FLORHAM PARK, NJ – The Metropolitan Junior Hockey League is pleased to announce its first “Three Stars of the Week” of the 2014-15 season. This week, the award is for the period ending September 21, 2014, covering the first two weeks of the regular season. The three stars program is a weekly award given to the top performers in MJHL games, regardless of position, for the previous week. The awards assist in determining top performers for the year-end awards.
This week, Walpole Express forward Orion Linnehan (’96 birth year/Stuart, Fla.) is the league’s 1st Star, Jersey Wildcats defenseman Connor Devereux (’96 birth year/Montville, N.J.) is the league’s 2nd Star and Vermont Lumberjacks forward Lucas Ethington (’96 birth year/Bryans Road, Md.) is the league’s 3rd Star.
Linnehan picks up the first, first star of the year, of the 2014-15 season after helping to pilot the Express to a 4-0 record with three wins over 2012-13 MJHL playoff participants. The Stuart, Florida native is tied for second in the league in goals with five and has added a pair of assists.
“Orion has been a leader since the moment he arrived in Walpole,” said Express Head Coach and General Manager Jon Lounsbury. “His work ethic and ability to find the net will help him have continued success throughout the season.”
Devereux picks up the second star this week after piloting the Wildcats to a 3-0 record, with all three wins coming against 2013-14 playoff teams. The second-year defensemen had a goal and an incredible eight assists in the three victories, ranking the Chester, New Jersey native second in assists and points after two weeks.
“Connor has made tremendous strides in his development since last year,” said Wildcats Head Coach Justin Stanlick. “Connor is showing [that] he will be one of the top offensive defenseman in the league.”
Picking up the third star is Ehtington, the MJHL’s leading scorer, with two goals and eight assists in three league games for the Lumberjacks. Ethington had a goal and three assists to help guide the Lumberjacks to a 5-3 win over the 2014 Keegan Cup Champion Boston Bandits, the franchise’s first MJHL victory.
“Lucas was voted the captain of our team for a reason,” said Lumberjacks Head Coach Chris Line. “His work ethic and passion for the game, and his teammates, is unmatched. Lucas isn't a natural scorer, but through his effort and determination, he has been able to produce for us thus far. I am very happy for him and look forward to seeing him develop even more throughout the year.”
Founded by former New York Rangers General Manager Emile Francis and now entering its 49th year of existence, making it the longest USA Hockey-sanctioned Junior hockey league in the United States, the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (MET League) has a membership of 23 teams spread across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions and prides itself on player development for athletes ages 16-20 who aspire to reach higher levels of junior, collegiate and professional hockey.
For more information on the MJHL, logo onto HTTP://WWW.METLEAGUE.ORG or on Twitter @METLEAGUE or on Facebook at HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MJHL