STELLAR play between the pipes by Ryan Faragher continues to earn him recognition in the North American Hockey League.
The 20-year-old Fort Frances native’s latest accolades came this past week as he was named the NAHL goaltender of the month for December.
The Bismarck Bobcats netminder was a perfect 5-0 during that time frame while posting a stingy 0.80 goals-against average along with an impressive .962 save percentage.
Faragher has also gone 14-2-1 in his last 17 appearances and currently tops all goalies in the NAHL in overall save percentage at .928. The Dartmouth College recruit is tied for the NAHL lead in victories with 19 and sits third in GAA at 1.97.
The former top goaltender award recipient in the Superior International Junior Hockey League has also only allowed one goal or less in nearly half of his starts this season.
ALL-STAR: Thunder Bay will be represented when the Manitoba Jr. Hockey League holds its all-star game Jan. 19 in Swan River, Man.
Local product and current Portage Terriers defenceman Cody Kostecki was one of six D-men named to suit up for his divisional side in the contest.
The 19-year-old blueliner has recorded 14 points in 36 games to date for the Terriers including five goals.
LEADING THE HERD: Veteran leadership on and off the ice recently earned a Lakehead native the ultimate team honour as Marcus Perrier of Thunder Bay was named captain of Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League.
The 19-year-old defenceman is currently in his third season with Sioux Falls.
A stay at home physical rearguard, Perrier has five points in 26 games so far this season, with his one goal being an overtime game-winner. He also tops the USHL club in penalty minutes with 94.
MOVING UP: Registering points in five straight games as well as getting on the score sheet in 11 of his past 12 contests has moved Mike Wehrstedt among the top 10 scorers in the German Bundesliga.
The former Lakehead Thunderwolves standout has slid into a tie for ninth overall in offensive production in the 13-team league recording 37 points, including 19 goals, in 33 games for ESV Kaufbeuren.
The club, who are coached by Thunder Bay’s Ken Latta, is sitting fifth in the league standings and are only one point shy of third overall.
FINAL NUMBERS: The balloting is complete and the National Hockey League is set to announce who the remaining 36 particpants will be that will join the top six vote getters at the upcoming all-star weekend.
A number of area players received significant attention among fans casting their lots at NHL arenas as well as online.
Among forwards Kenora’s Mike Richards led the regional contingent in votes secured with 228,828 finishing eighth overall.
He was followed by Eric Staal who was 17th at 142,634 while Patrick Sharp, picked up 124,587 write-in votes earning the attention of the fans for his solid play for the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.
On defence Duncan Keith stood second among defencemen with 382,162 selections while Dryden’s Chris Pronger was fourth at 292,944 and Marc Staal finished 14th with 95,393.
The remaining 36 players will be announced Jan. 11 for the NHL all-star weekend that goes Jan. 28-30 in Raleigh, N.C.