Fort St. John Huskies net six NWJHL All-Star selections

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Six Fort St. John Huskies will take the ice to represent the East/West Division at the STRIKE GROUP North West Junior Hockey League’s (NWJHL) All-Star Game later this month.

Forwards Grayden Alexander, MacCoy Willms, Ashton Underhill, and defencemen Connor Cozens, Ryan Bookham, and Jordan LaGreca will suit up in Sexsmith.  

This year’s game will run the same weekend as the All Peace Hockey League (APHL), the U-18 league featuring the Fort St. John Rep Flyers. 

According to Huskies head coach Todd Alexander, who has been named head coach for the game, NWJHL All-Star festivities have been held infrequently over the years.

He described the recognition as more of a “team effort,” with the players being more important to the announcement. 

“It’s always nice to be recognized within your league,” says Alexander. “[The players are] the ones that that have played well so far and put us in this position.” 

“I think that the recognition should go more to the players than myself.”

Of his All-Stars, each brings a different element to the overall complexion of the team. 

Underhill leads the Huskies in goals with 21, putting him seventh in the NWJHL in goals.

Team Captain Alexander and Underhill have been vital to the Huskies’ leadership, with the losses of former captain Kurtis Lee and assistant captain Thomas Loewen. 

Meanwhile, “200-foot players” LaGraca and Bookham have anchored the Pups’ blueline, and Cozens was paramount to assisting the squad despite mid-season depth issues, says the head coach.

“We’re pretty fortunate to have quite a few of those guys on the back end this year,” said Alexander. 

Coming off a holiday break, the Huskies will take on the North Peace Navigators and Grande Prairie Wheat Kings in back-to-back games starting Friday, January 3rd.

The NWJHL All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, January 19th, at the Sexsmith Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

More information about the NWJHL All-Star Game is available on the league’s website.