Timmins Rock blue-liner Bode Dunford, shown here advancing the puck during a game against the Hearst Lumberjacks at the McIntyre Arena on Sept. 19, has been named the NOJHL’s Defenceman of the Month for October. The 19-year-old Peterborough native averaged more than a point a game during the month, helping the Rock earn an 8-0-1-0 mark during October. THOMAS PERRY/THE DAILY PRESS
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League has announced its monthly award winners for October and the Timmins Rock once again figure prominently in the selections.
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
Leading the way is 19-year-old Peterborough native Bode Dunford, who has been named Defenceman of the Month for October.
Averaging over a point-per-game from the back end for the Rock, Dunford picked up 11 in nine October match-ups, helping Timmins go 8-0-1-0 during the month.
The blue-liner, in his second season with the Rock, scored three times for his club in the month and dished out seven helpers along the way.
On the season, 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 at least one point.
Honourable mention goes to Andrew Gibson, of the Soo Thunderbirds, and Ethan Pegg, of the Blind River Beavers.
September’s award winner was Brandon Hass, of the French River Rapids.
Meanwhile, Rock captain Tyler Schwindt earned honourable mention in the Player of the Month category, won by the Soo Eagles Chase Taillaire.
Appearing in nine games last month, 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.
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 goes to Zachary Demers, of the Hearst Lumberjacks, and Schwindt.
The award winner in September was Cameron Lemcke, of the Powassan Voodoos.
Rock puck stopper Liam McCarthy also earned honourable mention in the Goaltender of the Month category won by Noah Metivier, of the Soo Thunderbirds.
A stellar month saw the 17-year-old Metivier 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 .947 percentage.
He also posted an initial league shutout back on Oct. 3, with a 32-save blanking of Espanola at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Heading into November, Metivier leads all NOJHL goaltenders with an 1.73 average and is also tops with his .944 save mark.
Honourable mention went to Liam Oxner, of the Hearst Lumberjacks and McCarthy.
September’s winner was Alex Bugeja, of the Powassan Voodoos.
French River Rapids forward Dominik Godin is the Rookie of the Month for October.
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 found the back of the net a total of 10 times and proceeded to chip in with four assists, good for a 14-point run.
Godin’s 11 markers overall, tie him for first in the league among those in their first campaign of Junior ‘A’ hockey.
He also sits second in NOJHL numbers among rookies, with 18 points in 15 games played.
Honourable mention went to Chase Lefebvre, of the Rapids, and Cooper Foster, of the Thunderbirds.
September’s winner was Timmins Rock forward Christopher Engelbert.
