TIMMINS – Timmins Rock forward Wayne Mathieu has been named one of the NOJHL’s Three Stars of the Week.
Mathieu, Soo Thunderbirds forward Mark Tassone and Espanola Express goaltender Logan Sawka are being honoured for the period ending Sept. 25.
• MATHIEU — The 19-year-old Timmins product was instrumental in helping the Rock skate to a trio of victories last week as he amassed nine points, including six goals along the way.
Mathieu began with an assist as Timmins topped Powassan 9-1 at home Thursday.
Heading out on the road Saturday, he tallied twice, including notching the game-winner and set-up another as the Rock skated past French River 7-3.
He then capped off his week in a big way by scoring four more markers, which included burying the difference maker in double overtime while the Rock were shorthanded, and dished out a helper as they edged the Voodoos 7-6 in Powassan.
• TASSONE — The 17-year-old Sault Ste. Marie native has been instrumental for his hometown side helping the Thunderbirds pick-up a current league-high six victories, in seven outings, so far this season.
Last week saw Tassone begin by dishing out a pair of assists as the T-Birds blanked Rayside-Balfour 3-0 Saturday in Chelmsford.
Returning to home ice Sunday afternoon, the Soo forward added a goal to extend a consecutive-game point streak to seven as they topped Iroquois Falls 5-3 at Essar Centre.
Tassone currently leads the Thunderbirds in offensive production with a dozen points on seven tallies and five helpers.
That total is presently the third-best mark in the NOJHL.
• SAWKA — In two starts last week, the 19-year-old Calgary native won both of them helping Espanola secure their first two victories of the season.
Sawka began by making 35 saves to record his first NOJHL win as he backstopped the Express to a 4-2 triumph over Iroquois Falls on Friday.
Two days later he made another 20 stops as Espanola extended their modest win streak to two with a 6-2 decision over French River.
Sawka currently sits sixth among league netminders in goals-against average at 2.47 and fourth in save percentage at .927.
Previous weekly winners include: Week 1 — Blind River defenceman Vincent Robbins, Kirkland Lake forward Kevin Ford and Cochrane forward Konnar Dechaine; Week 2 — Kirkland Lake goalie Victor-Olivier Courchesne, Soo Eagles goalie Justyn Gillis and Rayside-Balfour goalie MacKenzie Savard.
