The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) announced Monday, November 10th that goaltender Jace Knoerle (Soo Eagles) as well as forwards James Legler (Soo Thunderbirds) and Brant Romaniuk (Timmins Rock) have been named its Stars of the Week for the period ending November 9.
Jace Knoerle, (G) Soo Eagles – Getting the starting nod in each of the Eagles’ two games over the weekend, Knoerle won both for Sault Ste. Marie.
For the 19-year-old native of Roscoe, Illinois, he only allowed two pucks to get by him to wrap up the time frame with a solid 1.00 goals-against average and an equally stellar .975 save percentage in home ice triumphs versus Kirkland Lake and Greater Sudbury.
After joining the Eagles out of the Madison Capitols AAA system in Wisconsin last season, Knoerle has 22 NOJHL victories to his credit while going 3-1-0-0 in his past four starts.
James Legler, (F) Soo Thunderbirds – Hailing from Beaconsfield, Quebec, the 20-year-old Legler led the Thunderbirds to back-to-back triumphs versus Blind River and Kirkland Lake last week.
He started with the game-winning goal and an assist over the Beavers Friday, then tacked on two more tallies and dished out a pair of helpers, featuring one on the deciding marker vs. the Gold Miners the following night.
With four multi-point efforts in a row to his credit, the former Ontario Hockey Academy forward had moved into the T-Birds’ scoring lead with 29 points and now sits ninth overall among all NOJHL skaters on 11 goals and 18 assists.
Brant Romaniuk, (F) Timmins Rock – Continuing to shine for his hometown Timmins side, the 18-year-old Romaniuk racked up four points in his club’s lone match-up, a road win in Iroquois Falls Sunday.
This included a second period natural hat trick in under a 14-minute span, highlighted by a sharp shorthanded effort, which was the game-winner. He also chipped in with an assist as well.
An alumnus of the North Bay Trappers minor hockey program, Romaniuk is riding a seven-game point streak heading into the new week and has only been held of the game sheet once in his previous 16 outings to sit tied for third in the league in goals (17) and sixth in total points (34).
NOJHL 3 Stars
Week 1
Anthony Boyes, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Joseph Coates, (F) Espanola Paper Kings
Glen McInnes, (G) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Week 2
Ty McKay, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Brant Romaniuk, (F) Timmins Rock
Deven Jones-McDonald, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Week 3
Mathieu Comeau, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Cameron Menard, (F) Espanola Paper Kings
Caleb Dawson, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Week 4
Mason Janicki, (G) Blind River Beavers
Mathieu Comeau, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Keiran Caughran, (G) French River Rapids
Week 5
Jax Pereira, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Ayden Mullen, (G) Timmins Rock
Micah Seery, (D) Soo Eagles
Week 6
Mason Walker, (F) Greater Sudbury Cubs
Logan Vale, (G) Espanola Paper Kings
Henry Ouellet, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Week 7
Shea Chornley, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Spencer Horgan, (D) Greater Sudbury Cubs
Frédéric Cousineau, (G) (Timmins Rock)
Week 8
Cameron Menard, (F) Espanola Paper Kings
Daks Klinkhammer, (F) Greater Sudbury Cubs
Kaeden McArthur, (F) Timmins Rock
Week 9
Jace Knoerle, (G) Soo Eagles
James Legler, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Brant Romaniuk, (F) Timmins Rock
Source: NOJHL
