SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Lakers’ Willner named SIJHL’s most sportsmanlike player
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday that Fort Frances Lakers forward Andrew Willner has been named the SIJHL’s most sportsmanlike player for the 2015-16 season.
Willner narrowly earned the laurels over fellow most sportsmanlike player nominees Kyle Carignan of the Minnesota Iron Rangers and Kenny Turner of the Thunder Bay North Stars in voting completed by each of the league’s member clubs.
Skating in 52 contests for Fort Frances during the course of the 2015-16 campaign, the New Brighton, Minn., product incurred only five minor penalties in total, including just two in his final 25 games played.
Willner also contributed offensively in a big way for the Lakers finishing fourth in SIJHL offensive production with 58 points on 22 goals and 36 assists.
He also supplied eight power play markers, one more while shorthanded and three game-winning tallies.
Willner becomes the fourth player from a Fort Frances-based franchise to garner league most sportsmanlike player accolades.
Jacob Nolan won the award for the Lakers back in 2012-13 as did Tyler Stevenson in 2010-11 while former Borderland Thunder forward A.J. Tucker was a co-recipient back in 2002-03.
The following are the SIJHL’s all-time most sportsmanlike player award honourees:
2015-16: Andrew Willner, Fort Frances Lakers
2014-15: Evan Erickson, Minnesota Iron Rangers
2013-14: Matthias Gardiman, Thunder Bay North Stars
2012-13: Jacob Nolan, Fort Frances Lakers
2011-12: Dane Morin, Sioux Lookout Flyers
2010-11: Tyler Stevenson, Fort Frances Lakers
2009-10: Mike Lennon, Dryden Ice Dogs
2008-09: Joel Langevin, Fort William North Stars
2007-08: Michael Thibert, Thunder Bay Bulldogs
2006-07: Justin Gvora, Thunder Bay Bearcats (Co-winner)
2006-07: Josh Slobodian, Fort William North Stars (Co-winner)
2005-06: Tyler Tesh, Dryden Ice Dogs
2004-05: Steve Atkins, Fort William North Stars
2003-04: Joel Poshtar, Dryden Ice Dogs
2002-03: A.J. Tucker, Borderland Thunder (Co-winner)
2002-03: Eric Robin, K&A Golden Hawks (Co-winner)
2001-02: Charlie Washipabano, Featherman Hawks