SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Wednesday its respective player, defenceman, goaltender and rookie of the month for September.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH – CADE HERD, (F) POWASSAN VOODOOS: An impressive opening month to the season saw Herd lead all NOJHL skaters in both goals and points.
The 18-year-old North Cobalt, Ont., native notched a league-best nine tallies in September and also chipped in with eight assists, giving him 17 points in total during the time frame.
Among Herd’s efforts was etching his name on the score sheet in eight of his nine outings while supplying five multi-point contests and notching one game-winning marker.
Honourable Mention: Lucas Theriault, (F) Soo Thunderbirds; Brendan Young, (F) Blind River Beavers
Monthly recipients
September: Cade Herd, (F) Powassan Voodoos
DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH – STEVEN BELLINI, (D) SOO THUNDERBIRDS: Skating in six of the seven games the 7-0 and No. 2 Canadian Junior Hockey League-ranked Thunderbirds played in September, Bellini played a pivotal role in both ends of the ice helping his club get off to their solid start.
Lacing them up for his hometown Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., side, the 18-year-old blueliner scored three times and helped set-up five others for the Thunderbirds.
Bellini currently tops all NOJHL D-men in point-per-game average at 1.33 and also has one game-winning goal to his credit.
Honourable Mention: Maxim Lacroix, (D) Hearst Lumberjacks; Ryan Mulligan, (D) Blind River Beavers
Monthly recipients
September: Steven Bellini, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH – GREGORY BRASSARD, (G) KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS: Helping back stop the Gold Miners to their strong start to the season was the play of netminder Braasard.
In six appearances Brassard produced a 5-0 record along with a league-low 1.69 goals-against average along with a .939 save percentage, that presently ties him for third in the NOJHL in that category.
The 19-year-old, who hails from South Glengarry, Ont., also registered his initial league shutout back on Sept. 16.
In his past five starts, Brassard has only allowed seven goals against in 294 minutes of work for a GAA of 1.43.
Honourable Mention: Joe Vrbetic, (G) Powassan Voodoos; Nicholas Tallarico, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks
Monthly recipients
September: Gregory Brassard, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH – JUSTIN MAURO, (F) BLIND RIVER BEAVERS: The NOJHL newcomer played at over a point-per-game pace for Blind River to commence his time in the league.
Mauro, a 16-year-old forward from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., suited up in eight games for the Beavers last month and produced 10 points by scoring three times and doling out seven helpers.
His offensive efforts see him enter play in October tied for top spot in points among rookies.
Honourable Mention: Noah Minns, (F) Elliot Lake Wildcats; Riley Jensen, (F) Soo Eagles
Monthly recipients
September: Justin Mauro, (F) Blind River Beavers
