The Lakehead Thunderwolves RBC November Athletes of The Month are Kathryn Verboom of womens basketball, Brock McPherson and Kyle Moir of mens hockey, Yoosrie Salhia of mens basketball, Lindsey Johnson of womens volleyball, Aislynn Torfason of womens wrestling, and Colten Woznow of mens wrestling.
Media Conference Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn6fkrgeIP4
Kathryn Verboom: Womens Basketball: Forward: Fifth Year Senior: Thunder Bay, Ont.
Verbooms strong all-around play led the Wolves to a 7-3 OUA record in November; good for a tie in second place in the OUA West. She is third in OUA scoring with 18.12 ppg and eighth in conference rebounding with 8.12 per game.
Statistics
17.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 47 FG%, 36 3FG%, 72 FT%
3rd on team in assists & 2nd is steals per game.
Team's record in November: 7-3 (2nd in OUA West).
Highlights
1) 23 points, 8 rebounds in win over Queens
2) 22 points, 9 rebounds in win over Ryerson
3) 18 points, 12 rebounds vs Toronto
4) 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals & 9-11 FT in win over York
Head Coach Jon Kreiner on Verbooms November play. "Kathryn Verboom has led our team in the month of November. Her experience as a fifth-year player who has worked so hard for five years is showing up at key times in close games. Kathryn has developed into a very well rounded player; improved passing, improved understanding of the game; improved confidence to make plays at crunch time and great leadership. Although the success of our team in November has been the play of our team as a whole, Kathryn has been a consistent driving force night in and night out. Teams have to prepare for Kathryn and she has been able to find her teammates.
Brock McPherson: Mens Hockey: Junior: Forward: Brampton, Ontario.
The big centre from Brampton raised his game in the month of November; putting pu big offensive stats and playing tough and hard-nosed two way hockey. In nine games; he registered 9 goals and 7 assists. He had a 37.5% Shooting Accuracy during November and scored 5 powerplay goals and 3 game winners. He also helped bring Lakeheads powerplay up to a 23.5% scoring average. McPherson is fifth in OUA scoring and 9th in CIS scoring.
Kyle Moir: Mens Hockey: Sophomore: Forward: Calgary, Alberta
The sophomore netminder from Calgary had a huge month in November; registering 5 wins in 5 starts and posting a 5-0-1 Win/Loss mark in the month. Moir notched two consecutive road shutouts against Brock; a first in Lakehead history for a goalie and for the team. He had a GAA of 1.75 and SV% of .917 during the month of November as well. Moir leads the OUA and is second in the CIS with a GAA of 1.85.
Yoosrie Salhia: Mens Basketball: Freshmen: Post: Toronto, Ontario
Salhia has been a force on the boards and in scoring for the Wolves in his freshman season and he let the OUA and the CIS know that Lakehead has a player in the paint. In November; he notched 6 double-doubles in scoring and rebounding in 8 OUA games.
He leads the CIS and OUA in rebounding with 12.88 per game. He is also 17th in OUA scoring (second on the Wolves behind Kiraan Posey) with 15.5 ppg. Salhia is also 3rd in the OUA and 5th in the CIS in blocks with 2.12 per game.
If he continues playing at this level after the holiday break in the second half of the OUA regular season; Salhia would be a strong contender for not only OUA but CIS Rookie of the Year consideration.
Lakehead Head Coach Scott Morrison said he is very happy with Salhias development so far. "Yoosrie's play has steadily improved through the first half of the season. He has emerged as a low-post scoring threat in addition to his hard work on the glass. We will be counting on him to continue to provide his maximum effort and toughness in the paint each night again in the second semester."
Lindsey Johnson: Womens Volleyball: Fifth Year Senior: Whitby, Ontario.
Lindsay Johnson displayed the value in the month of November that a 5th year CIS senior athlete can. She was forced into the role of Setter when Back spasms claimed Jill Bodak.
Lindsay provided the club with 74 digs, 4 kills, 63 assists, 3 service aces, 53% perfect passing, a 3.1 out of 4 average in passing, and no less then 6 block assists while running an offence full of mid season injuries.
Head Coach Chris Green said Johnson displayed her talent and versatility well in November. Her energy and positive outlook made the weekend a success from the competitive side of things showing opponents we can adapt with some degree of versatility when called upon.
Aislynn Torfason: Womens Wrestling: Freshman: Winnipeg, Manitoba
The freshman grappler from Winnipeg began to show her potential by taking a silver medal at the Ontario Senior provincial championships held in Guelph, Ontario. Head Coach Owen Dawkins has high hopes for Torfason as the Wolves wrestle their way to the OUA and CIS championships in the second semester.
Coach Dawkins on Torfason; Aislynn has had a great month of November, with each and every tournament she attends and wrestles at; her confidence improves and this will result in more positive placings at future meets.
Colten Woznow: Mens Wrestling: Sophomore: Calgary, Alberta
The sophomore matman from Calgary had a very strong month of November as he took silver at the Mcmaster Open in Hamilton, Ontario and a bronze at the Ontario Senior Provincial Championships that took place in Guelph, Ont. Head Coach Owen Dawkins believes Woznow could make a big impact in the second half of the season after the holiday and exam break.
Coach Dawkins on Woznow: Colten, has been proving to be our team leader on and off the mat in the month of November. He medalled at two tournaments and narrowly missed out on another bronze. His future on the mats is limitless.