Zach Willms of the Red Lake Miners has been rewarded for a record breaking year in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
The 20-year-old from Camrose, Alberta has received the Top Goaltender Award for the 2019-2020 season.
Willms led all netminders in wins, goals-against average and save percentage at 27, 2.80 and .925 respectively.
He also recorded 3 shutouts.
Willms set a league record this year for total career victories with 52 surpassing the 51 that both current Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton (North Stars/Golden Hawks) and Josh Mrakic (Bearcats/Gplden Hawks) achieved.
Willms is the first player in Miners history to win the award.
He beat out Jacob Anthony of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and Hunter Adams of the Wisconsin Lumberjacks.
Thief River Falls Norskies captain Bryce Johnson has been named Superior International Junior Hockey League Most Sportsmanlike Player for the 2019-2020 season.
The 19-year-old led the Norskies in offensive production this past season, registering 20-goals and 39-points in 49-games.
He set personal single-season bests in points, goals and assists.
Johnson finished fourth in overall league scoring, while accumulating just four minor penalties all year.
A veteran of 104 league games, Johnson boasts 109 points on 39 goals and 70 helpers.
He beat out Ben Hoefler of the Fort Frances Lakers and Jacob Brown of the Thunder Bay North Stars.
Fort Frances Lakers captain Noah Loveday has been named Most Improved Player for the 2019-2020 season in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
The 20-year-old forward produced 17 goals and 21 assists in 48 games with the Lakers this campaign.
That marked a 17-point improvement over last year.
Loveday set personal single-season bests in tallies, helpers and points.
He was also tied for fourth in the league in game-winning goals with five.
Loveday beat out Xavier Halterman of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and Nick Harder of the Thief River Falls Norskies.
Loveday becomes the fourth player in Lakers history to win the award.
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs and Red Lake Miners are well represented in the year end awards in the SIJHL.
The league announced the finalists for the 2020 awards on Tuesday.
Here is a list of candidates:
Mallons Corporae Impressions/Play It Again Sports Most Valuable Player
Zach Willms-Red Lake Miners
Jack Michels-Thief River Falls Norskies
Cody Bruchkowski-Thunder Bay North Stars
Best Defenceman
Carson Lux-Red Lake Miners
Connor Kalthoff-Thief River Falls Norskies
Logan Mihalcin-Thunder Bay North Stars
Top Goaltender
Jacob Anthony-Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Zach Willms-Red Lake Miners
Hunter Adams-Wisconsin Lumberjacks
Rookie of the Year
Amraj Gill-Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Ryan Howe-Red Lake Miners
Nikolas Campbell-Thunder Bay North Stars
Best Defensive Forward
Shaye Sommerfeld-Red Lake Miners
Bryce Johnson-Thief River Falls Norskies
Jacob Brown-Thunder Bay North Stars
Most Improved Player
Xavier Halterman-Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Noah Loveday-Fort Frances Lakers
Nick Harder-Thief River Falls Norskies
Most Sportsmanlike Player
Ben Hoefler-Fort Frances Lakers
Bryce Johnson-Thief River Falls Norskies
Jacob Brown-Thunder Bay North Stars
Coach of the Year
Geoff Walker-Red Lake Miners
Wilson Housley-Thief River Falls Norskies
Robert Degagne-Thunder Bay North Stars
Three Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario have received public honours at a housing conference in Thunder Bay.
Onigaming, Fort Severn and the Sand Point First Nation on Lake Nipigon received awards to highlight their innovative work being done in those communities to create positive change and find sustainable housing solutions.
The Community Recognition Awards were given out because those First Nations have implemented technology to address the devastating effects of climate change and established sustainable housing on their traditional lands.
A total of 350 people attended the three-day aboriginal housing conference including field experts, government agencies, community leaders and housing professionals from across Canada.
Nominations are now being accepted for the Indigenous Youth Achievement & Recognition Awards.
Organizer Sharon Smith-Baxter says the awards focus on the achievements of Northwestern Ontario Indigenous, Métis or First Nation people. She adds anyone who is nominated does not necessarily have to be from this region as long as you are a contributing member in the northwest.
There are several award categories for youth from 11 to 29 years of age. A recognition award is also given to anyone who is 30 years of age or older.
Smith-Baxter attributes the success of the awards to the increasing number of sponsors who have come on board since the first time they were presented.
Nominations close on March 25th with the awards ceremony taking place at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay on May 5th.
The Dryden Police Service has honoured a number of individuals who have made an impact on the safety of our community.
An Appreciation and Recognition ceremony was held at the Centre last night. (Thursday)
Summer Patrol Students Carter Loewen and Matthew McLarty were recognized for their assistance in the arrest of a wanted individual.
On June 24th, the two helped direct officers during a foot pursuit.
Loewen says it was a hectic but rewarding moment.
“It was a great experience. I’m really appreciative of the award and being recognized for it. It was a great experience to be involved in something like that and I’m sure not many people can say they have experienced a scenario like that. So I’m happy that I can do something like that and I have something like that under my belt.”
Loewen adds the situation was stressful but they worked with what they could and tried their best to keep up with everything that was going on.
As for the experience as a Summer Patrol Officer, Loewen stresses it was a great job and he would recommend it to anyone interested in policing or community safety.
Loewen and McLarty assisted officers in daily patrols and helped lead a number community events and programming.
Police Chief Doug Palson also recognized Heather Hampton for 20 years of service with the Dryden Police Service.
Recognition Awards were handed out to:
-Sergeant Scott Silver: For bravery, quick thinking and resourcefulness in handling a dangerous situation involving an aggressive animal that was damaging property.
-Inspector Ann Tkachyk: Taking the lead in both the Situation Table and the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.
-Constable Terry Menard: Taking the initiative in upgrading the Police Service Fitness Centre and having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of members of the Police Service.
-Acting Sergeant Bob Wright and Constable Bruce Watson: Courage and bravery handling a dangerous situation involving a male with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun who indicated that he would have used the gun against the officers if he had the opportunity.
-Constable Bruce Watson: Pro-active traffic enforcement and safety decisions to keep the citizens of Dryden safe.
-Constable Christopher Lockwood: Pro-active traffic enforcement and safety efforts to keep motorists and pedestrians safe. Leading the initiative against distracted driving.
-Acting Sergeant K. Hildebrand, Constable L. Randell and Constable C. Notte: Bravery in handling a very dangerous situation.
A number of individuals will be recognized this afternoon (Tuesday, October 22nd) as the Provincial Police in northwestern Ontario hold their annual Awards banquet.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique will be handing out the awards.
The Northwest Emergency Response Team will be honoured at the ceremony.
Members of the team responded to a vehicle in the ditch, where the driver advised he had a gun.
After an extensive stand-off, officers approached the vehicle, but the driver set himself and the vehicle on fire.
Officers managed to get him medical treatment.
Also a civilian OPP employee in Kenora will be recognized for 40 years of service.
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