SIJHL Year End Awards: Best Goaltender of the Year
By Tanner Schafer
Over the next couple of days, we will be announcing our players of the year. Teams nominated their own players and then it went to a vote between the clubs and media members with teams unable to vote for their own players. That being said, let’s jump right in.
The Best Goaltender of the Year has been won by Jake Manners of the Sioux Lookout Bombers. Manners had a great year as the main man in net for the expansion Bombers leading them to a 3rd place finish in the league. The ‘02 netminder was a workhorse logging the most games played of any goalie in the league at 39. He was exceptional throughout the year leading the SIJHL in goals against average at 2.35 and save percentage at .930%. Manners was also 2nd in the league in shutouts with 4. Manners name was consistently in the monthly awards discussion as he was Goaltender of the Month in January, he also earned honorable mention in October, November, and February. Manners final record on the year was 22-13-3. Stellar play all year long has led Manners to a win for Goaltender of the Year.