Voodoos Harland wins major NOJHL awards

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced today its award winners for the 2014-15 season. 

Headlining the list of honourees is Powassan Voodoos forward Steve Harland, who was named the recipient of both the Carlo Cattarello Trophy, emblematic of NOJHL Most Valuable Player and the John Grignon Trophy for being the league’s rookie of the year.

Harland also earned the Jimmy Connors Trophy, which goes annually to the NOJHL’s scoring champion and he will also be the NOJHL’s nominee for the Canadian Junior Hockey League player of the year.

The Battalion prospect won the NOJHL scoring title with 95 points, edging Eskis sniper Brady Clouthier by only 2 points.  

Another multiple award winner was Ethan Strong of the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, who earned NOJHL Best Defenceman honours along with the league’s best overall team player award.

Meanwhile Soo Thunderbirds netminder Mario Culina captured the Wayne Chase Memorial Award for registering the lowest goals-against average in the league and also shared the NOJHL Team Goaltending honour for fewest goals allowed in 2014-15.

Three other Thunderbirds were also recognized with Brett Jeffries picking up the Mitch Tetreault Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward, Nicolas Tassone garnered the Onaping Falls Huskies Trophy as the NOJHL’s most gentlemanly player while Jordan Smith was named the recipient of his second straight Mirl “Red” McCarthy Memorial Award as NOJHL coach of the year.

Sault Ste. Marie also captured the James Aspin Trophy as league regular season champions.

Other award winners include Brennan Roy of the Abitibi Eskimos taking home the Gilles Laperriere Trophy as most improved player and Elliot Lake Wildcats general manager Todd Stencill claiming the Joe Drago Trophy as NOJHL Director of the Year.

Harland will try and lead his Voodoos to victory Monday night as they face the Mattawa Blackhawks in best-of-three survivor series.  Puck drop tonight is 7:00 p.m. at the Powassan Sportsplex.  Game 2 takes place in Mattawa on Tuesday night.