Casola named top overall player

For the third time in four seasons, the top overall player in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League comes from the Soo Thunderbirds.

The league announced on Tuesday that Thunderbirds forward Darcy Casola has been named the best overall team player after leading the team in scoring.

Casola, 20, finished third in league scoring with 66 points in 48 games.

Former Thunderbirds Micky Sartoretto (2011-12) and Jerry Petingalo (2009-10) have also earned the honour in recent seasons.

Other league award winners include:

• Coach of the Year: Marc Lafleur (Kirkland Lake Gold Miners)
• Most Gentlemanly Player: Brandon Janke (North Bay)
• Rookie of the Year: Joel Horodziejczyk (Sault Ste. Marie)
• Director of the Year: Rusty Joncas (Blind River)
• Best Defensive Forward: Brandon Bazinet (Blind River)
• Most Improved Player: Trevor Hunt (North Bay)
• Best Defenceman: Adam Newkirk (Blind River)

All-Star Teams
1st Team

• Goaltender: Greg Dodds (North Bay Trappers)
• Defence: Jeremy Picard-Fiset (Kirkland Lake Gold Miners), Adam Newkirk (Blind River Beavers)
• Centre: Darcy Haines (Sudbury Nickel Barons)
• Left Wing: Tait Seguin (North Bay Trappers)
• Right Wing: Sebastien Leroux (Sudbury Nickel Barons)
• Coach: Marc Lafleur (Kirkland Lake Gold Miners)
• Manager: Rusty Joncas (Blind River Beavers)
• Trainer: Mario Laino (Sudbury Nickel Barons)

2nd Team

• Goaltender: Joel Horodziejczyk (Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds)
• Defence: Michael Caruso (Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds), Cole Klippenstein (North Bay Trappers)
• Centre: Brandon Janke (North Bay Trappers)
• Left Wing: Brandon Warmington (Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds)
• Right Wing: Darcy Casola (Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds)
• Coach: Dave Clancy (Sudbury Nickel Barons)
• Manager: Jim MacKinnon (Kirkland Lake Gold Miners)
• Trainer: Carla Vine (Kirkland Lake Gold Miners)