2011-12 SIJHL Top Defenceman Award

Press Release

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Saturday that Anthony Calabrese of the Wisconsin Wilderness has been the league’s top defenceman award recipient for the 2011-12 season.

Calabrese earned the honour over fellow finalists Tom Kuhn of the Dryden Ice Dogs and Troy Olson of the Duluth Clydesdales.

In his first season in the league, the 19-year-old native of Bridgetown, N.J. leads all SIJHL defenceman in scoring with 57 points in 50 games on 14 goals and 43 assists.

His offensive numbers also rank him 11th among all skaters in the SIJHL while his 24 power play points knots him for second overall in that category.

His totals currently mark the sixth highest single-season point total among league blueliners in SIJHL history.

The all-time SIJHL best defenceman award recipients are:

2011-12: Anthony Calabrese, Wisconsin Wilderness
2010-11: Jon Mitchell, Dryden Ice Dogs
2009-10: Jon Mitchell, Dryden Ice Dogs
2008-09: Brad Pawlowski, Thunder Bay Bearcats
2007-08: Brad Pawlowski, Thunder Bay Bearcats
2006-07: Jordan Smith, Fort William North Stars
2005-06: Ryan Baird, Fort William North Stars
2004-05: Ryan Baird, Fort William North Stars
2003-04: Kurt Hogard, Borderland Thunder
2002-03: Jay Philips, Borderland Thunder (Co-winner)
2002-03: Lloyd Stansell, Thunder Bay Bulldogs (Co-winner)
2001-02: Mike Kavanaugh, Dryden Ice Dogs (Co-winner)
2001-02: Jarris Blacksmith, Featherman Hawks (Co-winner)

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)