SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Iron Rangers’ Austin Frank named Gongshow Gear best defenceman winner
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Wednesday that Austin Frank of the Minnesota Iron Rangers has been named the Gongshow Gear best defenceman award recipient for the 2013-14 season.
Frank edged out fellow finalists Cody Wickstrom of the Fort Frances Lakers and Tim Cavar of the Thunder Bay North Stars for the accolades in voting done by each of the SIJHL member clubs.
The 20-year-old blueliner, who hails from DeForest, Wis., was solid defensively helping his side allow the second fewest goals against in the SIJHL this season at 180.
Frank was also a force offensively during the campaign as well as he led both his team and SIJHL defencemen in points with 42. He also topped all league D-Men in goals with 15.
His offensive totals set new personal single season highs in tallies, assists and points.
Frank will be recognized for his efforts with a gift package courtesy of Gongshow Gear Inc., the SIJHL’s official lifestyle hockey apparel partner and sponsor of the league’s best defenceman award.
The following is the list of the all-time SIJHL best defenceman award recipients:
2013-14: Austin Frank, Minnesota Iron Rangers
2012-13: Len Pelletier, Dryden Ice Dogs
2011-12: Anthony Calabrese, Wisconsin Wilderness
2010-11: Jon Mitchell, Dryden Ice Dogs
2009-10: Jon Mitchell, Dryden Ice Dogs
2008-09: Brad Pawlowski, Thunder Bay Bearcats
2007-08: Brad Pawlowski, Thunder Bay Bearcats
2006-07: Jordan Smith, Fort William North Stars
2005-06: Ryan Baird, Fort William North Stars
2004-05: Ryan Baird, Fort William North Stars
2003-04: Kurt Hogard, Borderland Thunder
2002-03: Jay Philips, Borderland Thunder (Co-winner)
2002-03: Lloyd Stansell, Thunder Bay Bulldogs (Co-winner)
2001-02: Mike Kavanaugh, Dryden Ice Dogs (Co-winner)
2001-02: Jarris Blacksmith, Featherman Hawks (Co-winner)
ABOUT GONGSHOW GEAR INC.
Founded in 2002 by three teammates in the Central Junior “A” Hockey League after identifying the need for a hockey apparel brand that would accurately represent the exciting and exclusive lifestyle that hockey players live. Gongshow was the first Lifestyle Hockey Apparel brand in the world to hit the market in 2002, and this game changing company has since grown into the largest hockey lifestyle clothing brand in the world – selling in over 500 retail locations, in 15 countries internationally, and has hailed comparisons to such pioneering lifestyle brands as Billabong (Surfing Lifestyle), and Burton (Snowboarding Lifestyle).
COMPANY PROFILE
For more information on Gongshow Gear Inc., visit their website at www.gongshowgear.com or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/gongshowgear or Twitter at twitter.com/gongshowgear.