Corey Hamel’s red-hot play has earned the Abitibi Eskimos centre Northern Ontario Junior ‘A’ Hockey League Player of the Week recognition. Hamel, who centres the Eskimos’ top line with 100-point man Marc-Alain Begin and captain Richard Therrien, has scored eight goals in his past four games. A mid-season pickup from the Thunder Bay North Stars, Hamel is really starting to pay dividends for the Eskimos. Acquired in early November, Hamel chalked up 10 points in a three game stretch, moving above the point per game level for the first time this year. A native of Rouyn-Noranda, the 19-year-old forward has now recorded 26 points in 24 games, getting hot at just the right time as Abitibi looks for a playoff upset or two en route to the Dudley Hewitt Cup. The week’s other two stars are Soo Eagle Dallas McLaughlin, who had a seven point outburst in a two-game stint, and North Bay Trapper Scott Pawson, who recorded five points in a two-game stretch.
