QMJHL: Goalkeeper Alexis Shank among players of the month for February

QMJHL on Tuesday revealed the identities of the recipients of various honors for the players of the month of February.

Month ahead

Thomas Casey – Islanders de Charlottetown – 9PJ, 9B, 14A, 23PT

The Charlottetown Islanders currently led the league in goals scored and home hero Thomas Casey played a key role in that result. The 20-year-old scored one point in each of his nine games, plus more than one point in those seven games. On 17 and 20 February, the fourth-year veteran played two four-point games, against Halifax and Cape Breton.

Cleared from the scoresheet on only two occasions this season, Casey finished second in the league scoring race. His 49 points, in just 25 games, represent a new career already invited to Detroit Red Wings training camp in 2019.

Mention honorable

Cedric Deserisuco – Islanders de Charlottetown – 9PJ, 9B, 12A, 21Pts

The only player to separate Casey from the leading position in the league’s top scorers is his teammate Cedric DeSincio. The 20-year-old from Victoriaville has reached career highs in goals (28) and points (51) after 25 games. He is on a 10-game streak with at least one point, scoring five points against Halifax on February 17, the best night of his career.

The first of the month

Nathan Loros – Eagles do Cap-Breton – 7PJ, 5B, 4A, 9PT

This season’s second-best defenseman scorer, Nathan Lorose, continues to lead the charge in the Eagles’ blue line. In February, the 20-year-old Mirabell had points in six of seven games, goals in five of those games and more than one point in three of them. The veteran defenseman scored the game-winning goal, adding an assist and posting his best performance of the season at +3 on February 17 in a win over the Eagles’ provincial rivals, the Halifax Mooseheads.

Laos have found the net back 15 times in just 24 games this season, just two goals from their personal high set in 51 matches last year. He was invited to the first NHL training camp with the Saint-Louis Blues in 2019.

Mention honorable

Miguel Turgeon – Armada de Blaineville-Boisbriand – 9 pj, 3b, 6a, 9 st

Tourgeon has earned a respectable mention for the second consecutive month to go along with his impressive 2019 performance in February. His four-point game against Rouen-Noranda on February 4 marked a new career high for the third-year defenseman.

Monthly Receipt

Ivan Nose – Repares de Quebec – 10PJ, 0B, 10A, 10Pts

Making an impact as a 17-year defender is a daunting task for most, but Evan Nose accepts the challenge with open arms. Earlier this month the White Rock, BC-born player had some strong moments, scoring more than one point in four of his five matches between 4 and 13 February. This included a three-pass performance, the first of his young career, including a 5–2 win over Baie-Comeau. In addition, he firmly took control of the defensive brigade of the Repparts, which sit in the top half of the league in goal count.
Nose was fifth overall by the Remparts in the 2020 QMJHL draft after showing strong performances with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Getaway last season.

Mention honorable

Lorenzo Canonica – Cataract de Shavinigan – 10PJ, 4B, 5A, 9Pts

Canonica has been an important part of a talented cataract squad following its involvement with the Swiss team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships. During the month of February, the 17-year-old had three games of more than one point in addition to receiving a total of 7 returns.

Guardian of the month

Alexis Shank – Saganens de Chitoutimi – 3-0-0-1, MBA 0.93,% ARR .95, 1 BL.

Alexis Shank is currently putting on a solid junior career finishing touch. The 21-year-old Laval resident is yet to lose in regulation time in 2021 and began the march with a three-game winning streak. On February 27, the fourth-year veteran repeated all 16 Reaparts shots for his 11th career shutout, two records of the ‘Saginance franchise’ set by Christopher Gibson between 2009-2013.
Saguenéens’ fourth-round pick in the 2016 QMJHL Draft, Shank currently leads the league in goals against average (1.84) and save percentage (0.925%).

Mention honorable

Colton Ellis – Islanders Day Charlottetown – 5-1-0-0, MBA 1.68,% ARR.921, 3BL.

This is a dream year for a 20-year-old goalkeeper from Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The current league leader in wins (16) and shutouts (5), Ellis now has 16 career stopouts, just one from a league record under Philippe Cadet.
A sign that things are going well, the fourth-year veteran began the march by signing the first professional contract with the St.-Louis Blues.