Drumheller Dragons Captain Sam Simard is the Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week after scoring eight-points (3G, 5A) in three games from January 23rd-29th. Simard and the Dragons extended their win streak to six games and clinched a playoff spot with three consecutive wins last week.
Simard (Okotoks, AB) recorded three multi-point games to extend his active point streak to six games, starting with a 3-0 win over the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Hockey Hookey Day in Drumheller. The 2002-born forward was in on all three Dragons goals with a goal and two assists.
On January 27th, Drumheller defeated the visiting Blackfalds Bulldogs 7-3 with Simard scoring a goal and an assist in the win. Drumheller would then record their second shutout of the week on January 28th in an 8-0 final versus the Canmore Eagles. Simard scored his 18th goal and 26th assist of the season to bring his season total to 44 points.
The Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week is goaltender Ryan Manzella with a 2-0 record and a shutout for his Sherwood Park Crusaders.
On January 26th, the rookie goaltender posted a 5-0 shutout versus the Camrose Kodiaks, his third of the season, by stopping all 26 shots on goal and earned the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game. Manzella (2004) held the Drayton Valley Thunder to just a single goal, making 32 saves on January 28th in a 5-1 victory.
The Sherwood Park Crusaders clinched a playoff spot in the Viterra AJHL North Division with the victories.
The Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week is Spencer Rheaume of the Whitecourt Wolverines. The 2005-born forward picked up five points (1G, 4A) in back-to-back wins at home versus divisional rivals.
Rheaume (Beaverlodge, AB) opened the scoring on January 25th to lead the way to a 5-3 victory over the Grande Prairie Storm. On January 28th, the rookie was awarded the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game award with a season-high four-point performance as he recorded assists on four goals in a 5-3 win versus the Lloydminster Bobcats.
The Wolverines sit second in the Viterra AJHL North Division with a playoff berth confirmed.
Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week Recipients:
- September 16th-25th, 2022: Brett Meerman, Blackfalds Bulldogs
- September 26th-October 2nd, 2022: Cody Pisarczyk, Spruce Grove Saints
- October 3rd-9th, 2022: Cooper Smyl, Whitecourt Wolverines
- October 10th-16th, 2022: Tyler Wallace, Blackfalds Bulldogs
- October 17th-23rd, 2022: Aiden Fink, Brooks Bandits
- October 24th-30th, 2022: Kayden Smith, Canmore Eagles
- October 31st-November 6th, 2022: Ty Daneault, Drumheller Dragons
- November 7th-13th, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
- November 14th-20th, 2022: Aiden Fink, Brooks Bandits
- November 21st-27th, 2022: Elliot Dutil, Brooks Bandits
- November 28th-December 4th, 2022: Justin Barker, Calgary Canucks
- December 5th-11th, 2022: Luigi Benincasa, Spruce Grove Saints
- December 12th-18th, 2022: Jesse Burchart, Fort McMurray Oil Barons
- December 29th-January 8th, 2023: Callum Cau, Camrose Kodiaks
- January 9th-15th, 2023: Brock Krulicki, Lloydminster Bobcats
- January 16th-22nd, 2023: Noah Danielson, Drumheller Dragons
- January 23rd– 29th, 2023: Sam Simard, Drumheller Dragons
Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week:
- September 16th-25th, 2022: Caleb MacDonald, Whitecourt Wolverines
- September 26th-October 2nd, 2022: Nick Wolfenberg, Okotoks Oilers
- October 3rd-9th, 2022: Tanner Willick, Blackfalds Bulldogs
- October 10th-16th, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
- October 17th-23rd, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
- October 24th-30th, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
- October 31st-November 6th, 2022: Rylan Brown, Okotoks Oilers
- November 7th-13th, 2022: Nick Wolfenberg, Okotoks Oilers
- November 14th-20th, 2022: Connor Mackenzie, Grande Prairie Storm
- November 21st-27th, 2022: Jack Budd, Bonnyville Pontiacs
- November 28th-December 4th, 2022: Jordan MacFarlane, Calgary Canucks
- December 5th-11th, 2022: Matthew Hennessey, Blackfalds Bulldogs
- December 12th-18th, 2022: Dominic Payne, Sherwood Park Crusaders
- December 29th-January 8th, 2023: Morgan Brady, Spruce Grove Saints
- January 9th-15th, 2023: Breck McKinley, Spruce Grove Saints
- January 16th-22nd, 2023: Bodee Weiss, Bonnyville Pontiacs
- January 23rd– 29th, 2023: Ryan Manzella, Sherwood Park Crusaders
Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week:
- September 16th-25th, 2022: Ben Aucoin, Lloydminster Bobcats
- September 26th-October 2nd, 2022: Jacob Cossette, Spruce Grove Saints
- October 3rd-9th, 2022: Rhett Dekowny, Canmore Eagles
- October 10th-16th, 2022: Callan Budinger, Sherwood Park Crusaders
- October 17th-23rd, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
- October 24th-30th, 2022: Hudson Malinoski, Brooks Bandits
- October 31st-November 6th, 2022: Sam Court, Brooks Bandits
- November 7th-13th, 2022: David Clarke, Olds Grizzlys
- November 14th-20th, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
- November 21st-27th, 2022: Gavin Middendorf, Drayton Valley Thunder
- November 28th-December 4th, 2022: Nicolas Beaudoin, Bonnyville Pontiacs
- December 5th-11th, 2022: Cade Moxham, Olds Grizzlys
- December 12th-18th, 2022: Gavin Middendorf, Drayton Valley Thunder
- December 29th-January 8th, 2023: Layne Loomer, Blackfalds Bulldogs
- January 9th-15th, 2023: Brock Souch, Sherwood Park Crusaders
- January 16th-22nd, 2023: Kurt Gurkan, Blackfalds Bulldogs
- January 23rd– 29th, 2023: Spencer Rheaume, Whitecourt Wolverines
