NOJHL names its Players of the Month for October

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Thursday its respective player, defenceman, goaltender and rookie of the month for October.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH – DEREK SEGUIN, (F) TIMMINS ROCK: Suiting up for the surging Rock in 11 outings last month, the 18-year-old from South Porcupine, Ont., scored eight times and dished out seven assists for 15 points in the time frame.

Seguin ended up with goals in each of the last four games of October, including a game-winner and his second career hat trick, while etching his name on the score sheet in eight of 11 helping Timmins go 8-3.

He enters November leading all NOJHL skaters in goals with 15 and is third overall in offensive production with 26 points.

Honourable Mention: Noah Boman, (F) Soo Thunderbirds; Tyler Masternak, (G) Timmins Rock

Monthly recipients
September: Cade Herd, (F) Powassan Voodoos
October: Derek Seguin, (F) Timmins Rock

DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH – STEVEN BELLINI, (D) SOO THUNDERBIRDS: Playing at just over a point-per-game pace, Bellini garners league monthly defenceman laurels for a second straight time.

Dressing in nine NOJHL match-ups in October, the 18-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., picked up one goal and nine assists for 10 points for his hometown Thunderbirds.

Bellini also picked up points in eight of those outings and concluded the month with at least one point in five consecutive games.

He presently tops all league blueliners in overall scoring with four tallies and 14 helpers so far this season.

Honourable Mention: Ethan Lavallee, (D) Rayside-Balfour Canadians; Brendan Blair, (D) Soo Eagles

Monthly recipients
September: Steven Bellini, (D) Soo Thunderbirds
October: Steven Bellini, (D) Soo Thunderbirds

GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH – TYLER MASTERNAK, (G) TIMMINS ROCK: The efforts of Masternak helped Timmins move into a share of top spot in the NOJHL standings.

After beginning October with a setback, the 18-year-old Oshawa, Ont., native reeled off eight consecutive victories for the Rock, which included a pair of shutouts.

In all, he wrapped up the time frame with a solid 1.89 goals-against average along with a .924 save percentage.

Masternak sports an 11-3-1 record so far in 2018-19 and leads all NOJHL netminders in shutouts with three.

Honourable Mention: Zach Wickson, (G) Cochrane Crunch; Colin Ahern, (G) Soo Thunderbirds

Monthly recipients
September: Gregory Brassard, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
October: Tyler Masternak, (G) Timmins Rock

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH – PHILIPPE DAOUST, (F) FRENCH RIVER RAPIDS: Set to turn 17 on Monday, Daoust finished with points in six of his final eight games in October for the Rapids.

Hailing from Barrie, Ont., the French River forward collected nine points in as many games last month as he notched a trio of tallies and helped set-up a half dozen others.

Daoust leads all Rapids’ rookies in scoring with 13 points in total, which ties him for sixth among all first-year players in the league.

Honourable Mention: Max Newnam, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners; Dante Cavaliere, (D) Blind River Beavers

Monthly recipients
September: Justin Mauro, (F) Blind River Beavers
October: Philippe Daoust, (F) French River Rapids