NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
NOJHL 3 Stars of the week
SUDBURY — With key victories over both Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, a recent seven-day stretch was arguably the best hockey of the season for the Elliot Lake Bobcats.
A pair of high-scoring linemates swept the top two spots as the “NOJHL Three Stars of the Week” were announced for the week ending on Feb. 3.
Brian Hennessey (Elliot Lake Bobcats): Acquired from the Brockville Braves in early January, Brian Hennessey was welcomed to Elliot Lake to add offense.
The 20-year-old native of Garnet Valley, Penn., has done exactly that.
Hennessey registered five goals and four assists in three games last week, bringing his season total to 15 in just 10 games spent in the NOJHL.
He has very quickly worked his way up to 7th in team scoring while the Bobcats try and reel in either or both of Blind River and Abitibi, just four points away from escaping the basement of the league standings.
Henry Berger (Elliot Lake Bobcats): Few have benefitted more from the arrival of Hennessey than linemate Henry Berger.
The 18-year-old Californian snapped a five-game point scoring draught, working his way on to the scoresheet in all three of Elliot Lake’s games last week.
Adding seven points to his total, Berger climbed into second place in the team scoring race, trailing Steve Gaul by just one point.
Berger came to Elliot Lake after starting the season with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League.
Yan Kalashnikov (Soo Thunderbirds): Born in Belarus, Yan Kalashnikov and his younger brother Artsiom, made their way to Canada to pursue their junior hockey careers.
Following stops in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Kalashnikov has seemingly found a home in Sault Ste Marie.
The 20-year-old forward picked up five more points last week, giving him 14 in 16 games as the defending league champion Thunderbirds look to maintain their hold on first place.
Thanks to the offensive balance provided by Kalashnikov and his teammates, the Soo can boast the league’s most potent attack, scoring 24 more times than the next closest NOJHL opponent.
