The Rayside Balfour Jr. A Canadians are making a statement in the NOJHL, winning all seven of their games so far in 2020.
The Canadians scored 25 goals in three wins over the Espanola Express and Elliot Lake Wildcats last week to vault them into a tie for first place in the NOJHL’s Western Division with the Blind River Beavers.
The Canadians were an honourable mention last week in the Canadian Junior Hockey League top 20 team rankings.
The Canadians now have six players in the top 20 in league scoring – the most of any NOJHL team. The Canadians are led in scoring by six forwards including three veterans and three first-year players.
One of the first year players, Matt Belanger leads the team in scoring with 25 goals on the season.
Other top scorers include:
- Nicholas DeGrazia 35 games 22 goals 22 assists 44 points (Sudbury Wolves)
- Mitchell Martin 41 games 18 goals 26 assists 44 points (Kitchener Rangers)
- Brady Maltais 38 games 15 goals 29 assists 44 points (free agent)
- Ben Hatanaka44 games 6 goals 38 assists 44 points (free agent)
- Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis 39 games 16 goals 27 assists 43 points (free agent)
- Matt Belanger 43 games 25 goals 15 assists 40 points (free agent)
Not to be overlooked, first-year players Oliver Smith (Barrie Colts) and Gavin Brown (Guelph Storm) are just a few points back in team scoring with 33 and 31 points respectively.
Zach Snow (free agent), leads the way for the Canadians as the team captain and has garnered 31 points as the team’s highest scoring defenceman.
The Canadians also added Laurentian Voyageurs star forward Brett Jacklin (Sudbury Wolves) to their roster at the Jan. 10 deadline and the Sudbury native has not disappointed with three goals in his first four games played for the Canadians.
Also recently added Giordano Biondi (Sudbury Wolves) has been a welcomed-addition to the team roster with eight goals and 14 points in just 16 games.
Despite all of this scoring punch, the Canadians are expecting to receive another offensive shot-in-the-arm when Zacharie Giroux (Flint Firebirds) and Samuel Vachon (Sudbury Wolves) are expected to return to the lineup in February.
The two OHL-drafted star forwards have been out-of-line-up of late with extended injuries.
The Canadians have been solid in goal with David Bowen (free agent) posting a sizzling 2.78 goals against average and a .918 save percentage in 18 games.
Nicholas Heinzle (Sudbury Wolves) has posted a solid 3.06 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in his first-year of Junior hockey.
Both goaltenders have each recorded 13 wins each on the season thus far.
The winning streak is all on the line this Thursday night at the Chelmsford Arena when the Hearst Lumberjacks visit Chelmsford. Game time is 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door for only $12 or less and the game is sponsored by The Horse Tavern in Chelmsford.
