SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that forward Caleb Serre of the Blind River Beavers; Soo Eagles goaltender Shane Brancato and Rayside-Balfour Canadians forward Matthew Belanger have been selected its Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week for the period ending Sept. 22.
CALEB SERRE, (F) BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – Continuing his strong start to the season, Serre supplied eight points helping the No. 20 CJHL-ranked Beavers go 1-0-1 for the week.
The 20-year-old Blind River product notched three markers and helped set-up five more for his hometown side during the time frame.
Serre has scored goals and registered points in six straight games to commence the campaign and leads all NOJHL skaters in both tallies (9) and points (20).
SHANE BRANCATO, (G) SOO EAGLES – Brancato was busy between the pipes, starting all three games the Michigan Soo squad played last week, while backstopping them to their first two victories of 2019-20.
Facing over 100 shots combined in his trio of appearances, the 20-year-old from the Illinois community of Lake Villa posted a .931 save percentage, in aiding his team handing Blind River their initial setback of the season before earning a shootout win over the rival Soo Thunderbirds, in which he stopped the final 25 shots he faced along the way.
Dating back to last season, Brancato has posted a solid 11-4-1-1 record for the Eagles in his past 17 games played.
MATTHEW BELANGER, (F) RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS – The rookie Rayside-Balfour forward was recognized after he collected his first three NOJHL goals and added an assist in a pair of victories by the Canadians.
The 18-year-old from Sudbury began by notching his opening league marker, that tied the game, in an eventual 3-2 road decision over the Soo Thunderbirds.
Next, Belanger picked up a pair of goals, including the game-winner, then supplied a helper as RBC won at Espanola.
He’ll enter play this week sporting a modest three-game point streak.
Eastlink TV 3 Stars
Week 1
Stephen Minichiello, (F) Cochrane Crunch
Owen Say, (G) Powassan Voodoos
Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers
Week 2
Gabinien Kioki, (F) Powassan Voodoos
Lucas Adams, (F) Blind River Beavers
Max Griffioen, (F) Hearst Lumberjacks
Week 3
Caleb Serre, (F) Blind River Beavers
Shane Brancato, (G) Soo Eagles
Matthew Belanger, (F) Rayside-Balfour Canadians
