THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Thursday its first and second all-star teams, for the 2018-19 season.
These annual awards recognize the individual accomplishments of six forwards, four defencemen and two goaltenders during the course of regular season play in the SIJHL.
The first and second all-stars were selected, in conjunction with voting done by each of the SIJHL’s member clubs.
“For the recipients of the respective all-star team awards, we congratulate each of them for their significant contributions and achievements during the 2018-19 regular season,” stated SIJHL Commissioner Bryan Graham.
“They are to be commended for their on-ice efforts and accomplishments,” added Graham.
The following are the first and second all-star team recipients for the 2018-19 SIJHL season:
1ST ALL-STAR TEAM
FORWARD: BRYCE YOUNG, RED LAKE MINERS – The 19-year-old The Pas, Man., product, had a tremendous campaign in the SIJHL, while also leading Red Lake in offensive production. … His 60 goals during the regular season were the second-most markers in a single campaign by any skater in league history. … He also went on to add 41 assists for 101 total points. … Young topped all SIJHL skaters in both power play and shorthanded tallies with 15 and seven respectively while chipping in with five game-winning markers. … Among his other notable accomplishments in 2018-19 were registering a point on over 36% of his team’s tallies during the year; topping the league in shorthanded points with nine and being named to compete in the SIJHL All-Star Game where he dished out a pair of assists. … He was earlier named the SIJHL Rookie of the Year as well for his contributions on the ice with Red Lake.
FORWARD: KEIGHAN GERRIE, THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – The 17-year-old Thunder Bay product was rated 140th (6th highest Canadian Junior Hockey League forward) by NHL Central Scouting in their mid-term draft rankings for the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver. … Gerrie captured the SIJHL scoring title with a league-best 102 points, in just 54 games, by notching 41 goals and adding 61 assists. … He also supplied seven game-winning goals, which were just two off the league-lead. … Gerrie is committed to attend Bowling Green State University (WCHA) on NCAA Division I scholarship in 2020. … Was named SIJHL Rookie of the Year in 2017-18. … Has 153 points in 107 career contests, including 65 tallies. … Skated for Team West at the 2019 CJHL Prospects Game in Okotoks, Alta. … Was named to participate in the SIJHL All-Star Game.
FORWARD: RYAN MIGNAULT, THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – The Thunder Bay captain finished second in the league in goals scored with 49. … Was fourth in overall SIJHL offensive production with 90 points. … Also in the Top 10 in assists with 41. … Mignault led all skaters in game-winning goals with nine. … His 10 power play tallies tied him for second-best in league play. … Knotted for second in shorthanded markers with three. … In 99 career SIJHL games, he has scored 73 times, including 14 game-winners, and assisted on 71 others for 144 points.
DEFENCE: CONNOR BOWEY, THIEF RIVER FALLS NORSKIES – In just 48 contests, Bowey finished second in scoring among SIJHL defencemen with 62 points as he notched 16 goals and dished out 46 assists. … The 20-year-old from Winnipeg, Man., was third in power play assists among D-men with 11 and was second in game-winning goals with three. … In his productive three-year career in the SIJHL, Bowey played at close to a point-per-game pace for the Norskies with 118 in 129 outings as he scored 30 times and doled out 88 helpers.
DEFENCE: KYLE AUGER, THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – Auger was a unanimous selection in voting for SIJHL Top Defenceman honours. … The 20-year-old Thunder Bay product had a tremendous campaign leading all SIJHL defencemen in goals (33), assists (69), points (102), game-winning goals (8), power play tallies (8) and man advantage assists (19). His overall point total established a league record for the most in a single season by a blueliner. … His overall offensive totals saw him finish in tie for top spot, but was credited as the runner-up due to less goals scored; eight less than teammate Keighan Gerrie. … Auger was selected to take part in the SIJHL All-Star Game and was named a league 1st Team All-Star on defence in 2018-19.
