SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that forward Max Johnson and goaltender Nicholas Tallarico of the Hearst Lumberjacks as well as Rayside-Balfour Canadians forward Kyle Liinamaa have been named its Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week for the period ending April 7.
MAX JOHNSON, (F) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – Johnson, who turned 21 Sunday, helped pace Hearst offensively to aid them in finishing off their series with Powassan last week.
The Maple Grove, Minn., product began by notching a hat trick in a Game 3 triumph vs. the Voodoos, then assisted on the tying tally in an eventual Game 4 triumph in Powassan.
Johnson currently leads the NOJHL in playoff goals with 10 and sits tied for the overall scoring lead with 16 points.
NICHOLAS TALLARICO, (G) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – The league MVP continued his stellar play during the time frame by recording two more victories and run his personal and team winning streak to seven straight contests as the Lumberjacks punched their ticket to the NOJHL Final.
His last two starts saw the 21-year-old netminder from Vancouver, B.C., register a combined 1.50 goals-against average along with a solid .949 save percentage.
Tallarico presently tops all league netminders in wins with eight.
KYLE LIINAMAA, (F) RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS – Returning to form, Liinamaa produced points in all three games he skated in last week for the Canadians.
Among the contributions provided by the 20-year-old Sudbury native was a shorthanded goal in Game 4 against the Soo Thunderbirds as well as setting up the game-winner, while his side was down a skater once more, during Game 5 in helping Rayside-Balfour extend the series to at least a Game 6 tonight in Chelmsford.
Liinamaa enters that contest sporting a five-game point streak and now has 26 points in 33 career playoff match-ups.
Eastlink TV 3 Stars
Playoffs
Week 1
Tyler Masternak, (G) Timmins Rock
Garret Boyonoski, (G) Blind River Beavers
Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers
Week 2
David Bowen, (G) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Joe Vrbetic, (G) Powassan Voodoos
Shane Brancato, (G) Soo Eagles
Week 3
Ryan Peck, (F) Blind River Beavers
Nicholas Tallarico, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks
Evan Krassey, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Week 4
Bradley Golant, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
LucasTheriault, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Blaise Arkle, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Week 5
Max Johnson, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Nicholas Tallarico, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks
Kyle Liinamaa, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
