Thunderbirds’ Smith; Lumberjacks’ Silver; Beavers’ Hjelle named Eastlink 3 Stars of the Week

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that forwards Nick Smith (Soo Thunderbirds) and Spencer Silver (Hearst Lumberjacks) along with goaltender Jackson Hjelle (Blind River Beavers) have been named its Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week for the period ending Nov. 3.

NICK SMITH, (F) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Smith played a significant role in all three wins the Thunderbirds produced last week.

Skating for his hometown Sault Ste. Marie side, the 20-year-old, racked up 11 points in all beginning with his second hat trick of the season, that featured the game-winner, and a helper in a triumph over Elliot Lake.

He then set-up the difference maker as part of a three-assist performance and also scored as the Thunderbirds finished off a home-and-home sweep of the Wildcats.

Smith then capped off his solid week by notching the another game-winner late in regulation, to go with a couple of earlier helpers, as the Soo rallied past Kirkland Lake.

Having produced multiple-point outings in six of his past seven contests, he is now 24 points shy of 200 in his NOJHL career.

SPENCER SILVER, (F) HEARST LUMBERJACKS – Last week saw Silver strike in all three games he played, scoring four goals in total as Hearst won two of those contests to stay among the top clubs in the overall league standings.

The 20-year-old forward from North Wales, Penn., also dished out a pair of assists for the Lumberjacks.

Currently riding a six-game point streak, Silver is playing at over a point-per-game pace since returning to the Hearst line-up back on Oct. 22 with nine points in seven match-ups.

JACKSON HJELLE, (G) BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – In two starts over the weekend, the 20-year-old netminder came away victorious in both of them helping Blind River stay in first place in the NOJHL’s East Division.

Hailing from Delano, Minn., Hjelle only allowed three goals against during the week for a 1.50 goals-against average while also sporting a .947 save percentage.

He enters play this week having won each of his past five starts and has only given up five tallies in that span for the Beavers.

Eastlink TV 3 Stars

Week 1
Stephen Minichiello, (F) Cochrane Crunch
Owen Say, (G) Powassan Voodoos
Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers

Week 2
Gabinien Kioki, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Lucas Adams, (F) Blind River Beavers
Max Griffioen, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks

Week 3
Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers
Shane Brancato, (G) Soo Eagles
Matthew Belanger, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians

Week 4
Parker Bowman, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Mitchell Martin, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Landis Antonic, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Week 5
Blake Vaca, (F) Soo Eagles
Gregory Trudeau-Paquet, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Derek Seguin, (F) Timmins Rock

Week 6
Nicholas DeGrazia, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Matais Salem, (D) Espanola Express
Liam Oxner, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks

Week 7
Rahul Bola, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks
Tyler Savard, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Tomas Yachmenev, (F) Powassan Voodoos

Week 8
Owen Say, (G) Powassan Voodoos
Connor Taylor, (F) Elliot Lake Wildcats
David Bowen, (G) Rayside-Balfour Canadians

Week 9
Nick Smith, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Spencer Silver, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Jackson Hjelle, (G) Blind River Beavers