THUNDER BAY – Sports – The Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) announced on Monday that Minnesota Wilderness goaltender Gordy Defiel has been named the Pizza Hut player of the week for the period ending Sept. 30. In two starts this past week the 19-year-old native of Stillwater, Minn., posted a pair of victories helping the Wilderness take over top spot in the SIJHL standings.
Those outings saw Defiel allow only two goals in total while turning aside 47 of 49 shots he faced.
He began his award-winning week by making 19 stops in a 5-2 triumph over the Fort Frances Lakers on Friday and followed that up with a 28-save shutout over Duluth Sunday.
Defiel currently shares the league lead in wins with three and tops all SIJHL netminders in both goals-against average and save percentage at 1.00 and .958 respectively.
In recognition of his on-ice efforts Defiel will be presented a gift card courtesy of Pizza Hut.
Honourable mention for the Pizza Hut player of the week award went to Chris Belhumeur, (F) Dryden Ice Dogs; Trevor Hynnes, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars; Joey Rebedew, (G) Minnesota Iron Rangers; Colton Spicer, (F) Fort Frances Lakers; Zach Newman, (F) Duluth Clydesdales and Matthew Schwehr, (F) Sioux Lookout Flyers.
At the conclusion of the 2012-13 regular season, the SIJHL’s top performer will be presented the league’s Pizza Hut player of the year award.
Pizza Hut Player of the Week recipients
Week 1: Tyler Walsh, (F) Dryden Ice Dogs
Week 2: Gordy Defiel, (G) Minnesota Wilderness
The Thunder Bay North Stars return to the ice on Friday at 7:30PM where the Fort Frances Lakers will be their opponent.
