The Canadian Junior Hockey League, in conjunction with Hockey Canada, has announced the finalists for the RBC CJHL player of the year award.
Among the elite eight is Dryden Ice Dogs’ captain Jon Mitchell, who was previously named the Superior International Jr. Hockey League’s Pizza Hut player of the year and Top Defenceman Award recipient.
The winner will be announced on May 6 at the Royal Bank Cup awards banquet in Camrose, AB.
The last time anyone from a team in the region earned this prestigious honour was back in 1989 when, former NHLer and University of North Dakota standout, Greg Johnson helped lead his hometown Thunder Bay Flyers to a national Junior A championship.
Other nominations include Michael Garteig of Powell River Kings, BCHL; Tanner Fritz of Grande Prairie Storm, AJHL; Travis Eggum of La Ronge Ice Wolves, SJHL; Shane Luke of Dauphin Kings, MJHL; Brett Campbell of Blind River Beavers, NOJHL; Zack Hyman of Hamilton Red Wings, OJHL; and Maxime Charette of College Francais de Longueuil, LHJAQ.
JON MITCHELL – DRYDEN ICE DOGS
(SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
A two-time SIJHL Defenceman of the Year, Mitchell added the SIJHL Player of the Year Award to his trophy case this season, becoming the first Ice Dog to win the award in its 10-year history by cracking the 50-point barrier for the second season in a row despite missing a month of action due to injury. The 20-year-old finished his three-year Junior A career as the fifth-highest scoring defenceman in SIJHL history, impressive considering he managed just nine points in his rookie season.
Dryden’s captain for the past two seasons, Mitchell has been a leader on and off the ice and has become a role model not only for the young players on the Ice Dogs, but for the minor hockey players in Dryden. He has consistently volunteered his time for community projects, going as far as to shave his head during the intermission of a game to help raise money for cancer research.
The Anola, Man., native has found a variety of ways to give back to the Dryden hockey community, stepping behind the bench with a Bantam team last season and working with players of all ages at the Dryden Hockey School for the past two summers.
