Lalonde-McNicoll, Riopel and Ostapchuk earn QMJHL player of the month awards
BOUCHERVILLE, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced the winners of the offensive, defensive and rookie player of the month awards for October. The players were chosen by a committee mandated by the League.
Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll of the Shawinigan Cataractes is the offensive player of the month. In thirteen games, the high-scoring Cataractes forward collected nine goals, including three game-winners, and added twenty assists. Moreover, he posted a spectacular +18 rating. He failed to register a point only once in thirteen games and accumulated at least two points in seven contests. Lalonde-McNicoll enjoyed his best game on October 17 versus the Océanic as he recorded a goal and four helpers in an 8-3 win. Of note, Shawinigan has won their last ten games.
Matthew Pistilli (Shawinigan), Mathieu Tousignant (Rocket) and Matt Eagles (Moncton) were also considered.
Defensively, Moncton Wildcats backstop Nicola Riopel gets the nod for a second straight month. The Wildcats backstop continues to dominate. He registered eight wins against only one overtime loss in October while posting a 1.42 goals-against-average and .952 save percentage. Furthermore, he accumulated two shutouts and allowed three goals only once in his nine starts. Moncton has yet to lose a game in regulation so far this season.
Simon Lacroix (Shawinigan), Mark Barberio (Moncton) and Timo Pielmeier (Shawinigan) were also in the running.
Sergey Ostapchuk of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the rookie of the month. In ten games, the 18-year-old forward scored five goals, including two game-winners, and added nine assists. What’s more, he had a hand in 42% of the Huskies’ goals during the month of October. The Russian native registered at least one point in eight of the team’s ten battles. Rouyn-Noranda has won seven of its last ten games to take control of first place in the TELUS Western division standings.
Brandon Gormley (Moncton), Dmitri Kugryshev (Québec) and Jean-Philippe Mathieu (Rocket) were also in the mix.
