Mils' Wakaluk named SJHL MVP; McNulty named SJHL POY

 

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER:
Alex Wakaluk, Melville Millionaires

1993 G Alex Wakaluk (Bellevue AB) backstopped the Melville Millionaires to one of the best records in the SJHL, all the while being one of the busiest netminders in the SJHL.  Wakaluk goes into the final couple of games having appeared in 44 of the team’s 52 games and he sits third overall in goals against average with a 2.31-ledger, all the while being the last line of defense on a club that has struggled to put together a blue line worthy of being considered comparable to the other elite teams in the league.  Wakaluk has as 2.31 GAA and a SPCT of .929, which ranks second in the league.  His back-ups this year have posted a combined GAA of well over 3.00 and a SPCT well under .900; further illustrating Wakaluk’s importance to the success of the Millionaires.  He leads all goalies in wins and is second in minutes played and is also second in shutouts with five.  He has faced more rubber than any other puckstopper in the league, seeing an average of well over 32 shots a night.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Ian McNulty, Melville Millionaires
1992 F Ian McNulty (Airdrie AB) is poised to win the SJHL scoring championship as he leads teammate Russell Trudeau by three points with two games to play.  McNulty, who has a scholarship to the University of Connecticut for this Fall, fell five points shy of a scoring championship last season.  McNulty is a well rounded player, further evidenced by the fact that despite leading the league in points, he is not amongst the top five in powerplay points, which is the easiest way for skilled players to register offensive production.  McNulty’s 25 goals are only four off the league leader and just four of his tallies have come with the man advantage.  He does have four game winning goals and he also leads the league in assists despite missing five games earlier in the year due to injury.  In the five games McNulty was absent, the Mils struggled to score and win hockey games.

(*sjhl.ca)