Thursday, January 29, 2009

Byron Player of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that forward Paul Byron of the Gatineau Olympiques is the Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 25. Byron scored five goals and five assists for 10 points with a plus-minus rating of plus-7 in four games.

Byron and the Olympiques were winners of four games on the week beginning Tuesday night with a 4-3 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Byron was held scoreless until the following night Wednesday in Val-d’Or where his game-winning goal and assist would earn him first star of the game honours leading the Olympiques to a 4-1 win over the Foreurs. On Friday night Byron would explode offensively, again as first star of the game, scoring three goals including the game-winner plus two assists for five points in the 6-4 win over the Huskies. On Sunday, for the third straight game, Byron would claim first star of the game in the 5-4 overtime win at home to the Foreurs. Byron scored one goal and two assists in the contest.

Byron, a 19-year-old from Montreal, QC, is in his third QMJHL season with the Olympiques and is an assistant captain on the team. Byron sits fourth in QMJHL scoring with 27 goals and 47 assists for 74 points in 49 games. He scored a league-high 21 goals during the 2008 Playoffs leading the Olympiques to a league championship and Memorial Cup appearance. Gatineau has now won six games in a row for first place in the Telus Western Division with 58 points. Byron was selected in the sixth round by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Keith Seabrook of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen was also considered after scoring three goals and five assists for eight points with a plus-minus rating of plus-7 in three games. The 20-year-old defenceman had his best game of the week on Sunday with two power play goals and an assist as second star in the 7-4 win over the Regina Pats. John Tavares of the London Knights led the way offensively in the OHL with four goals and four assists for eight points in four games. Tavares had a four-point game on Sunday in a 6-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves with one goal and three assists as the first star of the game.

2008-09 Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week

Jan. 27 – Paul Byron, Gatineau Olympiques
Jan. 20 – Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings
Jan. 13 – Steven Anthony, Saint John Sea Dogs
Jan. 6 – Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Dec. 16 – Robert Slaney, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Dec. 9 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Dec. 2 – Andrej Nestrasil, Victoriaville Tigres
Nov. 25 – Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 18 – Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs
Nov. 11 – Yannick Riendeau, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Nov. 4 – Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars
Oct. 28 – Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets
Oct. 21 – Matthew Pistilli, Shawinigan Cataractes
Oct. 14 – Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 7 – Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 30 – Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 23 – Michael Stinziani, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Thomas McCollum of the Brampton Battalion is the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 25. McCollum posted a 3-0-0-0 record including two shutout wins with a goals-against-average of .980 and a save percentage of .964 in his three starts.

McCollum started his week off Thursday night facing off against the Saginaw Spirit. He stopped all 23 shots fired his way and was named first star of the game leading the Battalion to a 3-0 victory. McCollum started strong again on Saturday taking a shutout into the third period game in Plymouth before surrendering three goals to the Whalers. McCollum stood tall making 33 saves including 18 in the third period comeback charge as the Battalion would win 4-3 in overtime. On Sunday McCollum turned aside all 24 shots in a 6-0 win at home over the Kitchener Rangers and was named second star of the game. The shutout win was his fifth of the season helping the Battalion increase their winning streak to seven games.

McCollum, a 19-year-old from Sanborn, New York, is in his third OHL season and has compiled a 6-1-0-0 record with the Battalion since joining the squad in January. The former Guelph Storm netminder also played for Team USA at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships. He ranks second in the OHL in both goals-against-average at 2.13 and save percentage at .927. McCollum was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in the first round, 30th overall and will represent the OHL’s Eastern Conference at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic on February 4, 2009 in Windsor, ON.

The WHL nominee for this award for the second consecutive week is Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs who are currently on an eight game winning streak. Tokarski allowed just three goals on 53 shots in two victories posting a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .943 save percentage. Charles Lavigne of the Quebec Remparts was considered after winning three games with one shutout and posting a goals-against-average of 1.37 and save percentage of .957. His 30 save shutout win came on Saturday in a big 2-0 win on the road over one of the top QMJHL teams the Moncton Wildcats.

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2008-09 ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week

Jan. 27 – Thomas McCollum, Brampton Battalion
Jan. 20 – Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
Jan. 13 – Olivier Roy, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Jan. 6 – Martin Jones, Calgary Hitmen
Dec. 16 – Michael Hutchinson, Barrie Colts
Dec. 9 – Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans
Dec. 2 – Torrie Jung, Edmonton Oil Kings
Nov. 25 – Antoine Lafleur, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Nov. 18 – Martin Jones, Calgary Hitmen
Nov. 11 – Tyson Sexsmith, Vancouver Giants
Nov. 4 – Mike Murphy, Belleville Bulls
Oct. 28 – Nicola Riopel, Moncton Wildcats
Oct. 21 – Brandon Foote, Brampton Battalion
Oct. 14 – Calvin Pickard, Seattle Thunderbirds
Oct. 7 – Olivier Roy, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Sept. 30 – Andrew Engelage, Windsor Spitfires
Sept. 23 – Jamie Tucker, Vancouver Giants


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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