Golden Rockets forward Hayden Iron Shirt and goaltender Beck Boiteau were among those named to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Team of the Week for the period ending Sunday, Dec. 21.
Iron Shirt played a central role in two Golden victories. After setting up the game-winning goal in a 3-1 win over the Kimberley Dynamiters, the Lethbridge native followed with a dominant performance against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, recording a hat trick — including the winner — and five points in a 7-3 victory. Iron Shirt averaged 18:35 of ice time per game, finished plus-8 and was not on the ice for a goal against.
Boiteau anchored the Rockets from the crease in the win over division-leading Kimberley, stopping 39 of 40 shots. The Medicine Hat native posted a 1.00 goals-against average and a .975 save percentage, including 14 saves on 15 shots in the second period. It marks Boiteau’s second Team of the Week selection.
Elsewhere in the league, Merritt Centennials forward Kaden Wilkins recorded a season-high five points, with two goals and three assists, in a 12-6 win over the Kelowna Chiefs. Grand Forks Border Bruins forward Levi Astill earned his third straight Team of the Week nod after scoring the game-winning goal and adding three assists in a 7-1 victory over the Nelson Leafs.
Defencemen Logan McCabe of Grand Forks and Ryan Neufeld of Beaver Valley rounded out the selections with strong two-way performances for their respective clubs.
