QMJHL Players of the Month

Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Tuesday, February 3, 2009 – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced the winners of the offensive, defensive and rookie player of the month awards for January. The players were chosen by a committee mandated by the League.

Paul Byron of the Gatineau Olympiques is the award-winner on offence. In fifteen games, Byron scored fifteen goals, including two game-winners, and added thirteen assists for a total of twenty-eight points. Furthermore, he posted a +17 rating. His offensive prowess enabled the Olympiques to take control of the TELUS Western division standings thanks to a 11-3-1-0 record in January.

Mike Hoffman (Voltigeurs), Benjamin Casavant (Rocket) and Mikhail Stefanovich (Remparts) were also considered.

Charles Lavigne of the Quebec Remparts gets the nod on defence. In ten starts, the Remparts’ goaltender registered nine wins while posting a 1.76 goals-against-average and .934 save percentage. Moreover, he recorded three shutouts. Quebec leads the TELUS Eastern division standings with 81 points.

Maxime Ouimet (Océanic), Alain Goulet (Olympiques) and Marc-André Bourdon (Océanic) were also in the mix.

Oliver Hotte of the Drummondville Voltigeurs is the rookie of the month. In thirteen games, Hotte collected four assists while posting a +9 rating, avoiding altogether the minus column in every single contest. What’s more, he distributed twenty-six hits. He leads all rookies in hits (104) and plus/minus (+24).

Simon Jodoin (Wildcats), Dmitri Kugryshev (Remparts) and Antonio Mastropietro (Tigres) also received consideration.

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