Wednesday, November 5, 2008

QMJHL Players of the Month

QMJHL Players of the Month

BOUCHERVILLE, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced the winners of the offensive, defensive and rookie player of the month awards for October. The players were chosen by a committee mandated by the League.

Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll of the Shawinigan Cataractes is the offensive player of the month. In thirteen games, the high-scoring Cataractes forward collected nine goals, including three game-winners, and added twenty assists. Moreover, he posted a spectacular +18 rating. He failed to register a point only once in thirteen games and accumulated at least two points in seven contests. Lalonde-McNicoll enjoyed his best game on October 17 versus the Océanic as he recorded a goal and four helpers in an 8-3 win. Of note, Shawinigan has won their last ten games.

Matthew Pistilli (Shawinigan), Mathieu Tousignant (Rocket) and Matt Eagles (Moncton) were also considered.

Defensively, Moncton Wildcats backstop Nicola Riopel gets the nod for a second straight month. The Wildcats backstop continues to dominate. He registered eight wins against only one overtime loss in October while posting a 1.42 goals-against-average and .952 save percentage. Furthermore, he accumulated two shutouts and allowed three goals only once in his nine starts. Moncton has yet to lose a game in regulation so far this season.

Simon Lacroix (Shawinigan), Mark Barberio (Moncton) and Timo Pielmeier (Shawinigan) were also in the running.

Sergey Ostapchuk of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the rookie of the month. In ten games, the 18-year-old forward scored five goals, including two game-winners, and added nine assists. What’s more, he had a hand in 42% of the Huskies’ goals during the month of October. The Russian native registered at least one point in eight of the team’s ten battles. Rouyn-Noranda has won seven of its last ten games to take control of first place in the TELUS Western division standings.

Brandon Gormley (Moncton), Dmitri Kugryshev (Québec) and Jean-Philippe Mathieu (Rocket) were also in the mix.
It amazes me with the stats that Nicola Riopel has, he's isn't on the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge roster. The Moncton Wildcats weren't suppose to be a top of the QMJHL standings. Right now, they have a 16-0-2-0 record.

OHL Press Release

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 2. Ellis scored two goals and five assists for seven points in two games recording a plus-8 plus-minus rating.

The top ranked Spitfires won both of their games this week beginning with a 7-4 win at home Thursday night against the London Knights. Ellis was the second star of the game with his first five-point night of his OHL career scoring a penalty shot goal in the second period and adding four assists. On Sunday Ellis scored a goal and an assist in a 7-2 home win over the Oshawa Generals.

Ellis, a 17-year-old defenceman from Freelton, ON is in his second season in the OHL with the Spitfires. He is currently tied for the league lead in scoring with 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points in 18 games. Ellis is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and will compete for Team OHL in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge November 20 in Guelph, ON and November 24 in St. Catharines, ON.

Nominees considered for the award this week included Andrew Agozzino of the Niagara IceDogs and Cody Hodgson of the Brampton Battalion. Both forwards scored three goals and three assists for six points in three games this week and will join Ryan Ellis on Team OHL for the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge. Mike Murphy of the Belleville Bulls went 3-0-0-0 between the pipes with a 1.33 goals-against-average and a .962 save percentage.

2008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week Nov. 3 – Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 27 – Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 20 – Brandon Foote, Brampton Battalion
Oct. 13 – Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 6 – Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 29 – Luke Pither, Guelph Storm
Sept. 22 – Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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