Photo Credit: Jack Murray
Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is proud to announce defenceman James Miller and goaltender Jack LaFontaine have been nominated for league awards.
In a weighted vote, each BCHL head coach was asked to submit a list ranking their top choices for MVP, rookie of the year, top defenceman, top goaltender and most sportsmanlike player.
Miller, from Spruce Grove, Alberta, has been nominated as the Interior Division’s representative for top defenceman and MVP. In his third season with the Vees, and fifth season of junior ‘A’ hockey, Miller currently leads the Vees in scoring with 18 goals and 43 assists while appearing in all 55 games.
He is also trusted to match up against opposing teams top players, playing heavy minutes in all situations. If Miller finishes the season as the Vees leading scorer, he would be the first defenceman to lead the team in scoring since Joey LeLeggia in 2010-11.
The other finalists for MVP are Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies and Kevin Wall from the Mainland Division. The finalists for top defenceman are Carter Berger from the Victoria Grizzlies for the Island Division and Layton Ahac from the Prince George Spruce Kings from the Mainland Division.
LaFontaine, from Mississauga, Ontario, has been voted as the Interior Division’s top goaltender.
In his first and final season with the Vees, LaFontaine has posted a 28-9-2-1 record with a 2.25 goals against average and .920 save percentage. He has been named the first star of the game five times this season.
His GAA, save percentage and wins all rank second in the BCHL, while he has played the third most minutes of all goaltenders heading into the final week of the regular season.
The other nominees for top goaltender are Kurtis Chapman from the Victoria Grizzlies for the Island Division and Logan Neaton from the Prince George Spruce Kings from the Mainland Division.
The winners will be announced before the start of the Fred Page Cup playoffs next week.
