NOJHL names its CCM Hockey players of the month for January

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Thursday its respective CCM Hockey player, defenceman, goaltender and rookie of the month for January.

CCM HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE MONTH – KYLE LIINAMAA, (F) RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS: January was an impressive one for the second-year Canadians forward.

In nine games played the 19-year-old Sudbury product racked up 20 points on 10 goals and as many assists.

Liinamaa has also scored at least once in each of his past seven games, which matches the highest consecutive game tally total in the NOJHL this season.

His offensive run has helped him reach a near point-per-game pace in league play in 2017-18 with 38 through 39 outings, including a career-high 16 markers.

Honourable Mention: Jacob Kelly, (F) Elliot Lake Wildcats; Christian Bardarson, (F) Soo Eagles

Monthly recipients
September: Gregory Trudeau-Paquet, (F) French River Rapids
October: Tyler Fyfe, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
November: Tyson Gilmour, (F) Powassan Voodoos
December: Nick Techel, (F) Soo Eagles
January: Kyle Liinamaa, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians

CCM HOCKEY DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH – AUSTIN ANSELMO, (D) HEARST LUMBERJACKS: Playing at over a point-per-game run in January, the 20-year-old from Trail, B.C. scored three times and helped set-up nine others for Hearst in 10 contests.

Anselmo enters February leading all Lumberjacks’ blueliners in offensive production with 31 points, including six goals.

That puts him in a tie for fifth overall in scoring among all NOJHL rearguards and second among all D-men in point-per-game average at 0.91.

Honourable Mention: Hayden Clark, (D) Soo Eagles; Eric Allair, (D) Powassan Voodoos

Monthly recipients
September: Dayton Murray, (D) Powassan Voodoos
October: Ethan Lavallee, (D) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
November: Dayton Murray, (D) Powassan Voodoos
December: Connor Lovie, (D) Cochrane Crunch
January: Austin Anselmo, (D) Hearst Lumberjacks

CCM HOCKEY GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH – CHRISTIAN CICIGOI, (G) POWASSAN VOODOOS: In four starts last month Cicigoi won all of them while his only setback came in lengthy relief where he allowed just one goal against.

In all the 16-year-old rookie netminder from Thunder Bay, Ont., posted a 1.81 goals-against average for the month and a .950 save percentage.

Having gone 10-1-1 in his past 12 appearances for the league-leading Voodoos, Cicigoi leads all NOJHL goaltenders in wins with 19 against just three losses and two ties.

Honourable Mention: Shane Brancato, (G) Soo Eagles; Brayden Lachance, (G) Rayside-Balfour Canadians

Monthly recipients
September: Artem Bortovskiy, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks
October: MacKenzie Savard, (G) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
November: Shayne Battler, (G) Cochrane Crunch
December: Ryan Winter, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
January: Christian Cicigoi, (G) Powassan Voodoos

CCM HOCKEY ROOKIE OF THE MONTH – HARRISON ISRAELS, (F) POWASSAN VOODOOS: Israels earns his second rookie of the month honour after the first-year Powassan forward registered 18 points in 11 games in January by scoring nine times, which included three game-winning markers, and doling out nine assists.

The 18-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., also collected points in each of his past 10 games in the month.

With 31 goals to date, Israels sits third overall among all league skaters in tallies while his 56 points leads all NOJHL rookies and leaves him just six shy of setting a new Voodoos’ record for points in a season by a first-year player as he looks to surpass the 61 Tyson Gilmour had in 2006-17.

He is also presently tied for seventh in NOJHL scoring.

Honourable Mention: Camaryn Baber, (F) Soo Thunderbirds; James White, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians

Monthly recipients
September: Owen Robinson, (F) Blind River Beavers
October: Harrison Israels, (F) Powassan Voodoos
November: Tomas Yachmenev, (F) Powassan Voodoos
December: Camaryn Baber, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
January: Harrison Israels, (F) Powassan Voodoos

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