NOJHL announces Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week
SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that defenceman Matthew Busby of the Soo Thunderbirds along with Kirkland Lake Gold Miners forwards Brayden Stortz and Joel Fortin have been named the Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the week, for the period ending April 10.
BRAYDEN STORTZ, (F) KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS
– The NOJHL’s leading point producer during the course of the regular season is also pacing Kirkland Lake in the postseason as well contributing another five to his totals last week.
The 20-year-old native of Welland, Ont., began with a goal and an assist as the Gold Miners won Game 3 of the East Division final in Cochrane vs. the Crunch.
Two nights later he set-up two more markers as Kirkland Lake won again and moved one step closer to taking the series.
Then on Saturday night Stortz notched the game-winner in the third period as the Gold Miners rallied to win Game 5 and advance to the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy final against the Soo Thunderbirds.
Stortz will enter the NOJHL finals riding a six-game point streak while sitting second overall in playoff scoring with 16 points in 11 games on eight tallies and as many assists.
JOEL FORTIN, (F) KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS
– An underrated, skilled two-way forward, Fortin was instrumental in his club’s success in capturing the East Division crown over high-scoring Cochrane.
The 18-year-old from Hearst scored once and dished out four assists in the three Kirkland Lake victories last week.
He has points in his past five games for the Gold Miners and has totaled 10 in his first 11 playoff contests so far in 2016 with three markers while helping set-up seven more
Fortin’s offensive totals to date have already established personal playoff highs in goals, assists and points for the Kirkland Lake forward.
MATTHEW BUSBY, (D) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – In four games last week the 19-year-old Thunderbirds blueliner registered points in each of them helping his side take the West Division final in five games over the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
The Shanty Bay, Ont., product began his offensive efforts with a goal and an assist in a Game 2 triumph this past Monday.
Busby followed that up by picking assists in each of the next two contests vs. Elliot Lake then capped off his run with a pair of helpers Saturday as Sault Ste. Marie closed out the series vs. the Wildcats.
Through his first nine postseason outings the Soo rearguard is averaging close to a point-per-game with eight on a tally and seven assists. His efforts defensively have also aided in the T-Birds in allowing only 11 goals against so far in the postseason.
Busby is also tied for the third in scoring among all NOJHL defencemen to date in the playoffs.
