Monday, September 23, 2013

NOJHL announces “3 Stars" of the week

Press Release

 SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday their latest “3 Stars” of the week for the 2013-14 season.

A trio of forwards in the Soo Thunderbirds Gavin Burbach, North Bay’s Kyle Baril and Ben Miller of the Abitibi Eskimos were all honoured for their respective on-ice performances last week.

GAVIN BURBACH, (F), SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Burbach was recognized for his efforts in finding the back of the net helping the Thunderbirds come away victorious in both their outings last week while also aiding his teams’ move into a tie for top spot in the NOJHL standings with Kirkland Lake and seeing Sault Ste. Marie extend a winning streak to four games.

The T-Birds veteran, who turns 20 Friday, began by scoring the game-winner Friday in a hard-fought 4-2 triumph over Espanola at Essar Centre.

He then maintained his scoring touch by striking once in each period to register a hat-trick in a 5-3 win on the road Sunday at Blind River.

Burbach’s efforts helped him move into top spot in NOJHL scoring with 10 points, including seven goals, which ties him for the league-lead in that category.

KYLE BARIL, (F) NORTH TRAPPERS – In three games last week the 19-year-old North Bay native had points in each of them helping the Trappers pick-up victories in the final pair helping his side get in the win column for the first time this season.

Baril began with a marker in a tough one-goal setback against Sudbury on Wednesday, then followed that up two nights later by drilling the game-winner in the third period and assisting on another earlier in the contest as North Bay won for the first time at West Ferris Arena helping his side rally from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 vs. the same Nickel Barons.

He then topped off his week by picking up another helper as the Trappers won their second straight, a 4-3 triumph over Elliot Lake marking the fifth consecutive one-goal game the squad has played in.

BEN MILLER, (F) ABITIBI ESKIMOS – In his club’s lone outing during the week that was the 18-year-old Timmins product had an impressive night tallying twice, including scoring the game-winner, while also adding an assist helping his side skate to a 6-2 victory on home ice Saturday vs. Elliot Lake.

His offensive efforts allowed him to set a new personal NOJHL-best for points in a game while also matching a single-game high for goals, which was reached last season, also in a game against the Bobcats.

Miller is now tied for second in team scoring with four points and is well on his way of surpassing the five tallies and 10 helpers he had all of last season.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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