Benincasa, Hennessey and Moxham Named AJHL Weekly Award Winners

The Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week is Spruce Grove Saints Captain Luigi Benincasa.  The Edmonton, AB forward recorded four points, earned two Viterra AJHL Star of the Game awards and scored a game winning goal during three games played.

Benincasa (2002) and the Saints opened the week on December 6^th with a 4-3 win versus the Lloydminster Bobcats.  Luigi picked up an assist in the win and the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game.  The Saints shutout the South Division’s top team on December 6^th with a 2-0 win over the Brooks Bandits.  Benincasa added an assist on the first goal of the game which was the eventual game winner. On December 10^th, Luigi scored his third game winning goal of the season and recorded his 24^th assist of the season in a 3-2 victory versus the Calgary Canucks.  He was awarded his second Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award of the week.

The Ferris State University (NCAA) commit is tied for the lead in team scoring with 37 points (13G, 24A) and 12^th in AJHL Scoring Leaders.  The Saints are 8-1-1 (W-L-OTL) in their last ten games and sit on top of the Viterra AJHL North Division.

 Blackfalds Bulldogs goaltender Matthew Hennessey is the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week.  The 2002-born netminder posted a 2-0 record and a stingy 1.46 GAA during the week of December 5^th-11^th, 2022.

Hennessey (Warman, SK) made 31 saves on December 9^th to defeat the host Camrose Kodiaks 3-2 in overtime and take the first game of a home and home series.  On December 10^th, the Bulldogs defeated the visiting Kodiaks 5-1 with Hennessey turning away 34 of 35 shots on goal in the victory.

Matthew is in his second full AJHL season, his first with the Bulldogs, and is among the AJHL’s Top 10 in both save percentage (.904%) and goals against average (2.96 GAA).  The Bulldogs hold third place in the Viterra AJHL South Division just past the halfway mark of the regular season.

The Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week is Cade Moxham of the Olds Grizzlys.  The 2004-born forward compiled five points (1G, 4A) last week on a three-game road trip through the North Division.

The Grizzlys began the North swing with a 4-2 win in Whitecourt on December 9^th and a two-point game for Moxham with two assists.  On December 10^th, Cade recorded his second consecutive multi-point game with a goal and an assist in 5-2 victory in Grande Prairie.  The rookie scored his third short-handed goal of the season and was awarded as the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game.  The Grizzlys dropped the final game of the trip 4-1 in Sherwood Park on December 11^th with Moxham adding an assist on the lone goal for Olds.

Cade Moxham (Calgary, AB) is now in the Top 15 of rookie scoring with 21 points (9G, 12A).

Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week Recipients:

• September 16^th-25^th, 2022: Brett Meerman, Blackfalds Bulldogs
• September 26^th-October 2^nd, 2022: Cody Pisarczyk, Spruce Grove Saints
• October 3^rd-9^th, 2022: Cooper Smyl, Whitecourt Wolverines
• October 10^th-16^th, 2022: Tyler Wallace, Blackfalds Bulldogs
• October 17^th-23^rd, 2022: Aiden Fink, Brooks Bandits
• October 24^th-30^th, 2022: Kayden Smith, Canmore Eagles
• October 31^st-November 6^th, 2022: Ty Daneault, Drumheller Dragons
• November 7^th-13^th, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
• November 14^th-20^th, 2022: Aiden Fink, Brooks Bandits
• November 21^st-27^th, 2022: Elliot Dutil, Brooks Bandits
• November 28^th-December 4^th, 2022: Justin Barker, Calgary Canucks
• December 5^th-11^th, 2022: Luigi Benincasa, Spruce Grove Saints

Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week:

• September 16^th-25^th, 2022: Caleb MacDonald, Whitecourt Wolverines
• September 26^th-October 2^nd, 2022: Nick Wolfenberg, Okotoks Oilers
• October 3^rd-9^th, 2022: Tanner Willick, Blackfalds Bulldogs
• October 10^th-16^th, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
• October 17^th-23^rd, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
• October 24^th-30^th, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
• October 31^st-November 6^th, 2022: Rylan Brown, Okotoks Oilers
• November 7^th-13^th, 2022: Nick Wolfenberg, Okotoks Oilers
• November 14^th-20^th, 2022: Connor Mackenzie, Grande Prairie Storm
• November 21^st-27^th, 2022: Jack Budd, Bonnyville Pontiacs
• November 28^th-December 4^th, 2022: Jordan MacFarlane, Calgary Canucks
• December 5^th-11^th, 2022: Matthew Hennessey, Blackfalds Bulldogs

 Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week:

• September 16^th-25^th, 2022: Ben Aucoin, Lloydminster Bobcats
• September 26^th-October 2^nd, 2022: Jacob Cossette, Spruce Grove Saints
• October 3^rd-9^th, 2022: Rhett Dekowny, Canmore Eagles
• October 10^th-16^th, 2022: Callan Budinger, Sherwood Park Crusaders
• October 17^th-23^rd, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
• October 24^th-30^th, 2022: Hudson Malinoski, Brooks Bandits
• October 31^st-November 6^th, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
• November 7^th-13^th, 2022: David Clarke, Olds Grizzlys
• November 14^th-20^th, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
• November 21^st-27^th, 2022: Gavin Middendorf, Drayton Valley Thunder
• November 28^th-December 4^th, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
• December 5^th-11^th, 2022: Cade Moxham, Olds Grizzlys