Photo Credit – Em Duncan Photography:
Olds Grizzlys Captain, Noah Hackett, has been named the Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week for the second time this month after leading the league with seven points (3G, 4A) from October 18th – 24th, 2021.
Hackett (Ponoka, AB) entered the week on a six-game point streak, but was held off the scoresheet in a 4-0 loss to the Canmore Eagles on October 19th. He quickly rebounded with a three-point game on October 22nd, picking up three assists in a narrow 5-4 loss to the Camrose Kodiaks. On October 23rd, Hackett earned his eighth Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award with his second four-point game of the season. The Grizzlys fell 7-4 to the visiting Spruce Grove Saints as the third-year Grizzly had a hand in all four goals for Olds with a hat trick and an assist.
The 19 year-old forward leads the team in scoring with 28 points (13G, 15A) and is tied for second in AJHL Scoring.
The Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week is Spruce Grove Saints goaltender Zac Onyskiw. The 17-year-old rookie earned his first AJHL shutout and posted a 3-0 record last week.
Onyskiw (Edmonton, AB) and the Saints shutout the Drayton Valley Thunder 4-0 on October 19th as Zac stopped all 29 shots on goal. On October 22nd, Spruce Grove defeated the crosstown Sherwood Park Crusaders 3-1 with Onyskiw allowing just one goal on 22 shots. A 7-4 win over Olds on October 23rd marked a fourth consecutive win for the Saints who sit atop the Viterra AJHL North Division. Zac now sits 7-2-0 on the season and is in the Top 10 for GAA among AJHL goaltenders.
Okotoks Oilers forward, Rieger Lorenz, is the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week with five points (1G, 4A) and a Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award.
The 17-year-old rookie added three assists in a 4-3 loss to the Lloydminster Bobcats on Friday, October 22nd. The following night, he recorded another two points with a goal and an assist in his eighth multi-point game of the season as the Oilers fell short 3-2 to the Whitecourt Wolverines. Rieger earned his second Viterra AJHL Star of the Game selection in Saturday’s game.
Lorenz (Calgary, AB) is currently second in team scoring and third among AJHL rookie scorers with 21 points (8G, 13A) in 14 games. He is committed to the University of Denver (NCAA Division I).
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
- October 4-10, 2021: Noah Hackett, Olds Grizzlys
- October 11-17, 2021: Ryan McAllister, Brooks Bandits
- October 18-24, 2021: Noah Hackett, Olds Grizzlys
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
- October 4-10, 2021: Austin Zavoda, Okotoks Oilers
- October 11-17, 2021: Zach Bookman, Brooks Bandits
- October 18-24, 2021: Zac Onyskiw, Spruce Grove Saints
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
- October 4-10, 2021: Bowden Singleton, Okotoks Oilers
- October 11-17, 2021: Ryder Matter, Brooks Bandits
- October 18-24, 2021: Rieger Lorenz, Okotoks Oilers