SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) announced Monday that Hudson Chitaroni (Greater Sudbury Cubs); Felix Cadieux-Fredette (Timmins Rock); Dryden Riley (Timmins Rock) and Reyth Smith (Powassan Voodoos) have been named its Forward; Defenceman; Goaltender and Rookie of the Month, respectively, for January.
FORWARD OF THE MONTH – HUDSON CHITARONI, GREATER SUDBURY CUBS: The 16-year-old Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., continues to pile up the points with the high-scoring Greater Sudbury Cubs. The 2007 Sudbury Wolves fourth round pick netted 6 goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 8 games in January for the west-leading Cubs, going pointless in only one game this month.
Chitaroni had four three-point outings in January and back-to-back two goal games on January 6 and 11 against the Powassan Voodoos.
Chitaroni, who was the NOJHL’s rookie of the month in September, has recorded 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 40 games this season with the Cubs.
Honourable Mention: Samuel Assinewai, Greater Sudbury Cubs; Harry Clark, Timmins Rock
Monthly recipients
September: Nolan Newton, Greater Sudbury Cubs
October: Lucas Signoretti, Espanola Paper Kings
November: Oliver Smith, Greater Sudbury Cubs
December: Daniel Vasic, Blind River Beavers
January: Hudson Chitaroni, Greater Sudbury Cubs
DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH – FELIX CADIEUX-FREDETTE, TIMMINS ROCK: The veteran on the back end for the Rock, Cadieux-Fredette accumulated 1 goal and 8 assists during an eight-game point streak to start 2024.
The 2003 birth year defender, who was named the defenceman of the week for the last week of January, has been logging heavy minutes for the Rock as the club has battled injuries on its defensive corps.
Through 42 games, Cadieux-Fredette has 2 goals and 39 assists for 41 points in 42 games this season.
In his four seasons with the Rock, he has recorded 11 goals and 84 assists for 95 points in 157 games with the 2023 NOJHL defending champs.
Honourable Mention: Noah Janicki, Hearst Lumberjacks; Alex Case, Powassan Voodoos
Monthly recipients
September: Spencer Horgan, Espanola Paper Kings
October: Kaden Dundas, Soo Thunderbirds
November: Noah Janicki, Hearst Lumberjacks
December: Spencer Horgan, Espanola Paper Kings
January: Felix Cadieux-Fredette, Timmins Rock
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH – DRYDEN RILEY, TIMMINS ROCK: The rookie netminder was perfect in the month of January while sporting a 5-0 record and one shutout to start the new year.
Riley, a 16-year-old 11th round pick of the Erie Otters, only allowed 9 goals against in 5 games in January while turning away 140 shots for an impressive .939 save percentage.
In 20 games, the Trenton, Ontario product has a record of 16 wins, 2 losses and one overtime loss. He sits in third in the league overall with a 2.36 goals against average along with a .915 save percentage and two shutouts.
Honourable Mention: Kolton Bourrett, Soo Thunderbirds; Noah Tegelaar, Blind River Beavers
Monthly recipients
September: Daniel Dirracolo, Powassan Voodoos
October: Kolton Bourret, Soo Thunderbirds
November: Elijah Grant, French River Rapids
December: Noah Tegelaar, Blind River Beavers
January: Dryden Riley, Timmins Rock
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH – REYTH SMITH, POWASSAN VOODOOS: The speedy Voodoos forward had an impressive start to 2024 registering 6 goals along with 6 assists for 12 points in 8 games in January for the Voodoos.
The 2023 fourth round selection by the North Bay Battalion highlighted the month with his second hat trick of the season along with an assist in the Voodoos 5-4 win over the Espanola Paper Kings on January 26.
Overall the Windsor product has netted 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points in 38 games with the Voodoos as he is closing in on breaking the single season goal record (25) by a 16-year-old set by Kyle Moore back in the Voodoos inaugural season in 2014-15.
Honourable Mention: Declan Gallivan, (D) Soo Thunderbirds; Brant Romaniuk, (F) Timmins Rock.
Monthly recipients
September: Hudson Chitaroni, (F) Greater Sudbury Cubs
October: James Legler, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
November: Benjamin Pouliot, (F) Soo Eagles
December: Brant Romaniuk, (F) Timmins Rock
January: Reyth Smith, (F) Powassan Voodoos
