NCJHL All-Star Game and league awards in Vankleek Hill

The National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) All-Star Game is set for Sunday, February 20 in Vankleek Hill with the face-off at 1:30 p.m.

New this year, the day will include the banner presentations to the regular season division championship teams (east and west), as well as the season's individual awards earned by players in defined categories for their skills throughout the regular season.

Previously, the awards were handed out at the year-end banquet. Many more NCJHL fans, sponsors, teammates and league players will now have the opportunity to show their appreciation for this distinctive group of players.

Several formats for the rosters of the two All-Star teams are being looked at. The selection must take into consideration an equilibrium between the two teams in order that the fans witness strong and fast hockey at its best, as in past years.

What a great day this will be for hockey at all levels and age groups.

In other NCJHL news, the two-referee and one-linesman project between the NCJHL, the ODHA and the referee group is working well. In need of adaptation from players, coaches, and officials at the onset, statistics now denote a 27 per cent reduction in penalties to date.

The reduction was slow coming at the season start, but now the benefits of the project are showing. This allows teams to have better management of their rosters, game to game, and faster more competitive hockey for the fans.

For more information on the All-Star Game, visit www.ncjhl.com.