GOALTENDER: – BROCK AIKEN, THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – The 20-year-old Thunder Bay native led all SIJHL netminders in goals-against average (2.12), save percentage (.931) and shutouts (8) during the course of the campaign, while posting an impressive 23-2-1-0 overall record. … With the honour, Aiken is the SIJHL’s nominee for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Goaltender honour. … Of note, Aiken’s league-best eight shutouts were just two off the SIJHL single-season record of 10 set by another Top Goaltender Award honouree, in current Buffalo Sabres netminder Carter Hutton, who back during the 2005-06 season helped lead the North Stars to a Bill Salonen Cup crown, a Dudley-Hewitt Cup title and a semifinal berth at the Canadian National Jr. A Championship.
2ND ALL-STAR TEAM
FORWARD: ERIC STOUT, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – Earns second-team accolades for a second straight season. … The veteran forward led Dryden in offensive production and finished seventh in SIJHL scoring with 77 points. … Stout’s 40 goals were the fourth-most supplied in the league in 2018-19. The 21-year-old from Brainerd, Minn., was tied for second overall in power play assists with 14. … Stout wraps up his SIJHL career with 199 points to his credit as he notched 99 markers in total and hit the century-mark in assists with 100.
FORWARD: BOE BJORGE, THIEF RIVER FALLS NORSKIES – In 56 outings during the course of the 2018-19 regular season, the 20-year-old Grand Forks, N.D., product racked up 81 points on 29 goals and 52 assists to lead the Norskies in scoring and also finish sixth overall among all league skaters. … This marked an impressive 66-point improvement for Bjorge from the 2017-18 campaign with Thief River Falls. … Among his efforts was a 19-game point streak that ran from October 31 through to January 9 while also producing a SIJHL season-best 16-game point run in road match-ups for his club. … His efforts earned him league Most Improved Player laurels for 2018-19. … In 90 career SIJHL contests, Bjorge produced at over a point-per-game clip with 96 on 38 tallies and 58 helpers.
FORWARD: JOEL WILLAN, THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – Willan had a solid regular season for the North Stars, amassing 87 points in just 55 outings while scoring 22 times and doling out 65 assists. … His assist total was the second-highest amount in the league. … The 19-year-old forward hails from Nipigon, Ont. … He sported point streak of seven games or more on three different occasions in 2018-19. … Notched six power play markers and dished out 10 man advantage assists. … Contributed four game-winning goals.
DEFENCE: KEILAN TOEWS, RED LAKE MINERS – A solid presence on both ends of the ice for the Miners, Toews was a rock for Red Lake this season. … Not only was he a distinct contributor for his squad in the defensive zone, he also finished up third in scoring among all SIJHL blueliners. … In all, the 19-year-old Langley, B.C., product notched three goals and helped set-up 37 others for 40 points. … Toews was also pivotal on special teams for the Miners during the campaign as he dished out 14 power play assists and had six more while his club was shorthanded.
DEFENCE: RYAN BRANDT, DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS – After being recruited by Dryden in late November, Brandt helped the GM Ice Dogs turn their fortunes around in the second half of the season. … In the 23 games in which he registered at least one point, Dryden went sported a solid 15-5-3 record. … In all, the 18-year-old from Maple Grove, Minn., produced 33 points in 37 contests and was a strong contributor in bolstering the GM Ice Dogs back-end.
GOALTENDER: ZACH WILLMS, RED LAKE MINERS – Willms was second in the SIJHL in wins with 25 helping Red Lake finish in second spot in the league standings. … Despite missing a number of games due to injury, the 19-year-old from Camrose, Alta., topped all SIJHL netminders in minutes played at 2,086. … Willms was also third overall in saves with 1,160 as well as in save percentage at .921 while being knotted for fourth in shutouts with two.
HONOURABLE MENTION
FORWARD
Michael Di Lullo, Red Lake Miners
Blake Nelson, Thief River Falls Norskies
Jacob Brown, Thunder Bay North Stars
DEFENCE
Dante Tisi, Red Lake Miners
Alec Severson, Thief River Falls Norskies
GOALTENDER
Dougie Newhouse, Thunder Bay North Stars