Defensive Player of the Week
Matt Benson – Kenora Thistles

The Manitoba AAA Midget League is pleased to announce that Matt Benson, of the Kenora Thistles, is this years first recipient of the DEKALB Defensive Player of the Week in the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League.

Matt stopped all 42 shots fired his way as he lead Kenora to its first win of the season against the Southwest Cougars, some of the spectacular variety. His outstanding play was the major difference in the game. Matt is from Dryden, Ontario. This sixteen year old is in his second year with the Thistles. Matt is a big goalie who moves well and has great quickness for his size.

Honourable mention went to defensemen Corbin Delichte, Pembina Valley Hawks and Cole Hamblin, Eastman Selects.

Offensive Player of the Week
Brandon Leipsic – Winnipeg Wild

The Manitoba AAA Midget League is pleased to announce that Brendan Leipsic of the Winnipeg Wild is the initial recipient of the 2009-10 Chicken Chef Offensive Player of the week award.

The 5′ 7" centreman proved that you don’t necessarily need to be big to play this game by having an assist and scoring the game tying goal in the Wild’s eventual shootout win over the Eastman Selects on Friday night. He then added another goal and three assists in the Wild’s 5-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings, notching 5 points in total. Brendan is one of three fifteen year olds playing with the Wild this year and has also recently been named to the Team Manitoba roster for the first ever Under 16 Western Canada Challenge Cup. He was drafted by the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL in the bantam draft.

Honorary mention also goes to Jared Morris of the Pembina Valley Hawks and Nick Kolebka, of the Eastman Selects.