Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees are pleased to announce 20-year-old defenceman James Miller and 20-year-old goaltender Jack LaFontaine have been named as First-Team BCHL All Stars as voted on by the league’s broadcasters.
Miller, from Spruce Grove, Alberta, is fresh off being announced as the BCHL’s Top Defenceman on Tuesday. He finished his final season of junior hockey with 18 goals and 44 assists while suiting up for all 58 games this season. His 62 points was more than he had in his previous four seasons of junior hockey combined, and second to only Victoria’s Carter Berger, who finished with 63 after recording three points in the final game of the season.
Miller received an NCAA scholarship to Northern Michigan University for next season, where he will be joined by current teammate Andre Ghantous.
LaFontaine, from Toronto, returned to junior hockey from the NCAA ranks after two years at the University of Michigan and is also fresh off being named the leagues top goaltender. He posted a 30-10-2-1 record with a .923 save percentage, 2.19 goals against average and three shutouts.
His wins, save percentage and goals-against average all ranked second in the league while his three shutouts tied him for third. He received a scholarship to the University of Minnesota for next season.
Miller, LaFontaine and the rest of their teammates begin their quest for a Fred Page Cup title Thursday when they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals for game one at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
