Monthly award winners

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League recently announced their monthly award winners for December.
Selkirk Steelers’ forward Josh Schappert has been named December’s RBC Player of the Month.
Schappert, a 20-year-old Winnipeg native, has put together a 12-game point streak, registering 10 goals and 26 points over that span.
In 10 games in December Schappert recorded 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists).
Also considered for this award was Colan Jackson, 19, from the Steelers and Blake Chartier, 20 of the Winnipeg Saints.
The Sher-wood Hockey Defenceman of the Month is Lucas Alexiuk of the Selkirk Steelers. Alexiuk, a Winnipeg product who joined the Steelers from the Winkler Flyers, had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in December.
Other players considered for this award was Troy Kliever, 19, of the Winkler Flyers and Steven Shamanski, 20 of the Dauphin Kings.
The GDI Prairies Goaltender of the Month is Matt Krahn of the Neepawa Natives. The six foot one inch, 180-pound puck stopper posted a 5-4 record and 2.77 GAA in 607 minutes played in December. His save percentage was a very respectable .908.
The Natives, are battling not only the OCN Blizzard for fourth place in the Sher-Wood Division, but also have their eye on the Winnipeg South Blues for a potential crossover spot. And Krahn is a big reason why they are in the playoff hunt.
Other netminders considered for this award include Jordan Washburn, 19, of the Portage Terriers and Joe Caligiuri, 20, of the Dauphin Kings.
The Husky Energy Rookie of the Month is Brendan O'Donnell of the Winnipeg South Blues. O’Donnell has had quite a year. He suited up for Team West at Prospects Games in Winkler in December, played for Team West at World Junior A Challenge, where he came home with a silver medal, and is also the player of the week (see more on that later in this column).
O’Donnell, 17, who has committed to University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in nine games.
Also considered was Craig Scott, 18, of the Selkirk Steelers and forward David Conrad, 18, of the Winnipeg Saints.
• As noted earlier, O’Donnell, was named the MJHL’s Potters Distillers Player of the Week.
The Winnipeg product scored three goals and registered seven assists in three games.
The surge moved him to within seven points of rookie scoring leader Eric Coulombe of Steinbach Pistons.
Also considered for the award was David Conrad of Winnipeg Saints and Colan Jackson of Selkirk Steelers.
Conrad, 18, has seven points (four goals, three assists) last week.
Jackson, a runner up for player of the month, had three goals and three assists points in a victory over Waywayseecappo Wolverines – a game held at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre.
• Be sure to check out next week’s column, which will have a full rundown of trades made by MJHL teams at the deadline, which is Jan. 10.
One of the first early deals saw the Neepawa Natives, who are oh-so-close to being in the playoffs, acquired 18-year-old forward Stephan Gunner, from Chibougamau, Que., from the Fort William North Stars of the SIJHL.
In return, the Natives send 20-year-old forward Eli Halcrow to the Thunder Bay based North Stars.
The Neepawa bench boss could not be happier.
“Stephan is a guy we tried endlessly to acquire this season,” said Natives coach Bryant Perrier. “We burned up the phone lines time and time again but just could not get a deal done.
“We believe he will be a very good player for us this year and in the future as well.”
With the MJHL being as close as it is this year, the potential is there for many teams to be in the buying mood. Only the Dauphin Kings are all but assured of making the playoffs and earning the No. 1 seed.
Swan Valley and Portage look to fight for home ice advantage, while OCN, Neepawa and the Winnipeg South Blues appear to be battling for two playoff spots.
And the race for first in the Addison is exciting – only five points separate Selkirk, the Winnipeg Saints and the Winkler Flyers.
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines and Steinbach Pistons are looking to next year, and they will likely be in a selling mood if it helps their team for next year.