Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Benjamin Casavant of the P.E.I. Rocket is the Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 1. Casavant scored six goals and two assists for eight points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.
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Casavant scored his 33rd and 34th goals of the season on Thursday night in Halifax and was named second star of the game despite the 4-2 loss to the Mooseheads. On Saturday he would produce his best offensive game of his young career scoring his first QMJHL hat-trick when he helped the Rocket come from behind to beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 5-3. Casavant had the game-winning goal and added an assist on the insurance marker for four points as the game’s first star. On Sunday the Rocket would get their revenge on the Mooseheads at home in P.E.I. with a 6-4 win where Casavant contributed a goal and an assist as third star of the game.
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Casavant, an 18-year-old from St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, is in his second QMJHL season with the Rocket but was selected ninth overall by Rouyn-Noranda at the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft. He leads the Rocket and is currently 13th in league scoring with 38 goals and 34 assists for 72 points in 62 games. Casavant is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
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Mitch Fadden of the WHL’s Tri-City Americans was considered for the award after leading the Americans to four wins on the week while scoring six goals and one assist for seven points in four games. Fadden was the first star Saturday with two goals in a 5-2 victory over division rivals the Spokane Chiefs. Mark Katic of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting was also considered after scoring one goal and six assists for seven points in three games. The Sting won all three contests including a 4-2 victory over the OHL’s top ranked Windsor Spitfires 4-2 on Friday where Katic was second star of the game with three assists.
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2008-09 Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week
Mar. 3 – Benjamin Casavant, P.E.I. Rocket
Feb. 24 – Matt Caria, Plymouth Whalers
Feb. 17 – Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Feb. 10 – Yannick Riendeau, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Feb. 3 – Drayson Bowman, Spokane Chiefs
Jan. 27 – Paul Byron, Gatineau Olympiques
Jan. 20 – Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings
Jan. 13 – Steven Anthony, Saint John Sea Dogs
Jan. 6 – Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Dec. 16 – Robert Slaney, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Dec. 9 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Dec. 2 – Andrej Nestrasil, Victoriaville Tigres
Nov. 25 – Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 18 – Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs
Nov. 11 – Yannick Riendeau, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Nov. 4 – Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars
Oct. 28 – Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets
Oct. 21 – Matthew Pistilli, Shawinigan Cataractes
Oct. 14 – Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 7 – Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 30 – Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 23 – Michael Stinziani, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles