SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Monday, March 6, 2017

Photo credit: Joey Payeur, Fort Frances Times

Miners’ Lenko named SIJHL’s Play It Again Sports player of the week

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Monday that English River Miners goaltender Michael Lenko has been named its Play It Again Sports player of the week for the period ending March 5.

In three starts last week, the 19-year-old Gabriola, B.C., product won all of them helping vault English River into third place in the league standings and within two points of a share of second spot.

Lenko began turning in a stellar 45-save performance to post his first SIJHL shutout, in a 1-0 goaltender’s duel over the Thief River Falls Norskies Thursday.

One night later he turned aside 38 of the 39 shots fired his way in a 4-1 triumph over the Norskies.

The Miners’ netminder then made his third start in a 48-hour span and stopped 29 of 33 in a narrow 5-4 decision over visiting Thief River Falls at Cochenour Arena.

In all Lenko faced 117 shots during the week and posted a solid 1.67 goals-against average along with a stingy .957 save percentage.

On the season the English River stopper sits tied for second in the league in wins with 20, third in average at 2.84 and second with a .921 save mark.

Lenko has also come away victorious in his past five appearances as well as in nine of his previous 11.

Also earning consideration for Play It Again Sports player of the week honours were the following:

Jordan Elliott, (G) Thunder Bay North Stars; Patrick Zubick, (G) Dryden GM Ice Dogs; Ryan Buttazzoni, (G) Thief River Falls Norskies; Sean Angle, (G) Minnesota Iron Rangers and Ryan Gazich, (D) Fort Frances Lakers.

SIJHL – Play It Again Sports players of the week

Week 1: Eric Stout, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs

Week 2: Nicholas Nigro, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars

Week 3: Sidney Gladue, (F) English River Miners

Week 4: Cory Dennis, (D) Dryden GM Ice Dogs

Week 5: Spencer Eschyschyn, (G) English River Miners

Week 6: Austin Kuhn, (F) English River Miners

Week 7: Brad Arabia, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars

Week 8: Brandon Zajicek, (D) Fort Frances Lakers

Week 9: Nic Noseworthy, (D) Dryden GM Ice Dogs

Week 10: Keaton Huot, (F) Thief River Falls Norskies

Week 11: Brad Arabia, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars

Week 12: Ryan Walsh, (D) Thunder Bay North Stars

Week 13: Braeden Allkins, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs

Week 14: Kross Braaten, (G) Thief River Falls Norskies

Week 15: Michael Lenko, (G) English River Miners

Week 16: Braedyn Aubin, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs

Week 17: Jacen Bracko, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs

Week 18: Jordan Elliot, (G) Thunder Bay North Stars

Week 19: Ryan Buttazzoni, (G) Thief River Falls Norskies

Week 20: Ben Dennis, (G) Dryden GM Ice Dogs

Week 21: Jamie Driedger, (F) English River Miners

Week 22: Michael Lenko, (G) English River Miners