NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE
Release date: Monday, March 17, 2014
NOJHL announces 3 Stars of the week
SUDBURY – Quarter-final action in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs is underway and a trio of players, who contributed to their respective clubs’ early postseason success, have been recognized with 3 Stars of the week laurels for the period ending March 16.
Blind River Beavers goaltender Jessie Morin, Espanola Rivermen forward and team captain Brad Edwards along with Kirkland Lake Gold Miners defenceman Luke Meade all garnered laurels for their on-ice efforts.
JESSIE MORIN, (G) BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – In two playoff starts over the weekend the 18-year-old Haileybury, Ont., product was impressive backstopping his club to a surprise victory over No. 1 ranked Sault Ste. Marie Saturday while his efforts Sunday gave his side a chance to almost pull off another postseason shocker.
Morin began by stopping 34 of the 36 shots he faced to help lead Blind River to a 3-2 stunner as the Beavers knocked off the hometown Thunderbirds at Essar Centre.
He was then peppered with 50 more shots Sunday in a narrow 3-2 setback as his efforts kept his team in it right until the end.
His .942 save percentage tops all NOJHL netminders in the playoffs through two games per team.
BRAD EDWARDS, (F) ESPANOLA RIVERMEN – The leader of the Rivermen came through in a big way for Espanola to help put his side up 2-0 in their best-of-seven affair with Sudbury heading into game 3 tonight at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff at 7:30 p.m. by registering five points on a pair of tallies and three assists.
The 20-year-old native of Napanee, Ont., started off by scoring once and setting up another as Espanola doubled up the Nickel Barons 6-3 Friday in the series opener.
Sunday afternoon Edwards contributed again by notching another marker and doling out a couple of helpers as the Rivermen dropped Sudbury 5-2 at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.
LUKE MEADE, (D) KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS – Contributing on both ends of the ice the 18-year-old Gold Miners’ D-man, who hails from Apple Valley, Minn., did his part as Kirkland Lake held serve in their opening two playoff contests at home as the series heads to Mattawa for game 3 tonight at Mike Rodden Arena at 7 p.m.
Friday night Meade buried the game-winner late in the second period as he wired one high past Evan Cormier in what would eventually be a 3-1 Gold Miners triumph.
The following evening he tallied again and was just a couple minutes away from supplying his second straight winning goal as Kirkland Lake trimmed the Trappers 5-2 at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Meade’s two markers in his opening pair of postseason contests is a pleasant surprise for the Gold Miners as he only scored six times in regular season play.
2014 NOJHL Playoffs 3 Stars of the Week recipients
Postseason
Week 1
Jessie Morin, (G) Blind River Beavers
Brad Edwards, (F) Espanola Rivermen
Luke Meade, (D) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
