NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release date: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Thunderbirds Horodziejczyk finalist for CJHL rookie of the year
SUDBURY – The Canadian Junior Hockey League has announced the Soo Thunderbirds goaltender Joel Horodziejczyk has been named a finalist for the CJHL rookie of the year award.
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League rookie of the year recipient, is one of seven hopefuls up for the award.
During the 2012-13 regular season the 18-year-old Sudbury native saw action in 32 games posting a win-loss-tie record of 19-10-2 along with a goals-against average of 2.38 and a save mark of .918.
Horodziejczyk finished third overall in the league in victories while sitting second in GAA and save percentage. He also tied for fourth in shutouts.
The Thunderbirds netminder and the rest of his Sudbury teammates will be on the road Wednesday for game 7 of the NOJHL championship series vs. the North Bay Trappers in a 7:30 p.m. start at Memorial Gardens.
Both clubs will also move on to represent the league at next week’s Dudley-Hewitt Cup in North Bay, which will also feature the St. Michael’s Buzzers and Minnesota Wilderness, the respective champions of the Ontario Jr. and Superior International Jr. Hockey Leagues.
This will be the first time the CJHL rookie of the year award is being presented on a national level and represents one of seven newly created league awards.
It will be presented to the most outstanding rookie based on regular season individual performance.
A CJHL rookie is defined as a player with fewer than 20 games in any Junior A or Major Junior league in previous seasons and who was 18 or younger as of Dec. 31 of the current season.
Each of the 10 leagues in the CJHL nominated a candidate for rookie of the year.
The first stage of the selection process saw representatives from all 10 Junior A leagues rank their top five players from among the 10 national nominees.
Rankings were then assigned a point value and the five players with the highest point total (and ties) move on as finalists to the final round of voting.
The finalists for the 2013 CJHL Rookie of the Year are:
Jake Evans, St Michael’s Buzzers, OJHL
(50 GP, 12 G, 32 A, 44 PTS)
Finished seventh overall in team scoring with 44 points in 50 games. … A native of Toronto, Evans was the youngest member of Team Canada East at the 2012 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Yarmouth, N.S. … He would also be named to the OJHL Prospects Team that would defeat the CCHL Prospects at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge. … Following the season, Evans was named an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect. … Has committed to play NCAA hockey at the University of Notre Dame.
Joel Horodziejczyk, Soo Thunderbirds, NOJHL
(32 GP, 19 W, 10 L, 2 T, 2 SO, 2.38 GAA, .918 SV%)
Horodziejczyk was named NOJHL rookie of the year. … In 32 appearances during the course of the 2012-13 regular season, he posted a win-loss-tie record of 19-10-2 along with a goals-against average of 2.38 and a .918 save mark. … Finished third overall in the league in victories while sitting second in GAA and save percentage. The 18-year-old Sudbury product also shared fourth spot in the NOJHL in shutouts with two..
Tristan Keck, Winkler Flyers, MJHL
(60 GP, 31 G, 32 A, 63 PTS)
Was selected as the MJHL Rookie of the Year. … Led all MJHL rookies in scoring with 63 points on 31 goals and 32 assists. … Finished 11th overall in league scoring and was one of two 17-year-old players among the league’s top 20 scorers.
Jake Larson, Minnesota Wilderness, SIJHL
(49 GP, 44 G, 28 A, 72 PTS)
SIJHL Rookie of the Year. … A native of St. Michael’s led all SIJHL skaters in goals this season with 44 and also finished second overall in league scoring with 72 points. … Ended the regular season riding an impressive 19-game point streak, which included 17 tallies.
Tanner MacMaster, Camrose Kodiaks, AJHL
(56 GP, 24 G, 24 A, 48 PTS)
2012-13 AJHL rookie of the year. … Led all rookies in scoring with 48 points and the Kodiaks with 24 goals. … Was a unanimous selection to the AJHL South Division all-rookie team and represented the AJHL as a member of Team Pacific at the 2013 World Junior Under 17 Hockey Challenge. Has committed to Boston College.
Morgan Messenger, Yarmouth Mariners, MHL
(36 GP, 19 G, 15 A, 34 PTS)
MHL rookie of the year. … Is a 17-year-old native of Barrington, N.S. … Was a noticeable offensive threat early for the Mariners and, despite missing several games due to injury, finished with 34 points in 36 games. … Was chosen to play in the CJHL Prospects Games held in November.
Kelly Summers, Carleton Place Canadians, CCHL
(59 GP, 13 G, 20 A, 33 PTS)
Was named the CCHL rookie of the year. … His remarkable freshman season was marked by a number of statistical accomplishments and accolades. … With 33 points in 59 games, finished11th overall in defencemen scoring and third overall in rookie points. … Was named to the CCHL all-rookie team and was selected to participate on the CCHL Central Canada Cup Prospects team. … Has committed to Clarkson University.
The first-ever recipient of the 2013 CJHL Rookie of the Year and all other CJHL award winners will be announced during the week of May 6-10.
For More Information:
Contact:
Kirk Lamb, President
Canadian Junior Hockey League
(403) 650-9027
[email protected]
