Signoretti, Povorozniouk, Chitaroni, Knoerle Named December 2024 NOJHL Players of the Month -

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) announced Wednesday, January 1st that Lucas Signoretti (Greater Sudbury Cubs); Mason Chitaroni (Greater Sudbury Cubs); Jace Knoerle (Soo Eagles) and Alex Povorozniouk (Soo Eagles) have been named its Forward; Defenceman; Goaltender and Rookie of the Month, respectively, for December.

FORWARD: Lucas Signoretti, Greater Sudbury Cubs – A 16-point run last month, in just five games played, saw Signoretti extend his lead in the NOJHL scoring race.

In all, the 20-year-old from Kanata, Ontario notched a league-best 11 goals and chipped in with five assists for front-running Greater Sudbury. Two of his tallies were game-winners, giving him a NOJHL-high nine in that department.

With tallies in five straight and points in each of his past 10 outings, Signoretti tops all NOJHL players with his 34 markers and 65 points.

Honourable Mention: Benjamin Pouliot, Soo Eagles; Aiden Kalin, Hearst Lumberjacks

Monthly recipients
September: Brant Romaniuk, Timmins Rock
October: Lucas Signoretti, Greater Sudbury Cubs
November: Samuel Assinewai, Greater Sudbury Cubs
December: Lucas Signoretti, Greater Sudbury Cubs

DEFENCEMAN: Mason Chitaroni, Greater Sudbury Cubs – Excelling at both ends of the ice, the Cubs’ captain has done his part for the club in helping them be the No. 1 ranked side in the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League.

In five appearances, the 20-year-old from Marathon, Ontario picked up nine points to pace all league blueliners, by scoring once and helping set-up eight others.

Chitaroni’s efforts has him sitting in second spot in offensive production among NOJHL defencemen, averaging over a point-per-game with 32 in 29 contests. His squad has also only given up just 69 goals, in 31 games.

Honourable Mention: Gabriel Fisher, Soo Eagles; Adam Shillinglaw, Hearst Lumberjacks

Monthly recipients
September: Bryan Fenlon, Soo Thunderbirds
October: Luke Hill, Espanola Paper Kings
November: Adam Shillinglaw, Hearst Lumberjacks
December: Mason Chitaroni, Greater Sudbury Cubs

GOALTENDER: Jace Knoerle, Soo Eagles – A stellar December between the pipes for the Eagles saw the 18-year-old netminder from Roscoe, Illinois go a perfect 6-0.

In the time frame, Knoerle had a 2.14 goals-against average to go along with a .922 save percentage and also posted his first NOJHL shutout.

He’ll enter January having won each of his past seven starts, while sporting a 10-1-0-1 record since mid-October, helping the Eagles soar into a third place tie in the league standings.

Honourable Mention: Austin Seibel, Powasswan Voodoos; Alexandre Boivin, Hearst Lumberjacks

Monthly recipients
September: Connor Dunham-Fox, Blind River Beavers
October: Noah Beaulne, Greater Sudbury Cubs
November: Dryden Riley, Timmins Rock
December: Jace Knoerle, Soo Eagles

ROOKIE: Alex Povorozniouk, (F) Soo Eagles – Garnering the league rookie laurels for a second time this season, Povorozniouk’s contributions for the Michigan Soo have been solid.

Closing out 2024 on an eight-game point streak, which were all multi-point nights, the 18-year-old from McHenry, Illinois etched his name on the game sheet 16 times last month on three goals and 13 assists.

Having only been held pointless five times in 28 match-ups so far this season, Povorozniouk leads all NOJHLers in rookie scoring with 48 points. That also places him third overall among all league skaters.

Honourable Mention: Aiden Atkinson, (F) Soo Thunderbirds; Jace Knoerle, (G) Soo Eagles

Monthly recipients
September: Mason Walker, (F) Greater Sudbury Cubs
October: Alex Povorozniouk, (F) Soo Eagles
November: Reece Liu, (F) Timmins Rock
December: Alex Povorozniouk, (F) Soo Eagles

PHOTO CREDITS
Signoretti: Northern Lights Photography
Chitaroni: Caleigh Fera / Points North Media
Knoerle/Povorozniouk: Turnbull’s Northern Photography