SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday that Shane Brancato and Dominic Skrelja of the Soo Eagles, along with Jordan Fielding of the Cochrane Crunch, have been tabbed its initial Eastlink TV 3 Stars of the Week for the 2020 playoffs.
SHANE BRANCATO, (G) SOO EAGLES – The veteran Sault Ste. Marie stopper allowed just one goal against in each of his first two playoff starts of 2020 for the Eagles.
Hailing from the Illinois community of Lake Vila, Brancato has the early postseason lead in NOJHL goals-against average at 1.00 and is also tops in save percentage at .969.
Entering the Soo’s series vs. Rayside-Balfour, the 20-year-old netminder has a 4-1 record in his past five playoff starts, dating back to last season.
JORDAN FIELDING, (D) COCHRANE CRUNCH – The 18-year-old rookie blueliner from Mississauga, Ont., played a pivotal role in Cochrane’s comeback series win over Kirkland Lake.
In the three games during that match-up, Fielding provided a league-best six points to pace the Crunch offensively with a pair of tallies and four assists.
This included a game-winning goal to even the affair as well as get a helper on the decider in Sunday’s finale vs. the Gold Miners.
Fielding will enter their East Division semifinal series with Powassan on a three-game point streak.
DOMINIC SKRELJA, (F) SOO EAGLES – As captain of the Eagles, Skrelja led the Soo in scoring in their series triumph over Espanola.
The 20-year-old South Lyons, Mich., product had goals in both games against the Express and also helped set-up three more to collect five points in total.
Including regular season play, Skrelja has now registered points in each of his past nine games, including 10 tallies.
Eastlink TV 3 Stars
Playoffs
Week 1
Shane Brancato, (G) Soo Eagles
Jordan Fielding, (D) Cochrane Crunch
Dominic Skrelja, (F) Soo Eagles
