NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Oakville Blades rookie Evan Buitenhuis (photo credit - Shawn Muir/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month for October after finishing with a 5-1-2 record, including a 1.41 goals against average during the month.

The 6’2”, 185 lbs netminder continued his winning ways in October, but would improved statistically from September, while keeping the Oakville Blades at the top of the South Division standings. Playing all eight games for Oakville, Buitenhuis would only lose one game in regulation time, while allowing just 11 goals and posting three of his five victories by shutout; the first shutouts of his Junior ‘A’ career. His scintillating 1.41 goals against average was the best total in the OJHL among starting netminders during the month, while his .938 save percentage also ranked among the league leaders. His monthly totals moved him into the top ten in overall goals against average (2.45), while tying for the league lead with three shutouts.

Buitenhuis was thrilled to receive his first Junior ‘A’ award, “I would like to thank the OJHL. It's a real honour to receive the Goaltender-Of-The-Month award. I feel fortunate to be playing for such a great club as the Oakville Blades. They are very supportive and have put together a great team and have created an excellent environment for the players. The guys are awesome and they work hard every shift which makes my job easier. I am looking forward to the rest of the season and our team continuing to build on the success we have had so far.”

“The Oakville Blades would like to thank the OJHL for this great honour,” said the club’s General Manager Duncan Harvey. “Evan is a great example of what players in this league should strive for. He is a strong student athlete who focuses just as hard on his training as he does on his academics. Evan is a great young man and we are proud to have him as a Blade.”

Blades Head Coach Kevin Gomes echoed his GM’s sentiment, “Evan has proven to be the backbone for our young team and allowed all the players to play with confidence knowing Evan is back there.”|

Charlie Finn of the Kingston Voyageurs was runner-up to Buitenhuis as the OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Month. Finn led the Vees to a 3-1-4 record while posting a 1.92 goals against average and two shutouts, while facing 284 shots in just eight games played.
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Born on July 1, 1993 in Burlington, Ontario, Evan Buitenhuis is a product of the Burlington minor hockey program, playing ‘AA’ hockey before playing with the Niagara Falls Canucks minor midget club and then returning to play ‘AAA’ with the Burlington Eagles in 2009-10.

Following his minor hockey career, the netminder made the jump to junior hockey as a member of the Grimsby Peach Kings in 2010-11 at the age of 17. Continuing the fine tradition of stellar netminding with the Peach Kings, Buitenhuis produced a 17-2 record with a 2.73 goals against average and a .903 save percentage en route to winning not only the league championship, but the OHA Schmalz Cup with a four games to one victory over Alliston in the championship series. Teamed with veteran Brad Pope, the two were named the Niagara District Junior ‘C’ East Goaltender Award winners for the season.

Continuing his rise up the junior ranks, it was off to the Thorold Blackhawks Junior ‘B’ club next, where he would also excel among his peers. Buitenhuis would finish the regular season with an 18-8-2 record with five shutouts, a 2.55 goals against average and a .920 save percentage, while also copping GOJHL Golden Horseshoe Conference Goalie-of-the-Month honours for February. Ultimately his efforts were thwarted in the playoffs as the Hawks fell to the eventual league champion St. Catharine’s Falcons in the semi-final.

For the third consecutive year, Buitenhuis continued his ascent up the junior hockey ladder when he joined the Blades this season and has not disappointed those that recruited him, playing in all 18 games for the club thus far, while keeping them among the league’s elite.

About Gongshow Hockey, Inc.
In late 2002, three teammates from the Central Junior ‘A’ Hockey League celebrated a big win at a local Ottawa pub called Fathers and Sons. A few cold ones later, and inspired by the distinct lifestyle hockey players lived, they had an idea to make some buckets with Gongshow Hockey stitched on the front for their hockey buddies to rock around town.

Slowly but surely, word began to spread through tight-knit hockey circles about a brand that accurately represented what hockey players were all about. Soon, the lads found themselves teamed up with a roster of players united through their love and passion for the hockey lifestyle that they lived.

Today, the GSH boys feel excited and privileged to be part of such a powerful team that shares the goal of enjoying and spreading the Gongshow Lifestyle to hockey players all around the world…

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