Young, Kotchorek kick off season with weekly honours

The season’s first weekly Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League awards were announced yesterday and given the team’s hot start, it’s not surprising that a couple Battlefords North Stars are among the recipients.

Captain Layne Young was recognized for his torrid start — 11 points in his first four games — as he was named the player of the week.

He had an opening night game-winning-assist in overtime, then had a four-point night in the home opener, followed by a two-goal performance against Estevan and then yet another four-point night against Melville in Sunday’s showcase game.

The 20-year-old winger leads the league in scoring as of Tuesday with 15 points in his first five games (although the honour was just for his first four games).

Goaltender Taryn Kotchorek was recognized for posting back-to-back shutouts to kick off the year, as he was named goaltender of the week.

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He stopped 29 and then 33 shots in those two opening games against Kindersley, followed by a 24-save performance this past Saturday against Estevan, which meant his save percentage to start the year was a sparkling .956 and goals-against-average was 1.33.

Kotchorek and Melfort’s Evan Plotnik are the only goalies so far with three or more wins.

The other weekly awards went to Melfort’s Loch Morrison, for defenceman of the week, and Flin Flon’s Chrystopher Collin, for rookie of the week. Morrison put up four points in his first four games, while Collin has found the back of the net six times in his first five games.

cjnbsports@jpbg.ca

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