The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) announced Monday, September 21st that the forward trio of Evan Katic (Timmins Rock); Owen O’Grady (Kirkland Lake Gold Miners) and Sean Gresko (Soo Thunderbirds) have been named its Stars of the Week, for the period ending September 20.
Evan Katic, (F) Timmins Rock – The 17-year-old Katic earned weekly laurels with a career single-game high six points Friday in the Rock’s one-sided victory at Espanola.
There he tallied twice and dished out four assists, including one on the game-winner, as part of the road triumph, helping his club start the campaign at 2-0.
The homegrown product of the Timmins Majors U18 AAA system averaged just over a point-per-game in the Great North Hockey League in his minor hockey days from 2023-25.
Owen O’Grady, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners – O’Grady was instrumental in each of Kirkland Lake’s two wins over the weekend.
The 20-year-old from Brampton, Ontario’s notched the deciding marker in the Gold Miners’ home-ice triumph vs. Blind River Friday and also dished out an assist in that matchup. He then followed that up by generating the play that led to the overtime winner versus Iroquois Falls on Saturday.
Tied for the team lead in scoring with five in three outings, O’Grady is in his second season with Kirkland Lake after coming out of the Mississauga Rebels U18AAA and the Brampton 45’s U16 & U14 AAA programs.
Sean Gresko, (F) Soo Thunderbirds – Leading the Thunderbirds to a 4-0 start early on the year, Gresko doled out four points over the weekend in a pair of home-ice results for Sault Ste. Marie.
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the 18-year-old forward had a goal and a pair of helpers, that featured setting up the game-winner, in a big result over the rival Soo Eagles. He then ran an early point streak to four with an assist in a win against Elliot Lake.
Coming out of a pair of Chicago U18 AAA organizations, and the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals system before that, Gresko currently tops the Thunderbirds in offensive production with seven points, which is just one off the NOJHL rookie scoring lead.
NOJHL 3 Stars
Week 1
Dalton Hoornstra, (G) Soo Eagles
Felix Sapay, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
Kieran Prichett, (F) Elliot Lake Vikings
Week 2
Evan Katic, (F) Timmins Rock
Owen O’Grady, (F) Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Sean Gresko, (F) Soo Thunderbirds
