By Tanner Schafer
Forward of the Month – Nikolas Campbell, Thunder Bay North Stars
It was a busy month for the Thunder Bay North Stars as they played 13 games during February and Campbell led the way for his club. The 2002 D-man who is from Thunder Bay had 18 points in those contests, an even split of 9 goals and 9 assists. Campbell has multiple points in 5 of those games leading his team to an 8-5-0 record for the month. His biggest game came against Red Lake on the 10th in which he scored a hat trick including the game winner and picked up a helper as well. Campbell did almost all of his damage while playing 5 on 5 as just 1 of his goals were on the power play. The North Stars are locked into a battle with Sioux Lookout trying to claim 3rd place in the league before playoffs and Campbell is a major factor why his team is still in the fight winning Player of the Month in February.
Honorable Mention – Brady Frattinger, Dryden GM Ice Dogs; Brady Krentz Fort Frances Lakers
Past Winners
January – Jeremy Dunmore, Kam River Fighting Walleye
December – Landen Stromme, Dryden GM Ice Dogs
November – Jacob Lamoureux, Red Lake Miners
October – Bryce Benfield, Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Defencemen of the Month – Matthew Halushak, Thunder Bay North Stars
North Stars fans ought to be comforted by the presence of Halushak at the blue line. He certainly is a familiar sight as this is his 4th season in which he has logged games for Thunder Bay. Halushak played in 12 of the North Stars 13 games recording points in all but 2 of them. The final monthly tally ended up being 3 goals and 9 assists totaling 12 points. But Halushak wins this award in large part thanks to what doesn’t show up on the scoresheet. You only need to see the North Stars play a couple of times to tell that Halushak is a leader for the club. If ice time were a tracked stat he may lead the league, soaking up minutes for Thunder Bay making life difficult for opposing forwards. And while his goal production isn’t the highest Halushak has a knack for coming up clutch when it matters most as 2 of his 3 were game winners. It was a busy month for the blue liner and he finishes it by winning Defenceman of the Month for February.
Honorable Mention – Easton Debray, Dryden GM Ice Dogs; Jack Cook, Kam River Fighting Walleye
Past Winners
January – Jack Cook, Kam River Fighting Walleye
December – Jack Cook, Kam River Fighting Walleye
November – Nolan Palmer, Sioux Lookout Bombers
October Dylan Jouppi, Wisconsin Lumberjacks
Goalie of the Month – Eric Vanska, Kam River Fighting Walleye
Vanska had a great month for the SIJHL leading Fighting Walleye picking up his 2nd monthly award. Vanska has a healthy lead as the league leader in wins at 25, this month helped his case as he went 5-1 the best record posted in the month. He also led the SIJHL in goals against average at 2.17 and save percentage at .939 for all goalies that played more than 2 games. Vanska added a single shut out as well to his resume. The netminder was good in volume too as in 3 of his 6 games he had over 40 saves and in those games never gave up more than 3 goals. It was business as usual for the Fighting Walleye with Vanska picking up Goalie of the Month in February.
Honorable Mention – Jake Manners, Sioux Lookout Bombers; Connor Lemieux, Thunder Bay North Stars
Past Winners
January – Jake Manners, Sioux Lookout Bombers
December – Eric Clark, Dryden GM Ice Dogs
November – Eric Vanska, Kam River Fighting Walleye
October – Jack Osmond, Red Lake Miners
Rookie of the Month – Jacob Lamoureux, Red Lake Miners
Lamoureux is certainly no stranger to these articles as this is the 3rd time he has won a monthly award. It is the 04’s 2nd time winning rookie of the month as he secured the award in October. The 3rd accolade is forward of the month won in November. Red Lake continues to showcase their young talent winning all but 1 of the Rookie of the Month awards. All Lamoureux does is put the puck in the net. The young forward had 8 goals and 2 assists in just 7 games played. He logged 3 multi-goal games in that span. Lamoureux leads the league in goals with 32, 5 more than any other player. Lamoureux also shows consistent production against good teams as every game played in the month by Red Lake was against a team that is 4th or higher in the league. Jacob Lamoureux’s goal scoring ability has earned Player of the Month for February.
Honorable Mention – Cooper McClure, Wisconsin Lumberjacks; Max Leduc, Kam River Fighting Walleye
Past Winners
January – Aiden Corbett, Red Lake Miners
December – Owen Riffel, Sioux Lookout Bombers
November – Aiden Corbett, Red Lake Miners
October – Jacob Lamoureux, Red Lake Miners