Blake Sittler (Princeton Posse) as well as Levi Astill and Logan McCabe (Grand Forks Border Bruins) have been selected as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League 3 Stars of the Month for March.
(Note: stats also include February 28 playoff games)
Astill – Top Forward – The Edmonton native was an offensive force displaying his playmaking skills as he collected 18 assists and had 19 points in 10 games, to help the Border Bruins go 10-0. He did so while playing an average of 19:47 a game. Three of his 18 assists led to game-winning goals. The 6-2, 190-pound forward set up Tyler Burke for the winner in an 8-7 final against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks on March 15. In that game he had a goal and four points. He set up another Burke winner against the Nitehawks, this time in a 4-3 double overtime victory on March 18. He collected three assists in that game. His final game-winning assist came in a 6-4 win over the Kimberley Dynamiters on March 28. He recorded five straight three-assist games during the time frame and was plus seven. In 12 KIJHL Teck Cup playoff games, Astill has two goals and 20 points to lead the league.
McCabe – Top Defenceman – The Edmonton native scored four goals and added eight assists for 12 points in 10 games for the Border Bruins, helping them go 10-0. He was plus 13 while playing an average of 25:08 a game. McCabe assisted on two game-winning goals – the first in a 2-0 win over the Castlegar Rebels on March 3, then in a 4-3 overtime win against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks on March 18. McCabe had five multi-point games and a seven-game point streak. The 6-2, 190-pound defenceman has 12 points in 12 games after producing 41 points in 43 regular season games.
Sittler – Top Goalie – The Dodsland, Sask., native helped the Posse advance to the second round of the KIJHL Teck Cup playoffs by winning five of his eight games. He posted four shutouts and saved 229 of 239 shots for an impressive 1.26 goals against average and a .958 save percentage. Sittler opened the playoffs with a 23-save shutout against the Sicamous Eagles in a 3-0 win on Feb. 28. He then posted his second shutout against the Eagles with a 24-save performance in a 2-0 win on March 4. His next two shutouts came against the Revelstoke Grizzlies in round two. The first was in a 3-0 win on March 14 with a 28-save effort, then four days later on March 18, he had a 29-save shutout in a 1-0 win. During the regular season, Sittler was 22-2-0 with a 2.00 GAA and a .930 SP. He was also named the Top Goalie for the Month of November.
