SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Sunday that Zachery Demers (Hearst Lumberjacks); Nicholas Toffoli (Greater Sudbury Cubs); Kolton Bourret (Soo Thunderbirds) and Brandan Tronchin (Hearst Lumberjacks) have been named its Forward; Defenceman; Goaltender and Rookie of the Month, respectively, for December.
FORWARD OF THE MONTH: ZACHARY DEMERS (F) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – Collecting assists and points in all seven of Hearst’s match-ups last month saw Demers score four times and help set-up nine others for a 13-point run.
The offensive output for the 20-year-old St-Hubert, Que., product moved into a tie for second in NOJHL scoring with 50 points, in 32 games on 13 tallies and 37 helpers. His 126 career points are also the most of any active NOJHLer.
Demers’ contributions in December also helped the Lumberjacks go 6-1-0-0 during the time frame while also going 14-2-0-0 in their previous 16 outings.
Honourable Mention: Justin Mauro, (F) Soo Thunderbirds; Billy Biedermann, (F) Greater Sudbury Cubs
Monthly recipients
September: Zachary Demers, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
October: Billy Biedermann, (F) Greater Sudbury Cubs
November: Nicolas Pigeon, (F) Timmins Rock
December: Zachary Demers, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH: NICHOLAS TOFFOLI, (D) GREATER SUDBURY CUBS – Averaging a point-per-game in December, Toffoli scored three times and dished out four assists, including one on a game-winner, for league-leading Greater Sudbury.
His three tallies led all NOJHL blueliners last month and his seven in total on the campaign, is a personal single-season high.
The 20-year-old Toffoli, who hails from Vaughan, Ont., enters the New Year on a four-game point streak and sits tied four fourth in scoring among league defencemen with 24 points in 33 games played.
Honourable Mention: Colin Handy, (D) Soo Eagles; Kaden Dundas, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
Monthly recipients
September: Kenyon Nyman, (D) Timmins Rock
October: Kenyon Nyman, (D) Timmins Rock
November: Alex Little, (D) Powassan Voodoos
December: Nicholas Toffolli, (D) Greater Sudbury Cubs
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH: KOLTON BOURRET, (G) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Leading all NOJHL netminders in victories in December with four, Bourret went 4-0-0-0 during the time frame for the Thunderbirds.
Along with that, the 18-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., also registered a 1.73 goals-against average, along with a save percentage of .930.
Bourret, who has not suffered a defeat in regulation time since late-October, has won each of his last seven starts and posted a record of 8-1-1-0 in his past 10 appearances.
Honourable Mention: Noah Metivier, (G) Greater Sudbury Cubs; Noah Beaulne, (G) Greater Sudbury Cubs
Monthly recipients
September: Logan Raffaele, (G) Soo Eagles
October: Noah Beaulne, (G) Greater Sudbury Cubs
November: Charlie Burns, (G) Blind River Beavers
December: Kolton Bourret, (G) Soo Thunderbirds
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: BRANDAN TRONCHIN, (F) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – The efforts of Tronchin saw him pace all first-year league skaters in scoring with nine points during the period, with four markers, while aiding on five others, in five games played.
This saw the 18-year-old Leduc, Alta., product etch his name on the game sheet in all the contests he appeared in, and featured goals in four of them, along with a trio of multi-point affairs.
With points in six straight and eight of 10, Tronchin now has 17 through his first 27 NOJHL games.
Honourable Mention: Matthew Green (F) Blind River Beavers; Colin Handy, (D) Soo Eagles
Monthly recipients
September: Andrew Gaulton, (G) Espanola Paper Kings
October: Jackson Truchan, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
November: Brodie McConnell-Barker, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
December: Brandan Tronchin, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
PHOTO CREDITS
Northern Lights Photography
Sudbury Light Event Photography
Helene Rancourt
