By Tanner Schafer
Forward of the Month – Dillon Phillips, Wisconsin Lumberjacks
The Wisconsin captain ran away with the award in the month of January scoring 21 points in only 8 games, just 3 points off being a 3 point per game player. His contributions came in the way of 7 goals and 14 assists. In the entire month Phillips only had 2 games where he didn’t score multiple points. His best performances included a 1 goal and 5 assist game against Fort Frances and a 4 point night against Kam River. Throughout the month no one in the league came close to Phillips level of production and he is the clear choice for Forward of the Month.
Honorable Mention -Nolan Fowler, Wisconsin Lumberjacks; Alex Remenda, Thunder Bay North Stars
January Winner – Edison Weeks, Thunder Bay North Stars
December Winner – Aiden Corbett, Red Lake Miners
November Winner – Edison Weeks, Thunder Bay North Stars
October Winner – Max Roby, Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Defencemen of the Month – Blake Hiltermann, Red Lake Miners
Hiltermann is the 2nd Red Lake player to win this award after Gabe Tanton secured it in January. Hiltermann was great on the defensive end but stood out with his offense as he was the highest scoring defenceman in the league in February. Hiltermann had scored 6 goals and picked up 4 helpers in 8 games played. Hiltermann was a big contributor on special teams as 3 of his goals came on the power play. Blake was also a clutch scorer as again 3 of his goals would be game winners.
Honorable Mention – Kaden Veller, Sioux Lookout Bombers; Ryan Kayser, Wisconsin Lumberjacks
January Winner – Gabe Tanton, Red Lake Miners
December Winner – Dayvan Bull, Sioux Lookout Bombers
November Winner – Dayvan Bull, Sioux Lookout Bombers
October Winner – Nolan Palmer, Sioux Lookout Bombers
Goalie of the Month – Ashton Sadauskas, Kam River Fighting Walleye
The SIJHL goalie of the month was the most contested award for the month of February but Sadauskas prevailed to win the award for the 2nd time. He joins Matthew Spencer-Dahl of Sioux Lookout as the only goalies to win the award multiple times this year. Also the 2 players have won the award every month this season outside of October. Sadauskas stood out leading goalies in minutes played 302 and wins (perfect 5-0-0). 2 wins game against cross town rivals Thunder Bay and he had a huge win on the road at Sioux Lookout which might prove to be the game that the Fighting Walleye look back on as being critical to a first place finish. Sadauskas had a 2.98 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in the month.
Honorable Mention – Ewan Soutar, Dryden GM Ice Dogs; Jack Osmond, Sioux Lookout Bombers
January Winner – Matthew Spencer-Dahl, Sioux Lookout Bombers
December Winner – Ashton Sadauskas, Kam River Fighting Walleye
November Winner – Matthew Spencer-Dahl, Sioux Lookout Bombers
October Winner – Keenan Marks, Thunder Bay North Stars
Rookie of the Month – Nolan Fowler, Wisconsin Lumberjacks
The Lumberjacks young core is settling in nicely and it shows as the team has claimed their 3rd straight Rookie of the Month Award. This is the 2nd time that Fowler has claimed the award, also winning it in December. Collin Baker was the other Wisconsin player to claim the honors doing so in January. Fowler was just off a 2 point per game pace as he had 6 goals and 9 assists in 8 contests. The young forward is benefitting greatly from the Lumberjacks changing up their lines and has created a formidable duo with Dillon Phillips that has seen both of them win monthly awards in February.
Honorable Mention – Owen Cotter, Sioux Lookout Bomber; Easton Mikus, Thunder Bay North Stars
January Winner – Collin Baker, Wisconsin Lumberjacks
December Winner – Nolan Fowler, Wisconsin Lumberjacks
November Winner – Easton Mikus, Thunder Bay North Stars
October Winner- Carter Poddubny, Kam River Fighting Walleye