Photo Credit – Cindy Tookey:
The Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week is Christiano Aiello of the Whitecourt Wolverines with nine points and two Viterra AJHL Star of the Game awards through the week of September 27th to October 3rd, 2021.
Aiello (Calgary, AB) earned the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award in a 7-1 win over the Grande Prairie Storm on September 28th with a five-point (2G, 3A) game. Christiano recorded four points at the AJHL Showcase beginning with two assists in a 6-3 victory over the Okotoks Oilers on October 2nd. He then opened the scoring for the Wolverines in a 6-3 win over the Canmore Eagles the next morning, before adding an assist and receiving his second Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award of the week.
The 20 year-old forward leads the Wolverines in scoring with 13 points (3G, 10A) to start his third AJHL season after spending the previous two with the Calgary Canucks.
Wolverines teammate Thomas Vela has been selected as the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week with five points (3G, 2A) to wrap up Showcase Week.
Vela (Burnaby, BC) opened the scoring and added a second goal for a three-point performance in the September 28th triumph over the Storm, including an assist on the eventual game winner in a 7-1 final. In his first AJHL Showcase appearance, the 19 year-old forward recorded the game winning goal in a 6-3 win over Okotoks on October 2nd and an assist in the 6-3 win over Canmore in his second game of the event.
The Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week is Olds Grizzlys blueliner Joshua Zinger. With four points in two games at the AJHL Showcase, Zinger is now third among all AJHL defencemen in scoring with eight points (3G, 5A).
The Olds Grizzlys suffered a 6-5 overtime loss to the Lloydminster Bobcats in their opening game of the Showcase in which Zinger recorded a goal and an assist. The Grizzlys would take their revenge with a 4-3 overtime win versus the Bonnyville Pontiacs in their second game of the Showcase and a repeat two-point performance for Zinger with a goal and an assist. The 20 year-old from Red Deer, AB is in his second season with the Grizzlys and currently sits second in team scoring.
Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week Recipients:
- September 17-19, 2021 – Caiden Gault, Spruce Grove Saints
- September 20-26, 2021 – Mitchell Joss, Sherwood Park Crusaders
- September 27-October 3, 2021 – Christiano Aiello, Whitecourt Wolverines
Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week:
- September 17-19, 2021 – Brendan Kennette, Brooks Bandits
- September 20-26, 2021 – Brett McKinley, Spruce Grove Saints
- September 27-October 3, 2021 – Joshua Zinger, Olds Grizzlys
Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week:
- September 17-19, 2021 – Carson Whyte, Camrose Kodiaks
- September 20-26, 2021 – Logan Hauer, Sherwood Park Crusaders
- September 27-October 3, 2021 – Thomas Vela, Olds Grizzlys
