Hayes named CJHLs 1st Star of the Month for Feb

COBOURG, ON - SEPTEMBER 20: McKay Hayes #18 of the Markham Royals shoots the puck during the second period at the Cobourg Community Centre on September 20, 2022 in Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Shawn Muir / OJHL Images)

FROM THE CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE WEBSITE:

TORONTO – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced Friday that forward Mckay Hayes (Markham Royals/OJHL); goaltender Ethan Barwick (Brooks Bandits/AJHL) and defenceman Sam McKinney (Miramichi Timiberwolves/MHL) have been named its 3 Stars of the Month for February.

1ST STAR: MCKAY HAYES, (F) MARKHAM ROYALS (OJHL) – The veteran forward, who is in his final season of Jr. A hockey, piled up 28 points in just 11 games for Markham during the time frame on a dozen goals and 16 assists.

Two of the tallies for the Ancaster, Ont., product were game-winners in also providing eight multi-point affairs during February. He also scored at least once in eight contests.

Hayes previously earned OJHL North-West Conference Player-of-the-Month honours and is committed to attend Robert Morris University in suburban Pittsburgh, Penn., on NCAA Division I scholarship next season.

With files from Jim Mason, Director of Communications (OJHL) | Photo by: Shawn Muir / OJHL Images

2ND STAR: ETHAN BARWICK, (G) BROOKS BANDITS (AJHL) A stellar month saw Barwick post a solid 7-0 record, along with a stingy 1.29 goals-against average, a solid .946 save percentage, while allowing just nine goals against and registering two shutouts.

The final victory last month for the 20-year-old from St. Albert, Alta., was his 44th of the campaign, which established a new AJHL record for most wins in a single season. Barwick added one more triumph to conclude the regular season with a 45-4-0-1 mark, as well as a 1.88 GAA, a .929 save mark and a league-best seven shutouts.

The Bandits Team MVP and Lindenwood University NCAA D-I commit was also a finalist for the AJHL Top Goaltender award.

With files from Charla Flett, Executive Director (AJHL)

3RD STAR: SAM MCKINNEY, (D) MIRAMICHI TIMBERWOLVES (MHL) An impressive February saw the 20-year-old blueliner collect 20 points in a dozen outings on four goals and 16 assists.

Hailing from Fredericton, N.B., McKinney was only held pointless once for Miramichi and provided seven multi-point efforts for the Timberwolves while notching a game-winner and helping set-up another.

Heading into the final few days of the MHL’s regular season, he sits second in offensive production among league defencemen with 63 points in 49 games played, on 14 markers and 49 helpers.

With files from James Faulkner, Director of Communications (MHL)