Players of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Matt Caria of the Plymouth Whalers is the Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 22. Caria had 10 points in three games including two goals and eight assists recording a plus-minus rating of plus-5.

Caria began his week Friday night with a strong four-point night that included scoring two goals and two assists. Three of those points were scored in the first period as part of a five-goal outburst by the Whalers. Caria was named third star of the game as the Whalers defeated the Sarnia Sting 8-3. The Whalers could not continue their winning ways on Saturday falling to the Erie Otters 7-4, but Caria still helped the offence with two assists despite the loss. He finished his week strong on Sunday with another four-point performance setting up every goal with four assists for the Whalers in their 4-1 victory over the Saginaw Spirit. Caria was named second star of the game.

Caria, a 20-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON is in his fourth season in the OHL and first with the Whalers having been acquired midway through this season through a trade with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The overage forward has scored 22 goals and 50 assists for 72 points in 58 games where he sits tenth in league scoring. He has helped the Whalers climb to fourth place in the OHL’s Western Conference standings with 67 points and an 8-2 record in their last 10 games.

Considered for this award from the WHL is Tyler Ennis of the Medicine Hat Tigers who scored five goals and three assists for eight points in three games. His week was highlighted by a five-point night with four goals and one assist as first star in an 8-3 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday. Mikhail Stefanovich of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts was nominated for scoring six goals and three assists for nine points in four games. His best game was a first star performance Sunday with four goals in an 8-4 win over the Halifax Mooseheads.

2008-09 Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week

Feb. 24 – Matt Caria, Plymouth Whalers
Feb. 17 – Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Feb. 10 – Yannick Riendeau, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Feb. 3 – Drayson Bowman, Spokane Chiefs
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 Adam Brown of the Kelowna Rockets is the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 22. Brown posted a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 0.46 and a save percentage of .982.

Brown saw action beginning Monday night in Portland against the Winter Hawks when he entered the game midway through the third period. He did not allow a goal but the Rockets could not complete the comeback and dropped the decision 4-3. Brown was called upon off the bench again on Saturday with the Rockets trailing the Everett Silvertips 2-0 late in the first period. Standing strong in net, Brown stopped all 24 shots he faced and helped the Rockets rally and win 3-2. He was named third star of the game. Brown got the nod to start between the pipes Sunday night in Chilliwack and did not disappoint making 29 saves as first star of the 4-1 win over the Bruins.

Brown, a 17-year-old rookie from Yorba Linda, California, is in his first WHL season. In 27 appearances he has posted a 17-4-0-1 record with two shutouts. He has a goals-against-average of 2.01 which is second in the league and his save percentage of .912 is also among the league’s best. The Rockets now sit fourth in the WHL’s Western Conference with 80 points.

Considered again for this award out of the QMJHL is two-time winner Nicola Riopel of the Moncton Wildcats. He won all three of his starts posting a goals-against-average of 1.31 with a save percentage of .954. Michael Hutchinson of the OHL’s Barrie Colts, another previous winner of this award, recorded a 6-0 shutout win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with 25 saves as third star of the game.

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2008-09 ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week

Feb. 24 – Adam Brown, Kelowna Rockets
Feb. 17 – Maxim Gougeon, Rimouski Oceanic
Feb. 10 – Nicola Riopel, Moncton Wildcats
Feb. 3 – Raffaele D’Orso, Val d’Or Foreurs
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

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