OKOTOKS, AB – Okotoks Oilers forward Rieger Lorenz (Calgary, AB) has won the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top Rookie Award for 2021-22, the league announced today.
Lorenz was named the best first-year player in the nine Canadian Junior A leagues that comprise the CJHL following voting by the participating leagues.
He is the first Oiler to ever win the award, and the fifth Oiler to win a CJHL national award since they were created in 2014-15, after Top Goaltender winners Nic Renyard (14-15) and Riley Morris (17-18), Top Defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker (17-18), and Coach of the Year Tyler Deis (17-18).
Named to the AJHL’s All-League Team for the South Division, as well as its All-Rookie team, and named winner of the Dick White Trophy as AJHL Rookie of the Year, Lorenz set franchise records for points and goals by a rookie this season with 85 points (38 goals, 47 assists) in 60 games this season, adding 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) in 14 playoff games as the Oilers advanced from the #4 seed to reach the AJHL South Final for the fifth consecutive season. His 85 points were the fifth highest overall total in the league.
The University of Denver commit then scored 4 assists in 4 games for Team Canada at the IIHF World U18 Hockey Championship, which helped lead to his advancing to a #17 ranking among North American skaters for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, in the final rankings by NHL Central Scouting.