NOJHL names its Players of the Month for October

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday its Players of the Month for October.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: CHASE TALLAIRE, (F) SOO EAGLES Appearing in nine games last month, which were all on the road, Taillaire recorded points in each of them and scored at least once in seven of those outings helping the Eagles go 6-2-1-0 in the time frame.

In all, the 18-year-old forward, who hails from St. Ignace, Mich., notched nine tallies, three of which were game-winners, and added four assists along the way.

Currently riding a current NOJHL-best 11-game point streak, Tallaire tops his side in markers and points with 12 and five respectively.

He also paces all NOJHL skaters in game-winning goals with five and shares the league lead in power play efforts with six.

Honourable Mention: Zachary Demers, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks; Tyler Schwindt, (F) Timmins Rock

Monthly recipients
September: Cameron Lemcke, (F) Powassan Voodoos
October: Chase Tallaire, (F) Soo Eagles

DEFENCEMAN OF THE MONTH: BODE DUNFORD (D) TIMMINS ROCK – Averaging over a point-per-game from the back end for the Rock, Dunford picked up 11 in nine match-ups helping Timmins go 8-0-1-0 during the month.

Hailing from Peterborough, Ont., the 19-year-old blueliner scored three times for his club in October and dished out seven helpers along the way.

On the season so far, Dunford is tied for second in offensive production with 13 points in as many games among NOJHL rearguards while doing his part defensively in helping the Rock allow the fewest goals against in league play, to date, at 31.

So far in his two-year career with Timmins, the Rock have gone 16-2-0-0 in match-ups in which he has earned a scoring spot on the game sheet.

Honourable Mention: Andrew Gibson, (D) Soo Thunderbirds; Ethan Pegg, (D) Blind River Beavers

Monthly recipients
September: Brandon Hass, (D) French River Rapids
October: Bode Dunford, (D) Timmins Rock

GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH: NOAH METIVIER (G) SOO THUNDERBIRDS – A stellar month saw the 17-year-old netminder shine for his hometown Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., side.

In six appearances in October, Metivier recorded a solid 5-0-1-0 record while sporting a stingy 1.67 goals-against average along with an equally impressive save percentage of .947.

He also posted in initial league shutout back on Oct. 3 with a 32-save blanking of Espanola at John Rhodes Community Centre in the Soo.

Heading into November, Metivier presently leads all NOJHL goaltenders with an average of 1.73 and is also tops with his .944 save mark.

Honourable Mention: Liam Oxner, (G) Hearst Lumberjacks; Liam McCarthy, (G) Timmins Rock

Monthly recipients
September: Alex Bugeja, (G) Powassan Voodoos
October: Noah Metivier, (G) Soo Thunderbirds

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: DOMINIK GODIN, (F) FRENCH RIVER RAPIDS – Beginning the month with a seven-game point streak, the Alban, Ont., product went on to secure points in nine of the match-ups the Rapids skated in during the time frame.

Notching goals in eight of those outings for French River, the 17-year-old forward found the back of the net a total of 10 times and proceeded to chip in with four assists for a 14-point run.

Godin’s 11 markers overall, tie him for first in the league among those in their first campaign of Jr. A hockey.

He also sits second in NOJHL numbers among rookies with 18 points in 15 games played.

Honourable Mention: Chase Lefebvre, (F) French River Rapids; Cooper Foster, (F) Soo Thunderbirds

Monthly recipients
September: Christopher Engelbert, (F) Timmins Rock
October: Dominik Godin, (F) French River Rapids