NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Jan. 1, 2016
NOJHL announces Gongshow Gear players of the month for December
SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Friday its respective Gongshow Gear Inc., player, defenceman, goaltender and rookie of the month for December.
GONGSHOW GEAR DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH – BLAKE ANDERSON, KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS:
Anderson has bolstered the fortunes of the Gold Miners since arriving in Kirkland Lake in mid-October.
Last month was especially good for the 20-year-old Madison, Wis., product as he helped his club go 6-1 by scoring once and dishing out a dozen assists for 13 points while also bolstering the Gold Miners’ defensive corps.
In just 20 games, Anderson has also moved up all the way to sixth in scoring among NOJHL defenceman notching five goals and helping set-up 18 others for 23 points.
Honourable Mention: Kyle Fransen, Rayside-Balfour Canadians; Ryan Kerr, Timmins Rock
Previous recipients
September: Nicky Grose, Powassan Voodoos
October: Kyle Fransen, Rayside-Balfour Canadians
November: Caleb Boman, Soo Thunderbirds
GONGSHOW GEAR PLAYER OF THE MONTH – MATTHEW CARUSO, (F) SOO THUNDERBIRDS: The 18-year-old Caruso has been red-hot for his hometown Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., side as he averaged over two points-per-game for the Thunderbirds in December.
In eight outings during the final month of 2015, the T-Birds second-year forward doled out 19 points on 11 goals and eight assists.
Three of his tallies in December were game-winners and he also had six multi-points contests to his credit.
Caruso enters 2016 riding a five-game goal streak and also has points in six straight while leading the Thunderbirds in overall offensive production with 18 markers and 21 helpers.
His goal and point totals have already surpassed his numbers set last season while one more assist will also establish a new personal single-season mark.
Honourable Mention: Cole Hepler, (F) Elliot Lake Wildcats; Brayden Stortz, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Previous recipients
September: Hunter Atchison, (F) Cochrane Crunch
October: Tyler Peters, (F) Powassan Voodoos
November: Ryan Erickson, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
GONGSHOW GEAR GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH – MARIO CULINA, SOO THUNDERBIRDS: Among the multitude of home-grown talent the front-running Thunderbirds boast in their line-up is netminder Mario Culina.
Last month was an impressive one for the 18-year-old Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native as in six starts, Culina won each of them going 6-0 while recording a solid 1.32 goals-against average along with a stingy .931 save percentage and one shutout.
Since rejoining the T-Birds in the third week of November, the Soo stopper is unbeaten at 9-0 with a 1.43 average and a .928 save mark along with a pair of shutouts.
Honourable Mention: Logan Ferrington, Timmins Rock; Victor-Olivier Courchesne, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Previous recipients
September: Brett Young, Cochrane Crunch
October: Nathan Warren, Soo Thunderbirds
November: Tyler Mazzocato, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
GONGSHOW GEAR ROOKIE OF THE MONTH – BAIN CUNNINGHAM, (F) TIMMINS ROCK: December saw Cunningham continue to produce offensively for Timmins while providing some clutch goals along the way.
The 18-year-old forward, who calls Barrie, Ont., home scored five times for the Rock in eight contests with three of those markers being the eventual deciding tally.
Cunningham also dished out a pair of assists along the way to help him continue a point-per-game output for Timmins with 33 in as many outings.
Seven of his 17 goals to date have been game-winners, which leads all skaters in the league heading into play in 2016.
Honourable Mention: Mark Tassone, (F) Soo Thunderbirds; Zack Parrot, (D) Soo Eagles
Previous recipients
September: Darian Pilon, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
October: Jeran Knorr, (F) Cochrane Crunch
November: Bradley Chenier, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Gongshow Gear is the official lifestyle hockey apparel provider of the NOJHL.
