Austin Seibel (left) and Matthew Johnston of the North Okanagan Knights were award winners after the KIJHL's regular season. (Submitted photos)
By Pete McIntyre
Playoff time

North Okanagan Knights win KIJHL awards

Feb 15, 2023 | 1:30 PM

As the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) gets set to open its playoffs this weekend, the junior B league has announced its award winners for the regular season.

Two members of the North Okanagan Knights, based in Armstrong, copped awards from the Bill Ohlhausen Division.

Goaltender Austin Seibel of Coldstream was named Rookie of the Year.

The 18-year old finished fifth in wins with 16, which led all rookie goalies. He had two shutouts to go with a .926 SP and a 2.95 GAA in 29 games. Seibel closed out the regular season with four straight wins over Osoyoos, Kelowna twice and Summerland.

Knights forward Matthew Johnston was named Most Sportsmanlike Player in the division for the second straight season.

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The Salmon Arm product had 22 penalty minutes for the season. In 84 career KIJHL games, Johnston has 28 penalty minutes. The 5-11, 175-pound forward was second on the Knights with 45 points in 42 games.

The award winners are named from each of the league’s four divisions prior to the start of KIJHL playoffs, with overall league award winners named before the Teck Cup (league) Finals.

The Knights, who finished third in the Bill Ohlhausen Division in the regular season, take on the second place Osoyoos Coyotes in the first round of the playoffs, with the best of 7 series starting Friday night in the South Okanagan.

Game 2 will be Saturday at the Sun Bowl Arena, with games 3 and 4 at the Nor-Val Arena in Armstrong Monday, Feb. 20 and Wednesday, Feb. 22.

The Coyotes are lead by Jack Henderson of Quesnel who was named the divisions MVP and leadign scorer with 73 points in 38 games.

The Knights leading scorer was Kevin-Thomas Walters of Vernon with 24 goals, 30 assists for 54 points in 34 games.

For more on the playoff matchups, check the KIJHL website.

by Pete McIntyre
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