Kian Bell (left), Brad Blake (top right), and Rylan Williams (bottom right), have been recognized for their standout play heading into the holiday break. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

League's Finest

North Stars trio headline SJHL Players of the Week

Dec 19, 2023 | 4:22 PM

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) recently announced its final Players of the Week for 2023, headlined by a trio of Battlefords North Stars who played a vital role in the team’s three wins over the week of Dec. 11-17.

Kian Bell has been named the SGEU MVP of the Week for a third time this season, while Bradley Blake has been recognized as the Bourgault Forward of the Week, and Rylan Williams as the DirectWest Rookie of the Week, each for the first time this year.

Kian Bell – SGEU MVP of the Week

Bell scored nine points (five goals, four assists) in three games last week, picking up a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s 7-4 victory over Notre Dame and Friday’s 5-1 win over Kindersley, before a season-high five-point performance in Saturday’s 5-2 rematch with the Klippers to cap the calendar year.

“Bellsy really helped us dominate, and especially in this last one, really took charge of the game and we’re really happy for him heading into the break,” assistant coach, Garry Childerhose said, alluding to his hard work in rocketing up the league scoring charts.

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With the performance, Bell is now tied for the SJHL scoring lead with 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists) in just 19 games played. His 2.68 points per game is up from his 2.0 points per contest averaged last season, when he scored 54 goals and 102 points in 51 games, to sweep the SJHL year-end awards as League MVP, Player of the Year, and scoring champion.

Bradley Blake – Bourgault Forward of the Week

Blake registered six points (all assists) last week, opening the week with a bang, in a three-assist performance versus Notre Dame, before adding another three assists in the home-and-home with the Klippers.

“Brad’s really come into his own over the last month, being able to get up to that point-per-game mark,” Childerhose said. “That’s where he wants to be as a player, and that’s where his goals are, and he’s really found a good fit and chemistry alongside Bell there and has been a good set-up man for him which has been great to see.”

Entering the holiday break red-hot with nine points (one goal, eight assists) over his last five games, Blake has already set a new career high in goals (12) and points (32) in just 32 games this season.

Rylan Williams – DirectWest Rookie of the Week

At just 18 years old, Rylan Williams continued his incredible first half of the season with another five points (three goals, two assists) in three games for the North Stars last week. Starting the week as the lone Stars’ player to score twice in the win over Notre Dame, he added an assist Friday and goal-and-an-assist Saturday against Kindersley.

“With Rylan Williams, he’s been kind of the unsung hero of the year so far,” Childerhose said. “He didn’t see much power play time [in the first half], so to contribute like he has both offensively and defensively has been huge.”

At the holiday break, Williams sits third overall in SJHL rookie scoring, leading all ’05 birthdates (18-year-olds), with 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 30 games.

Other Players of the Week

Rounding out the SJHL Players of the Week, are SuperU Defenceman of the Week, Liam McInnis (Nipawin Hawks); SaskTel Goalie of the Week, Cody Jaman (Kindersley Klippers); and Saskatchewan Player of the Week, Spencer Bell (Humboldt Broncos).

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

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