Liam McGarva of the La Ronge Ice Wolves has been named the SJHL Goalie of the Month for November.
McGarva, a Fort Saskatchewan, AB product, posted an 8-1-1 record in November. He started the month with seven wins in seven starts, a streak that eventually came to an end with a 3-2 shootout loss Nov. 22 in Yorkton.
McGarva closed out his month with a 38-save shutout on Saturday at home when the Ice Wolves blanked the Melfort Mustangs 3-0. McGarva has picked up three shutouts this season and has posted a 2.66 GAA and .924 save percentage.
“It feels great (getting the award),” said McGarva. “At the beginning of the month, that was the goal I wanted. I accomplished it, so it feels pretty good.”
Heading into Tuesday’s action in the SJHL, McGarva led the league in wins with 14. He has a 14-6-3 record during the 2019-20 campaign. He currently leads the SJHL in saves with 743.
McGarva is not the only Ice Wolf getting some love from the league. James Philpott was the runner-up for the defenceman of the month award.
Philpott, a Calgary, AB, product, has nine points in 12 games since coming over in a trade with the Melville Millionaires at the end of October. Philpott has 22 points in 29 games this season. He sits fourth in scoring by defencemen.
“I like the fit here, I think everything has been working good,” said Philpott. “I’ve had great chemistry right off the bat with my defensive partner – Ben Manson. Just being able to play with some guys like Daylon Mannon, Kyle Ford, pretty much everyone on our team that can contribute in one way or another. It’s made the transition pretty easy.”
Meantime, the Ice Wolves are back in action Thursday in Pinehouse when they take on the Yorkton Terriers. The Ice Wolves are looking for their second straight win. La Ronge sits seventh in the very crowded SJHL standings with its 15-14-3 record. The Ice Wolves are just four points back of Melfort for third overall.
You can catch Thursday’s game on MBC Network Radio with Braden Malsbury. The pre-game show gets underway at 7:15 p.m.
(PHOTO: Liam McGarva. Photo courtesy of Marla Possberg.)