Photo Credit: Pro Sport Photography
The first Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week for the 2021-22 season is Spruce Grove Saints forward Caiden Gault. The 19 year-old recorded 5 points (4G, 1A) in the opening two games of the season, including a hat trick.
Gault (Oakbank, MB) recorded an assist on the first Saints goal of the season on September 17th versus the Sherwood Park Crusaders, then added a goal of his own in a 4-1 win. Caiden Gault scored his first AJHL hat trick and earned the Viterra Star of the Game award the following night with a 5-2 victory and second consecutive win over the Crusaders.
Brooks Bandits defenceman Brendan Kennette has earned the honour of Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week. The Sacred Heart University (NCAA Division I) commit tallied 4 points (3G, 1A) on opening weekend and earned the Viterra Star of the Game award on opening night.
The 19 year-old from Belle River, ON recorded his first AJHL hat trick on September 17th in the inaugural regular season game for the Blackfalds Bulldogs. Kennette and the Bandits amassed a 17-0 triumph in the historic night, which was the largest in team history (previous record was 13-1 vs Canucks on December 11, 2012 and 12-0 vs Grizzlys on October 20, 2018), as well as the largest shutout win in team history. Kennette also notched an assist on September 18th when the Bandits fell 4-3 to the Drumheller Dragons.
The Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week is Carson Whyte of the Camrose Kodiaks. The 19 year-old forward scored 4 goals in a double header versus the Okotoks Oilers to kick off the new season.
Whyte (Regina, SK) scored the first two goals of the 2021-22 campaign for the Kodiaks on September 17th in an eventual 4-2 win. Carson was awarded as the Viterra Star of the Game for his performance. He would also record the only two Camrose goals the following night as the Oilers handed the Kodiaks a 6-2 loss.
Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week Recipients:
- September 17-19, 2021 – Caiden Gault, Spruce Grove Saints
Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week:
- September 17-19, 2021 – Brendan Kennette, Brooks Bandits
Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week:
- September 17-19, 2021 – Carson Whyte, Camrose Kodiaks