GAU, BRADY AND LOOMER OPEN 2023 AS AJHL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

The first Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week for 2023 is Callum Gau of the Camrose Kodiaks.  The hometown Captain recorded nine points (6G, 3A) and was awarded as the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game three times over five games since returning from the holiday break.

Gau (2002) and the Kodiaks returned to action on New Year’s Eve versus the Calgary Canucks.  Gau opened the scoring to record the only Camrose goal in a 5-1 loss and was selected as the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game.  On January 5^th, the Kodiak forward scored two goals and two assists in a season-high four-point game, which included the game winning goal in an 8-5 win over the Canmore Eagles.  Gau earned the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award in the victory.  The Kodiaks shutout the Fort McMurray Oil Barons 3-0 on January 7^th with all three goals coming from a Gau hat trick, including his second game winning goal of the week and a third Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award.

Gau has played five seasons with the Kodiaks and is committed to Augustana University (NCAA).  He is tied for ninth in the AJHL with 20 goals and sits second in team scoring with 33 points (20G, 13A) through 40 games played.

 The Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week is Morgan Brady of the Spruce Grove Saints.  The rookie led all AJHL defencemen with six points (1G, 5A) in four games played from December 29^th, 2022 – January 8^th, 2023.

Brady (Woking, AB) scored the game winning goal and added an assist on December 30^th as the Saints defeated the Sherwood Park Crusaders 5-3.  On January 4^th, the Arizona State University commit posted two assists in a 7-3 win over the Lloydminster Bobcats.  Brady (2005) and the Saints defence core held the Grande Prairie Storm to one goal with an 8-1 victory on January 8^th in Brady’s third two-point game since returning from the holidays.

The Spruce Grove Saints are first in the Viterra AJHL North Division and have gone 15 games without a regulation time loss.

Blackfalds Bulldogs forward Layne Loomer is the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week.  Loomer led all AJHL rookies with seven points (1G, 6A) and two multi-point performances in five games played.

Loomer (Lethbridge, AB) was awarded as the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game on December 30^th with a season-high four-point total (1G, 3A) in an 11-3 win over the Olds Grizzlys.  On New Year’s Eve, the 2005-born Bulldog recorded two assists in a 6-2 victory over the Grizzlys.  Layne added an assist on the opening goal on January 6^th, which would be the eventual game winner in a 4-0 shutout of the Okotoks Oilers.

Layne Loomer is fifth in scoring among AJHL rookies with 32 points (13G, 19A).  The Bulldogs are currently tied with the Okotoks Oilers for second in the Viterra AJHL South Division Standings.

 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
• December 12^th-18^th, 2022: Jesse Burchart, Fort McMurray Oil Barons
• December 29^th-January 8^th, 2023: Callum Cau, Camrose Kodiaks

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
• December 12^th-18^th, 2022: Dominic Payne, Sherwood Park Crusaders
• December 29^th-January 8^th, 2023: Morgan Brady, Spruce Grove Saints

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
• December 12^th-18^th, 2022: Gavin Middendorf, Drayton Valley Thunder
• December 29^th-January 8^th, 2023: Layne Loomer, Blackfalds Bulldogs