Several Huskies players in contention for NWJHL season awards

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) post-season award nominees have several familiar faces for local hockey fans.

Five members of the Fort St. John Huskies were named by the league in award categories such as most valuable player, best defenceman, top goaltender, gentlemanly player and rookie of the year.

Head coach Todd Alexander said each of his nominees’ play has allowed the Huskies – winners of nine games in a row – to be successful throughout the year.

Huskies forward Ryan Ungstad was named as a finalist for the most valuable player.

In his second season with the Pups, Ungstad has continued to light up the net. Through 36 NWJHL games this season, he has 26 goals and 38 assists for 64 points.

“He has gone from a guy that’s been a really good player to a guy that carries the play,” said Alexander of Ungstad. “Hopefully he can continue that down the stretch here and into the playoffs.” 

Another Ryan – Ryan Bookham – was named among the finalists for top defenceman. 

Having played his entire hockey career in Fort St. John, Bookham has provided steady work along the blue line.

Alexander commended Bookham, saying he had “been tasked with some of the harder assignments” throughout the year, adding his “dealing with on-ice challenges” presented by opponents means he should be “definitely up there in the conversation [for top defenceman].”

Bookham has six goals and 15 assists for 21 points through 31 games – which equals his total for last season.

Evan Baker – who was put into the starting goaltender position following the trade of Ethan Fechter to La Crete – was named a contender for best goaltender.

Baker has “definitely settled” into his new role, according to Alexander, winning eight of 11 starts with a goals against average of 3.09.

“It takes time for someone to get used to a different workload,” said Alexander. “As of late, he’s definitely settled into the position a lot better, and he seems to be more comfortable as we go down the stretch.”

Meanwhile, forward Xavier Burgher, who leads the club with 32 goals, has been nominated for most gentlemanly player, with just 14 penalty minutes taken this season.

Alexander said the low penalty-minute total was “surprising” for Burgher, as he is a very physical presence on the ice.

The final Husky to be nominated is Carson Batchelor as NWJHL rookie of the year.

The defenceman, who has also spent time in the Alberta Elite Hockey League has averaged 0.5 points per game for the Huskies this year, with two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 32 games.

“He has done a really good job of coming in here and learning a lot of things,” said Alexander. “He really worked hard at learning how to defend. The offensive side of things is a little bit more natural for him. Overall, his game has improved vastly from the start of the year to where we’re at now.”

The winners of the Strike Group NWJHL awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22nd.