Truro, N.S. (October 4, 2023) – Nicholas Sheehan of the Edmundston Blizzard was named the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) top goaltender for the month of September. The league also announced its top defensemen and forwards for the month. Alexis Jacques of the Blizzard earned an honorable mention in the defenseman category.
Top Goaltender – Nicholas Sheehan (Edmundston Blizzard) – The 20-year-old from Moncton, N.B. led all goaltenders in minutes played in September with 240. He also had the most saves by a goaltender in the month with 130. Sheehan posted a 3-1-0-0 record with a 1.75 goals against average and a 949 save percentage. He was also one of only two goaltenders to post a shutout in September.
His season debut was a 40-save performance in a 3-0 home win over West Kent on the 15th. One week later, Sheehan allowed two goals on 30 shots in a 2-1 road loss to the Steamers. He made another 30 saves in a 6-3 win over Miramichi on the 24th and 30 saves in a 6-2 win in Yarmouth on the 30th.
Honourable Mention – Xavier Fisk (West Kent Steamers) – The 20-year-old from Sherbrooke, Quebec posted a 2-1-0-0 record in September with a 2.67 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. He made the second-most saves in the month with 115, behind only Edmundston’s Nicholas Sheehan.
Top Forward – Kiefer Lyons (Campbellton Tigers) – The 19-year-old from Quispamsis, N.B. had the second-most points in the MHL in September with fourteen in five games, trailing only Pictou County’s Nick Mahar. However, Lyons had a better points per game average at 2.80 to Mahar’s 2.50. He also had the second-most assists in the league as well as the third-most powerplay assists and powerplay points.
Lyons had one goal and four assists in a 6-5 win over the Crushers on the 14th, followed by one goal and one assist in a 5-4 win the next night against Valley. He posted two goals and an assist in a 7-4 win over Grand Falls on the 22nd and one assist in a 5-4 loss to West Kent on the 24th. Lyons finished his month with one goal and two assists in a 10-5 loss to Fredericton on the 29th.
Honourable Mention – Nick Mahar (Pictou County Weeks Crushers) – The 20-year-old from Sydney, N.S. led the MHL in points in September with fifteen, tallying three goals and a league-best twelve assists in six games. Five of Mahar’s assists came on the powerplay, which were also the most in the league. Standout performances include four assists in an opening night loss to Campbellton on the 14th and three assists in a 6-5 shootout win over Amherst on the 20th.
Top Defenseman – Jett McCullum (Summerside Western Capitals) – The 18-year-old from Moncton, N.B. registered points in all four games in September for Summerside. McCullum leads all MHL defensemen in points with eight, including a league-best six assists. His two goals are tied with teammate William Irvine for the second-most among blueliners.
McCullum had one assist in a 4-3 shootout loss in Yarmouth on the 15th to open the season, followed by three assists in a 10-3 win over Pictou County on the 23rd. He had one goal in a 10-7 win over Pictou County on the 28th, and finished the month with a shorthanded, game-winning goal and two assists in a 9-3 victory over Valley on the 30th.
Honourable Mention – Alexis Jacques (Edmundston Blizzard) – The 18-year-old from Portneuf, Quebec had three goals and two assists for the league-leading Edmundston Blizzard. A physical presence on the ice, Jacques has been logging 22 minutes per game for the Blizzard.
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Media Contact:
James Faulkner
Director of Communications
Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL)
jfaulkner@themhl.ca