Monday, January 26, 2009

Players of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that goaltender Thomas McCollum of the Brampton Battalion is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 25. McCollum won all three games between the pipes including two shutout wins and posted a goals-against-average of .980 with a save percentage of .964.

McCollum and the Battalion took to the road last week beginning Thursday night in Saginaw to face the Spirit. McCollum stopped all 23 shots he faced and was named the first star of the game by snapping the Spirit’s three-game winning streak with the 3-0 win. On Saturday McCollum carried a shutout into the third period in Plymouth before the Whalers bounced back with three goals to tie the game. The Battalion won 4-3 in overtime with McCollum making 33 saves including 18 in the third period. His week would end Sunday with a 24 save shutout performance in a 6-0 win at home over the Kitchener Rangers. McCollum was named second star of the game with his fifth shutout of the season and the seventh win in a row for the Battalion.

McCollum, a 19-year-old from Sanborn, New York, is in his third OHL season and was acquired by the Battalion at the trade deadline from the Guelph Storm. Since joining the Troops, McCollum has a 6-1-0-0 record. McCollum, a first round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, 30th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, is second amongst OHL goaltenders with a goals-against-average of 2.13 and has the second best save percentage with a mark of .927. He will represent the Battalion and the Eastern Conference at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic February 4, 2009 in Windsor, ON.

The top skaters this week in the OHL considered for this award include a pair of London Knights John Tavares and Philip McRae. Tavares scored four goals and four assists for eight points while McRae had four goals and three assists for seven points, both in four games played. Both had three-point games last Monday afternoon in a 4-2 win over the Plymouth Whalers. Chris Terry of the Plymouth Whalers scored two goals and six assists for eight points in four games highlighted by a three-point game and second star performance in a 4-3 overtime loss to McCollum and the Battalion. Tavares, McRae, and Terry will all compete at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic on the Western Conference team.

2008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week

Jan. 26 – Thomas McCollum, Brampton Battalion
Jan. 19 – Brett Parnham, Oshawa Generals
Jan. 12 – Marcus Carroll, Owen Sound Attack
Jan. 5 – Eric O’Dell, Sudbury Wolves
Dec. 15 – Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
Dec. 8 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Dec. 1 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Nov. 24 – Eric Tangradi, Belleville Bulls
Nov. 17 – Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs
Nov. 10 – Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
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


Press Release

CALGARY, AB. – The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is defenceman Keith Seabrook of the Calgary Hitmen.

Seabrook picked up eight points, scoring three goals and five assists in two games to go with an impressive plus/minus rating of +7 this past week, helping the Hitmen post a 3-0-0-0 record in that span.

On Tuesday, January 20th, the Calgary Hitmen played host to their Central Division rivals of the north the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Seabrook picked up three assists as the Hitmen defeated the Oil Kings 7-1. He was also named the games 1st Star.

On Friday, January 23rd, the Hitmen travelled to Red Deer to face another Central Division foe in the Rebels at the Enmax Centrium. Seabrook scored one goal and added an assist as the Calgary Hitmen downed the Rebels 7-2. Two nights later, Sunday, January 25th, the Regina Pats rolled into Calgary to face the Hitmen on Saddledome ice. Seabrook scored two power play goals and added an assist as the Hitmen won their third straight defeating the Pats 7-4. He was also named the games 2nd Star.

Seabrook’s eight points over the last three games has put him in 12th spot among all WHL defenceman in scoring with 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 44 games. With the three victories the Hitmen remain tops in the WHL Central Division, Eastern Conference and entire WHL with a 42-7-2-1 record.

Seabrook, a 20 year-old defenceman from Delta, British Columbia, is in his second season in the Western Hockey League and with the Hitmen. The Washington Capitals selected him in the 2nd round – 52nd overall at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.


The WHL has also nominated Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Tokarski posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past, allowing just three goals on 53 shots for a 1.500 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.

With the two victories over the past week, the Chiefs and Tokarski are riding an eight game win streak and find themselves just six points back of the Americans for top spot in the WHL U.S. Division with a 30-14-0-3 record.

Tokarski, a 19 year-old from Watson, Saskatchewan, is in his third season of play in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs. Last season he was named the Memorial Cup MVP and recently helped lead Team Canada to its fifth straight World Junior Gold medal. He currently leads all WHL goaltenders with a 1.88 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 18 – Sept. 21: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats
Sept. 22 – Sept. 28: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 29 – Oct. 5: Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 6 – Oct. 12: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 13 – Oct. 19: Jay Fehr, Brandon Wheat Kings
Oct. 20 – Oct. 26: Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets
Oct. 27 – Nov. 2: Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars
Nov. 3 – Nov. 9: C.J. Stretch, Kamloops Blazers
Nov. 10 – Nov. 16: Andy Smith, Chilliwack Bruins
Nov. 17 – Nov. 23: Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 24 – Nov. 30: Taylor Procyshen, Tri-City Americans
Dec. 1 – Dec. 7: Brett Sonne, Calgary Hitmen
Dec. 8 – Dec. 14: Ian Duval, Moose Jaw Warriors
Dec. 15 – Dec. 28: Brandon Kozun, Calgary Hitmen
Dec. 29 – Jan. 4: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Jan. 5 – Jan. 11: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
Jan. 12 – Jan. 18: Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings
Jan. 19 – Jan. 25: Keith Seabrook, Calgary Hitmen


Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, January 26, 2009 – Gatineau Olympiques forward Paul Byron and Quebec Remparts goaltender Charles Lavigne today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from January 19 to 25.

Byron collected five goals, including two game-winners, and added five assists in four Olympiques wins. Furthermore, he posted a +7 rating. The winger enjoyed his best game of the week on Friday, registering five points, including the game-winning goal in the third period, in a 6-4 victory over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Gatineau sits in first place in the TELUS Western division standings with 58 points.

Mike Hoffman (Voltigeurs), Joël Champagne (Rocket) and Kelsey Tessier (Remparts) were also considered.

Goaltender Charles Lavigne is the award-winner on the defensive side. Lavigne registered three road wins while posting a 1.37 goals-against-average and .957 save percentage. He had his best start versus the Wildcats on Saturday, pushing away 30 shots in a 2-0 victory at Moncton Coliseum. The Remparts are tied for first in the overall standings with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Each team has 79 points.

Olivier Roy (Screaming Eagles), Marco Cousineau (Voltigeurs) and Marco Scandella (Foreurs) were also strong candidates.



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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