his goal-scoring prowess last week by lighting the lamp four times in helping the Express collect three of a possible four points in a pair of meetings against French River.

The 16-year-old Brantford, Ont., product found the back of the net twice in each match-up, giving him nine on the season in just 12 games.

Bibby also boasts four multi-point games to his credit while his nine goals top all NOJHL rookies in that department.

He’s also just one point off the overall lead among first year skaters in offensive production.

COOPER BOWMAN, (F) FRENCH RIVER RAPIDS – Playing a significant role in a stunning French River comeback on Tuesday, he helped the Rapids rally late from a three-goal deficit in an eventual shootout victory.

The 20-year-old, who hails from Courtice, Ont., started a three-tally outburst in just 40 seconds by scoring the first one and setting up the second marker to help set the stage for their comeback.

Bowman then completed it by supplying the lone goal in the shootout to cap off the come from behind win.

He also added another marker in the week raising his season point total to eight in as many games.

In 116 career league contests, Bowman has scored 23 times and assisted on 22 others for French River.

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Eastlink TV 3 Stars

Regular season

Week 1
Quinton Hill, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Jack Tos, (F) French River Rapids
Brendan Boyce, (D) Timmins Rock

Week 2
Tyler Masternak, (G) Timmins Rock
Olivier Cloutier-Faucher, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Jared Dupuis, (F) Blind River Beavers

Week 3
Devon Savignac, (F) Espanola Express
Alex Bugeja, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
Michael Nickolau, (G) Cochrane Crunch

Week 4
Tyson Moore, (F) Cochrane Crunch
Josh Dickson, (F) Timmins Rock
Sebastien Ouimet, (F) Cochrane Crunch

Week 5
Connor Toms, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
Kohl Reddy, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Noah Minns, (F) Blind River Beavers

Week 6
Derek Seguin, (F) Timmins Rock
Camille Marcoux, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Steven Klinck, (F) Cochrane Crunch

Week 7
Cooper Smyl, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Luke Bibby, (F) Espanola Express
Cooper Bowman, (F) French River Rapids