NOJHL power play production

There are three teams among the 12 members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League that have a power play success ratio of better than 25 per cent.

And not so coincidentally, the three leaders in power play production are also the teams with the three best winning percentages in the NOJHL.

Hearst Lumberjacks lead the NOJHL in power play success at 27.7 per cent followed closely by the Timmins Rock at 26.7 per cent and the Soo Thunderbirds at 25.2.

Leading the way for Hearst is rookie forward Robbie Rutledge. The 17-year old skater has 11 power play goals from among his league leading 23 tallies.

Also lighting it up for the Lumberjacks on the power play has been homegrown 16-year old rookie forward Mathieu Comeau, who has eight goals.

Meanwhile, over in Timmins, 20-year old Riley Brousseau leads the Rock with five power play markers.

But what makes the Timmins power play so hard to defend against is that four others have four PP markers apiece. And among the four with four is 20-year old Rock star defenseman Cameron Dutkiewicz, who also has nine assists.

As for the Soo, 17-year old forward Tyson Doucette has been the Thunderbirds top power play marksman with nine goals. And a pair of 16-year old rookies have also been Thunderbird PP standouts — forward Cooper Foster has amassed four goals, 13 assists, 17 points with the man advantage while defenseman Andrew Gibson has seven goals, nine assists, 16 points.

Notably, as Hearst, Timmins and the Soo are all over 25 per cent success rate with the extra man, no other NOJHL team is above the 20 per cent mark.

But the Soo Eagles and the lowly Elliot Lake Red Wings are close to the 20 per cent level as both are at a 19.7 production rate.

Tyson Doucette of the Soo Thunderbirds, in action against the Elliot Lake Red Wings. (photo by Bob Davies)