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Pasichnuk, McMann finalists for CJHL awards

Two high-achieving Pontiacs are back in the spotlight, this time on a national level. Brinson Pasichnuk and Bobby McMann have both been named as finalists for Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) awards.
Pontiac defenceman Brinson Pasichnuk is up for this year’s CJHL Top Defenceman Award.
Pontiac defenceman Brinson Pasichnuk is up for this year’s CJHL Top Defenceman Award.

Two high-achieving Pontiacs are back in the spotlight, this time on a national level.

Brinson Pasichnuk and Bobby McMann have both been named as finalists for Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) awards. Pasichnuk is up for the title of CJHL Top Defenceman and McMann has the opportunity to take the CJHL Top Forward Award.

“It's fantastic for both of those guys. Not only to be recognized within the AJHL as elite players and two individuals deserving of that, but to go onto the national stage amongst the 10 leagues in Canada and as well get recognized as a finalist within such a high group of young hockey players,” said Pontiacs head coach Rick Swan.

Each year, a candidate from each of the 10 leagues in the CJHL are nominated for both the Top Defenceman and Top Forward awards. The CJHL chooses five finalists for the awards, which are presented to the most outstanding player based on their individual performance during the regular season.

The selection process sees representatives from all 10 Junior A leagues rank their top five players from among the nominees. Rankings were then assigned a point value and the five players with the highest point total moved on to the final round of voting.

“I feel like a proud dad in a sense. Both those guys were young kids, they weren't Jr. A eligible when they came to our program. We knew that in order to get the trust from not only themselves, but from their families, they were looking at our organization as a place they could develop as players and people,” said Swan, adding that they knew from the beginning both players were going to go far.

“We knew that number one, they both had something special in them at a young age that allowed them to be able to play in our league at 17 years of age. They're also good character kids.”

The 18-year-old Pontiacs defenceman, Pasichnuk led all AJHL defencemen in scoring in the 2015-'16 season with 20 goals and 45 assists in 52 games played. He also topped all AJHL defencemen in game winning goals with five.

Averaging 1.3-points per game and recording 18 multi-point games, Pasichnuk was second in overall team scoring only to McMann. The assistant captain and second year Pontiac isn't new to receiving national and global attention. Pasichnuk represented Team West at the 2016 CJHL Prospects Game. Prior to that, in 2015, he won a gold medal with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge.

He was the only AJHL player to be identified in the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings and has committed to the NCAA Division I Arizona State University Sun Devils.

“Brinson, with the year that he's had, is extremely deserving. He is recognized with the NHL in terms of his CSS Rankings. Beyond the Bonnyville Pontiacs and Rick Swan, they equally see that he has some special gift and the potential for him in four years from now that he could be a pro player. He's getting that well-deserved recognition,” said Swan.

Pasichnuk is up against four other CJHL players for the title of Top Defencemen: Brett Orr of the Portage Terriers, Dante Fabbro with the Penticton Vees, Oakville Blades' Patrick Kudla, and Jonathan Fillion who plays for College Francais de Longueuil.

Already league MVP, 19-year-old McMann is a finalist for CJHL Top Forward. During his third season with the Pontiacs, McMann notched 68 points, averaging 1.4 points per game. In 47 games played he recorded 36 goals, making him the second highest scorer in the league. He also had the most game winning goals of all AJHL players with nine.

McMann brought home a gold medal as a player with Team Canada West in the 2015 World Junior A Challenge. He has committed to NCAA Division I Colgate University.

“Bobby, both from a forward and most valuable player perspective, he definitely represents league,” said Swan. “Bobby is a special kid in terms of being a good mentor for young kids that are looking to be the best they can be. All you have to do is watch his work habits. He's the first on and the last one off the ice and the hardest worker trying to improve every day.”

Also vying for the title of CJHL Top Forward are: Brad Bowles of the Portage Terriers, Pentiction Vees' Tyson Jost, Luc Brown with the Wellington Dukes and Melfort Mustangs' Travis Mayan.

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