THUNDER BAY, Ont. –  Sports – The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced Thursday that Gordy Defiel of the Minnesota Wilderness is one of five finalists for the 2012-13 CJHL top goaltender award.

Defiel, who was earlier named the goaltender of the year in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, had a stellar regular season for the Wilderness.

SIJHL Goalie Gordy Defiel Finalist

The 20-year-old native of Stillwater, Minn., led all SIJHL puck stoppers with an impressive 25-1-0-2 record and also topped all netminders in the both the league and the CJHL in goals-against average and save percentage at 1.39 and .945 respectively. His eight shutouts paced the SIJHL and also tied him for the most across the 10-league CJHL.

He also backstopped the Wilderness to a Bill Salonen Cup SIJHL championship and a berth in next week’s Dudley-Hewitt Cup in North Bay. 

This honour will recognize the most outstanding goaltender in the CJHL based on individual performance in the regular season and will mark the first time there will be a national winner announced.
 
The five finalists for top goaltender laurels represent the SIJHL, LHJAAAQ, OJHL, SJHL and BCHL and are listed below:

Gordy Defiel, Minnesota Wilderness, SIJHL 
(28 GP, 25 W, 1 L, 2 SOL, 8 SO, 1.39 GAA, .945 SV%)
Posted a 25-1-2 record while leading all SIJHL netminders in wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. … Defiel’s goals-against average and save percentage also set SIJHL single season records and led the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League while finishing tied for first nationally in shutouts.
 
Paul Bourbeau Jr., Collège Français de Longueuil, LHJAAAQ 
(39 GP, 30 W, 6L, 4 SO, .910 SV%, 2.42 GAA)
Was awarded LHJAAAQ Player of the Year. … During the 2012-13 regular season, Bourbeau led the league in all goaltending departments and received trophies for best goals-against average, most wins, most shutouts and best save percentage. … Was also selected to the LHJAAAQ All-Star Team.

Charlie Finn, Kingston Voyageurs, OJHL 
(39 GP, 25 W, 10 L, 4 SOL, 8 SO, 2.15 GAA, .941 SV%)
Dominated the OJHL statistically, topping many of the goaltending categories including goals against average, save percentage and shutouts. … Was awarded his second OJHL top goaltender award and was named a 1st team all-star in 2012-13. … Was the starting goalie for Team Canada East at the 2012 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge and was also selected to play for the OJHL East Division all-stars at the 2012 Central Canada Cup. … Has committed to attend Colgate University of the ECAC on scholarship next season.
 
Matt Hrynkiw, Humboldt Broncos, SJHL 
(40 GP, 27 W, 11 L, 2 SOL, 6 SO, 1.83 GAA, 0.939 SV%)
Was named the SJHL goaltender of the year on the strength of 27 wins, six shutouts and an 1.83 goals-against average.  … Led the SJHL in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts and was second in wins.   
 
Michael Santiguida, Surrey Eagles, BCHL 
(42 GP, 29 W, 10 L, 3 T, 2 SO, 2.28 GAA, .933 SV%)
In 42 appearances posted a record of 29-10-3 with a goals-against average of 2.28 and a save percentage of .933 with two shutouts. … His win totals, GAA and save percentage all led the BCHL. … Earned a spot on the 2012-13 BCHL all-rookie team.
 
Each of the 10 leagues in the CJHL nominated a candidate for the CJHL top goaltender award.  

The first stage of the selection process saw representatives from all 10 Jr. A leagues rank their top five players from among the 10 national nominees.  

Rankings were then assigned a point value and the five players with the highest point total move on as finalists to the final round of voting.
 
Congratulations to the following honourable mentions for CJHL top goaltender award:

Shayne Campbell, Truro Bearcats, MHL 
Greg Dodds, North Bay Trappers, NOJHL 
Carmine Guerriero, Hawkesbury Hawks, CCHL 
Adam Iwan, Portage Terriers, MJHL 
Nick Kulmanovsky, Grande Prairie Storm, AJHL