Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH (January)

By Mike Stackhouse

RBC PLAYER OF THE MONTH:  Eric Bolden, Nipawin Hawks
1996 F Eric Bolden (Oswego IL USA) made his return from Elmira College (where he had 10 points in 10 games) after Christmas and finished the month of January with 10-goals and 5-assists in 12-games played.  Bolden ends the month with a six game point scoring streak, highlighted by his 2-goal, 2-assist effort at Estevan on January 25th.  Overall, he has 11-goals and 5-assists in 14-games.  Runner up:  Reed Gunville, Melfort.

IBAS SJHL DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH:  Eric Sinclair, Flin Flon Bombers
1996 D Eric Sinclair (Kenora ON) picked up 3-goals and 6-assists in 8-games played during the month of January.  Among his highlights were three 2-point games as well as points in six of his first seven in the month.  For the season, he has 31-points in 31-games as a Bomber and combined totals of 10-goals and 26-assists in 33-games (Melfort and Flin Flon).  Runner-up:  Connor Swystun, Humboldt.

SASKTEL SJHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH:  Kristian Stead, Nipawin Hawks
1996 G Kristian Stead (Merrit BC) went 6-and-1 during the month of January with a 1.65-GAA and .946-SPCT.  He also posted 2-shutouts.  He won his last six starts of the month and in his final five starts, he was 5-0, 0.60, .981.  He hasn’t allowed a goal since midway through the first period of a game January 24th, a streak that has spanned 168:48 going into February.  Overall, he’s 21-and-9 with a 1.93-GAA and .936-SPCT.  He also has 5 shutouts.  Runner-up:  Taryn Kotchorek, Battlefords.

SJHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH:  Chaz Smedsrud, Notre Dame Hounds
1998 F Chaz Smedsrud (Luverne MN USA) took off in the second half of the month to finish with 7-goals and 5-assists in 10-games played; but he accumulated 9-points in his last 5-games and all 12-points came in his final 7-games of the month.  He ends January with 7-points in 3-games and is off to a blazing start to February as well.  He has 11-goals and 9-assists in 30-games on the season, as of the end of January.  He has since added an additional 6 points in 3 games to start this month.  Runner-up:  Josh MacDougall, Nipawin.

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