THE NOJHL 3 STARS
A return visitor to the weekly honours is joined by a pair of newcomers as the “NOJHL Three Stars of the Week” are confirmed for the week ending Feb. 10.
PETER POULIN-ROY – ABITIBI ESKIMOS: Despite being saddled with a pair of losses last week, the Eskies did manage to put eight pucks past opposing netminders, keyed largely on the strength of the play of his linemates.
An 18-year-old Sudbury native (originally born in Val D’Or, Que.) who toiled with the Nickel Capital Wolves the past few years, Roy moved ahead of Ryan Wildman, into second place in team scoring after a seven-point outburst last week.
Acquired from the Trenton Golden Hawks in late September, Poulin-Roy has chalked up 35 points in 25 games with the Eskimos.
DARCY CASOLA – SOO THUNDERBIRDS:
A recent hot streak has allowed Darcy Casola to overtake Adam Ritchie atop the T-Birds scoring parade.
A three-goal and four-point effort in a 7-4 win over Abitibi gives the 20-year-old Sault Ste Marie native nine points in his past three games.
With 60 points in 41 outings, Casola has now tripled his output from the 2011-12 season, sitting third overall in the NOJHL behind the Sudbury tandem of Sebastien Leroux and Darcy Haines.
JAKE PUNKARI – SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS: Much further down the Sudbury scoring list, you will find the name of Jake Punkari.
The self-proclaimed “energy player”, who knows and understands his role well, got into the offensive fray last week.
After netting his first goal of the season in a 6-2 win over Elliot Lake and earning first star honours in the process, Punkari assisted on the only Barons goal in a 4-1 loss in Kirkland Lake.
The three-point week nearly doubled his season totals, though few would ever measure the impact of the likeable 19-year-old in goals and assists.
