THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Sports – Thunder Bay North Star’s forward Matt Kaarela played like a streaking star all December long.The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday that Kaarela is the Sportop performer of the month for December.
In six games in the final month of 2012 the 20-year-old Thunder Bay native registered points in all of them accumulating 16 in total on nine goals and seven assists.
The North Star forward currently leads all SIJHL skaters in tallies with 27 while sitting tied for second in overall points at 43 in just 24 games played. Kaarela also tops all players in the 128-team Canadian Jr. Hockey League in goals-per-game average at 1.13.
The North Stars have an 11-4 record in games so far this season in which he scores at least one goal.
Honourable mention for the Sportop performer of the month award for December went to the following: Jake Larson, (F) Minnesota Wilderness; Jordan Christianson, (F) Fort Frances Lakers; Chris Belhumeur, (F) Dryden Ice Dogs; Trevor Hoth, (F) Minnesota Iron Rangers and Bryce Gustafson, (F) Duluth Clydesdales.
2012-13 SIJHL Sportop performer of the month recipients
October: Mike Dietrich, (F) Minnesota Wilderness
November: Eric Szymczyk, (G) Dryden Ice Dogs
December: Matt Kaarela, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars
