SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Saturday the recipients of its four individual Player of the Month awards for December.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: ROBBIE RUTLEDGE, (F) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – In six contests to conclude 2021, Rutledge racked up 15 points by scoring nine times and doling out six assists for the Lumberjacks.
This included a trio of multi-tally efforts, which featured a four-goal outburst at French River back on Dec. 11.
The 17-year-old from Severn, Ont., also had a game-winning marker and registered multiple point nights on five occasions during the month.
Heading into January, Rutledge leads all NOJHL skaters in goals, with 23, and sits second in league offensive production, while topping all rookies with his 40 points.
Honourable Mention: Levi Siau, (F) French River Rapids; Tyson Doucette, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Monthly recipients
September: Cameron Lemcke, (F) Powassan Voodoos
October: Chase Tallaire, (F) Soo Eagles
November: Cooper Bowman, (F) French River Rapids
December: Robbie Rutledge, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH: CAMERON DUTKIEWICZ, (D) TIMMINS ROCK – A stalwart at both ends of the ice for the league-leading Rock, Dutkiewicz scored in the five of the six match-ups he appeared in during the time frame, including markers in each of his final four appearances in 2021.
The 20-year-old Timmins native also notched his first NOJHL hat trick on Dec. 10 in a road triumph at Cochrane.
Dutkiewicz is presently playing at a point-per-game pace for his side with 28 in as many outings on a dozen goals and 16 helpers.
The Rock blueliner also shares the league-lead in scoring among defencemen and has already established personal single-season best totals in tallies, assists and points.
Honourable Mention: Dylan Ford, (D) Hearst Lumberjacks; Ryan O’Dell, (D) Powassan Voodoos
Monthly recipients
September: Brandon Hass, (D) French River Rapids
October: Bode Dunford, (D) Timmins Rock
November: Jaden Raad, (D) Hearst Lumberjacks
December: Cameron Dutkiewicz, (D) Timmins Rock
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH: KONRAD SIMARD (G) TIMMINS ROCK – With most NOJHL netminders seeing limited game action in December due to a shortened schedule, Simard was stellar in his time between the pipes, posting back-to-back shutouts in his two starts.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper, who hails from Chibougamou, Que., handled every he shot he faced in the time frame, raising his overall record this season with Timmins to 6-0-0-0.
Simard presently sports a solid 1.50 goals against average and has lifted his save percentage to .912.
With 54 consecutive stops to his credit, he has not allowed a goal in his past 138 minutes and 43 seconds of game action.
Honourable Mention: Nolan Chartrand, (G) Soo Thunderbirds; Gabe Rosek, (G) Soo Eagles
Monthly recipients
September: Alex Bugeja, (G) Powassan Voodoos
October: Noah Metivier, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
November: Ryan Gilmore, (G) Soo Eagles
December: Konrad Simard, (G) Timmins Rock
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: MATHIEU COMEAU, (F) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – The first-year Hearst forward etched his name on the game sheet in six of the seven games the Lumberjacks had in the month, collecting 14 points in total.
Still just 16 years of age, and one of the youngest players in the entire league, Comeau provided six goals for his hometown side in December and helped set-up eight others along the way. This included a five-point effort on Dec. 11, which matched the NOJHL high so far this season for most points in a single contest to date.
Comeau currently shares the NOJHL rookie lead in game-winning goals with four and will begin the new year with points in each of his past five match-ups.
He is also one of two skaters in the league, who have appeared in 20 or more games so far this season, that have not incurred a single penalty.
Honourable Mention: Robbie Rutledge, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks; Christopher Engelbert, (F) Timmins Rock
Monthly recipients
September: Christopher Engelbert, (F) Timmins Rock
October: Dominik Godin, (F) French River Rapids
November: Mike Levin, (F) Powassan Voodoos
December: Mathieu Comeau, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
