The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is pleased to announce its Team of the Week for the period ending Feb. 22.
Forwards
JP Desabrais – Williams Lake Mustangs
Desabrais played a key role in the Mustangs’ dominant weekend. In a 10-0 win over the Sicamous Eagles, he set up the first two goals for Kaelen Swanson before scoring twice himself. He then added an assist on the insurance goal in a 4-1 victory over the Chase Heat. Desabrais averaged 17:54 of ice time and finished +6.
Aidan Hicks – Castlegar Rebels
With the Rebels leading the Grand Forks Border Bruins 2-0, Hicks put the game away with goals in the second and third periods. He continued his strong play against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, assisting on Hudson Makway’s game-winner and adding a helper on the insurance goal in a 4-2 win. Hicks averaged 23:07 of ice time and was +2.
Kaiden Sydenham – Kelowna Chiefs
Sydenham was instrumental in the Chiefs’ weekend sweep of the Revelstoke Grizzlies. He assisted on a key goal in a 3-2 win, then scored the game-winner and added another goal in a 4-1 home victory to cap a three-point weekend. He averaged 18:20 per game and was +2.
Defence
Kaidon Mah – Castlegar Rebels
The 20-year-old blueliner continued his career-best offensive season with strong performances against divisional rivals the Grand Forks Border Bruins and Beaver Valley Nitehawks. Mah recorded two assists, including one on the game-winner, in a 4-0 victory over the Border Bruins. He then opened the scoring in a 4-2 win against the Nitehawks. Mah was +3 while averaging 24:52 of ice time.
Trent Thiessen – Williams Lake Mustangs
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound defenceman more than doubled his season offensive totals in a single night, scoring twice and adding an assist in the Mustangs’ 10-0 win over the Eagles. Thiessen finished +5 and averaged 18:06 of ice time on the weekend. He now has five points on the season, two shy of his rookie year total.
Goalie
Jac Carli – Castlegar Rebels
The former Calgary Buffaloes netminder followed up his Rookie of the Week honour by backstopping the Rebels to wins over the Border Bruins (4-0) and Nitehawks (4-2). Carli stopped 76 of 78 shots for a 1.00 goals-against average and a .974 save percentage, including a 39-save shutout against Grand Forks. He is currently riding a four-game winning streak.
