NOJHL names its Players of the Month for October

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

PLAYER OF THE MONTHCALEB SERRE, (F) BLIND RIVER BEAVERS: Another sensational month for the 20-year-old Blind River native saw him average nearly two points per contest as he racked up 22 in a dozen outings during the time period for the Beavers.

Serre scored 11 times and assisted on 11 others during his latest run and has only been held off the score sheet twice in his first 19 contests of the 2019-20 campaign.

His efforts see him pacing all league skaters in goals (21) and points (43) while sitting second in assists (22).

Serre’s next point will be his 200th in the NOJHL.

Honourable Mention: Connor Taylor, (F) Elliot Lake Wildcats; Olivier Cloutier-Faucher, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks

Monthly recipients
September: Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers
October: Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers

DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH JOSH ANDERSON, (D) TIMMINS ROCK: Bolstering the back end for Timmins, Anderson’s efforts in each area of the ice helped the Rock boast an 8-1-0-1 record in October.

The 20-year-old blueliner from Nestleton, Ont., also contributed at a point-per-game clip for his side during in the time frame as he collected four goals and six assists along the way.

Anderson enters November third overall in league offensive numbers among rearguards with 17 points, in 18 total match-ups, having scored five times and helping out on 12 others.

His defensive contributions has also seen Timmins allow a league-low 34 goals against.

Honourable Mention: Matais Salem, (D) Espanola Express; Eric Mondoux, (D) Powassan Voodoos

Monthly recipients
September: Nathan Balkwill, (D) Blind River Beavers
October: Josh Anderson, (D) Timmins Rock

GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH OWEN SAY, (G) POWASSAN VOODOOS: The 18-year-old London, Ont., product continued his stellar play for the first overall Voodoos in October racking up seven more victories in as many starts for Powassan.

Along with his 7-0 record during the time frame, Say posted a stingy 1.69 goals-against average along with an equally stingy .934 save percentage for the league-leading Voodoos.

The Powassan stopper has yet to suffer a defeat in league play, having gone 13-0 to date with an average of 1.83 and a .938 save mark.

Honourable Mention: Rahul Bola, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks; Vance Meyer, (G) Timmins Rock

Monthly recipients
September: Owen Say, (G) Powassan Voodoos
October: Owen Say, (G) Powassan Voodoos

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH NICHOLAS DEGRAZIA, (F) RAYSIDEBALFOUR CANADIANS: Suiting up in nine games in October, the 17-year-old first-year forward from Thunder Bay, Ont., paced all league rookies in offensive production with 13 points, including seven goals for the Canadians.

DeGrazia also made his Ontario Hockey League debut for the Sudbury Wolves last week where in three contests he scored once and helped set-up another.

He presently tops all NOJHL rookies in tallies (10); shorthanded markers (2) and points (21) while sharing second in game-winning goals (2).

Honourable Mention: David Gobeil, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks; Tyler Savard, (F) Soo Thunderbirds

Monthly recipients
September: Matthew Minichiello, (F) Cochrane Crunch
October: Nicholas DeGrazia, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians