CALGARY, Alberta – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced today the five finalists for the 2015 Top Goaltender Award. The award will recognize the most outstanding goaltender in the CJHL based on individual performance during the regular season.
Each of the 10 leagues within the CJHL selected a nominee for the Goaltender of the Year honour. Following the initial round of voting, five players qualified as finalists for the award and will now advance to the final stage of the selection process. The five finalists for the Top Goaltender honour represent the AJHL, BCHL, CCHL, MJHL and SJHL as listed below:
Nick Derry, Steinbach Pistons, MJHL (47 GP, 30 W – 15 L – 2.27 GAA – .922 S% – 5 SO)
Nick was a workhorse for the Pistons. His 2,798 minutes played was a league high. He also led all MJHL goaltenders in shutouts with a total of five. The native of La Crosse, WI., committed to the University of Minnesota Duluth earlier in the season. Twice named the MJHL’s Recycle Everywhere Player of the Week, Nick capped his season by capturing the league’s top goaltender award, in addition to a first-team all-star selection.
Hunter Miska, Penticton Vees, BCHL (46 GP, 34 W – 9 L – 3 T – 1.88 GAA – .931 S% – 5 SO)
Miska led the BCHL in most goaltending categories including save percentage and goals-against average and tied for the lead in wins and shutouts. He was the CJHL 1st Star of the Month in October after posting a 9-0 mark and 1.08 goals-against average for the month. He took the BCHL Top Goaltender award and shared the Top Goalie Tandem award with Brendan Barry. Miska is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Nic Renyard, Okotoks Oilers, AJHL (43 GP, 30 W – 3 L – 8 T – 2.19 GAA – .924 S% – 5 SO)
Okotoks Oilers goaltender Nic Renyard was the 2014-2015 AJHL Most Valuable Player and Top Goaltender. The 20 year-old goaltender is wrapping up a record setting regular season for the Oilers and led all AJHL goaltenders in the areas of wins and save percentage. Renyard set a new franchise record for most shutouts and set the single season franchise record for lowest goals against average as well. The Victoria, BC goaltender joined the Oilers from the BCHL in September 2014 and kicked off the season by recording 13 games without a regulation loss (12-0-1). Throughout the season, Nic amassed two 7+ game winning streaks. Renyard was the recipient of the Viterra AJHL Player of the Game five times, and was also named as the Alberta Dodge Dealers AJHL Player of the Month in October 2014 when he posted a 8-0 record. Renyard has committed to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen of the NCAA Division I Hockey East Conference.
Guillaume Therien, Carleton Place Canadians, CCHL (37 GP, 29 W – 3 L – 2 OTL – 1 SOL – 2.08 GAA – .924 S% – 4 SO)
Guillaume definitely built on the success of his 2013-2014 season, a season where he led the CCHL in wins, posted a 2.50 GAA, was named top goaltender at the Fred Page Cup and led the Canadians to the Championship Game of the RBC Cup. This year Guillaume has continued his stellar play and has been rewarded by being named the CCHL’s Goalie of the Year. Statistically Guillaume has taken his game to a new level and the Canadians have benefited significantly. He led all CCHL starters with a 2.08 GAA and a stellar save percentage of .924. All this has translated into a 29 win season against only 3 losses with 4 shutouts. Guillaume’s efforts and success this year earned him a CCHL Player of the Week, and was a two-time CCHL Player of the Month. He also received, and accepted, an offer to continue his education and hockey career at Niagara University starting in the 2015-2016 season.
Evan Weninger, Kindersley Klippers, SJHL (41 GP, 27 W – 10 L – 2 SOL – 2.06 GAA – .942 S% – 4 SO)
Evan Weninger (Saskatoon SK) carved out a decent chunk of playing time as a 17-year-old rookie and now he’s, arguably, one of the best 18-year-old Junior ‘A’ goalies in the country. Weninger, who also earned a spot on the Canada West roster for the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, paced the Klippers with a 27-10-and-2 record to go with a 2.06-GAA and an SJHL league leading .942-SPCT. His GAA ranked second in the league and he was third in wins despite missing a month while playing for Canada West.
Congratulations to the following honourable mentions for the CJHL Top Goaltender Award:
- Josh Erickson, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners – NOJHL
- Justin Kapelmaster, Trenton Golden Hawks – OJHL
- Will King, Campbellton Tigers – MHL
- Shawn Ouellet, Sherbrooke Cougars – QJHL
- Nathan Park, Fort Francis Lakers – SIJHL
The Top 5 finalists for all CJHL Awards will be announced over the coming week. The recipient of the 2015 CJHL Goaltender of the Year and all CJHL League Awards will be announced during the week of May 4th-8th.
The Canadian Junior Hockey League recognizes the best Junior A talent from across all 10 Junior A leagues with a suite of national awards. The CJHL awards include Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender and Rookie of the Year. Every Junior A league in the CJHL has submitted a nominee for each award and the winner will be chosen from among those 10 national nominees. The selection panel consists of representatives from each of the CJHL's 10 Junior A leagues and the award winners will be chosen based on a weighted-voting system.