Monday, April 6, 2009

Mitchell and Blum take the honors

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Dale Mitchell of the Windsor Spitfires is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 5. Mitchell scored five goals and four assists for nine points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.

Mitchell and the Spitfires began their second round playoff series against the Plymouth Whalers Thursday night in Windsor. Mitchell opened the scoring on the power play early in the first period and added a second period goal before the Whalers took control and grabbed the game one victory 6-3. Mitchell was named second star in the loss. The Spitfires showed their offensive strengths Saturday night in game two with an 8-2 win. Mitchell helped grabbed the early lead with assists on the first two goals and scored the game-winner on the power play early in the second. Mitchell had his best game of the week Sunday as first star with four points with two goals and two assists in the 8-1 win. The Spitfires now lead the second round best-of-seven playoff series 2-1.

Mitchell, a 19-year-old from Mississauga, ON, is in his fourth OHL season and first with the Spitfires after playing three years with the Oshawa Generals. He scored 33 goals and 35 assists for 68 points in 66 games this season. He currently leads the league with nine playoff goals in seven games and is ranked second overall with 16 points. Mitchell was selected in the third round, 74th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Also considered for the award this week from the Windsor Spitfires is forward Andrei Loktionov. After recording nine points in three games this week, he currently leads the OHL in playoff scoring with 17 points. His best game was Saturday with two goals and three assists as second star of the 8-2 win. Luke Pither of the Belleville Bulls was named first star of the game twice in four games. He had two four-point games including Monday in the 6-1 win over the Sudbury Wolves with four assists and Thursday in the 4-3 overtime win against the Niagara IceDogs with two goals and two assists. In goal, rookie JP Anderson of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors has kept their second round series close against the Brampton Battalion posting a 2.01 goals-against-average and a .948 save percentage in three games.

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is defenceman Jonathon Blum of the Vancouver Giants.

Blum picked up three points, scoring two goals and an assist to go with a +2 rating in two games over the last week, helping the Vancouver Giants jump out to a 2-0 series lead over the Spokane Chiefs in the 2009 Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Semi-Finals best-of-seven series.

On Friday, April 3rd, the Vancouver Giants (1) hosted the Spokane Chiefs (4) for game one of their second round series at the Pacific Coliseum. Blum picked up an assist on the game winning goal as the Giants downed the Chiefs 3-1 to take a 1-0 series lead. Game two of the series went the next evening, Saturday, April 4th, in Vancouver. Blum netted two goals in the Giants 4-1 victory over Chiefs and was named the games 1st Star.

The 2009 Kal Tire Western Conference Semi-Final now shifts to Spokane, WA with the Giants leading the series 2-0. Games three and four are set in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on Tuesday, April 7th and Wednesday, April 8th at 7:00 pm PT.

Blum, from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, is currently playing his 19 year old season with the Vancouver Giants. The first round – 23rd overall selection of the Nashville Predators at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has spent four years leading the defence corps for the Giants. Blum finished the 2008-09 WHL regular season 3rd among all WHL defenceman in scoring with 66 points (16 goals, 50 assists) and has been selected as the Western Conference nominee for WHL Defenceman of the Year.

The WHL has also nominated Martin Jones of the Calgary Hitmen for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Jones posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week, allowing just two goals on 40 shots for a 1.000 goals-against average and .950 save percentage.

Jones, an 18 year-old from North Vancouver, British Columbia, is in his third season with the Calgary Hitmen. Jones was first among all WHL goaltenders at the conclusion of the regular season with 45 wins and third in the WHL with a 2.08 GAA.

(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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