PLAYERS OF THE MONTH (February)

RBC SJHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH:  Justin Ball, Melfort Mustangs
1998 F Justin Ball (Saskatoon SK) led all SJHL players with 9-goals and 16-assists in 10-games during the month of February and he picked up, at least, one point in each game during the month.  Among the highlights was a four point game, at home, against Kindersley on February 13th and then another four point game against the Klippers (who were the second best defensive team in the league) on February 23rd.  Ball also had goals in eight of the ten games played, including four in a row to end the month. For the season, Ball finished with 54-goals, becoming the first SJHLer to eclipse 50 since Travis Eggum in 2011. Ball ended up winning the scoring race with 103-points, fourteen more than Carson Albrecht, his linemate on the Mustangs.  Runner-up: Chantz Petruic, Yorkton.

SJHL DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH:  Cody Spagrud, Battlefords North Stars
1998 D Cody Spagrud (Gull Lake SK) helped the North Stars pick up 19 of a possible 20 points in the standings over their final ten games, overcoming a six point deficit to win the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division.  In February, Spagrud scored 2-goals and 9-assists in 10-games played. Both of Spagrud’s goals scored were on February 10th at Nipawin (the best team in the league). He also had a three assist game at Yorkton on February 2nd and three multiple point games during the month.  He finishes the season with 10-goals and 32-assists in 56-games played. Runner-up: Brendan Mark, Yorkton.

SASKTEL SJHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH:  Noah Giesbrecht, Melfort Mustangs
1999 G Noah Giesbrecht (South Surrey BC) won all five of his starts in the month of February, putting the Mustangs into position to win the division and first overall, only to fall short as the calendar turned to March.  Giesbrecht posted a 2.15 GAA and .937 SPCT that was bolstered by a 32-save shutout against Flin Flon on February 2nd. He also is the last goalie to beat the Battlefords North Stars in regulation (February 6th) and heads into the playoffs with an overall record of 6-2-and-1 with a 2.95 GAA and .912 SPCT upon being acquired in a trade from the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard in January.  Runner-up: Kadin Kilpatrick, Estevan.

SJHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH:  Jarrett Penner, Notre Dame Hounds
2000 F Jarrett Penner (Saskatoon SK) got off to a flying start to the month of February and finished with 5-goals and 7-assists in 10-games played to lead all first year players.  Penner had 6-points in his first 3-games of the month, backed by a three helper game against Flin Flon on February 1st. He also had 3-points on February 24th against Battlefords. Over his final 20 games, Penner scored 19 points.  He was a revelation offensively as he scored 6 goals in 43 games last year in Midget AAA. He finishes his rookie campaign with 22-goals and 17-assists in 56-games. Runner-up: Brett Gammer, Battlefords.