NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Georgetown Raiders netminder Knick Dawe has been named the Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month for December after finishing with a 5-0-1 record, including a sparkling 1.81 goals against average during the month.

The 6’, 180 lbs. native of Penetang, Ontario joined the Raiders as part of a trade on December 1 after spending the first three months of the season with the Stouffville Spirit. Following the deal, Dawe would ring off five consecutive victories, with his only loss coming in a shootout, along with a .934 save percentage to help the club work its way back in to contention for the West Division lead. Overall on the season, Dawe’s record is 13-6-6 with a 2.94 goals against average and .916 save percentage to earn a spot for the second consecutive year on the OJHL North Division All-Star Team at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge. He would miss the tournament, however, after officially signing with the Sarnia Sting where he will spend the rest of the 2012-13 season.

“Knick played very well for us,” said Raiders General Manager and Head Coach Greg Walters. “Very calm in the net, plays the puck very well, which was a huge help to our defence. It is a huge loss to our team (to Sarnia Sting), but we are very happy for Knick that he is moving up to the OHL.”

Nathan Perry of the Cobourg Cougars was runner-up to Dawe as the OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Month. Perry posted a 5-1-0 record with a 2.28 goals against average and .922 save percentage, while leading the OJHL East Division All-Star Team to victory at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge.
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Born on May 9, 1993 in Penetang, Ontario, Knick Dawe grew up playing initially in the Penetang Flames Minor Hockey Association before moving on to join the North Central Predators ‘AAA’ organization out of Orillia.

Dawe would begin to ramp up his game during two seasons of midget with the Predators from 2008-10. Although being passed over in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, he would earn an invitation following the season to the OMHA’s Under-17 Final Evaluation Camp. After improving his stock during his final season of minor hockey in 2009-10, Dawe would join the Aurora Tigers that summer, making the jump to the OJHL in 2010-11.

The 17-year old rookie would post a respectable 10-10-1 record with a 3.43 goals against average and .907 save percentage, despite the club bringing in seasoned veterans to carry the load throughout the season and into the playoffs. With a dream of playing in the OHL, Dawe’s performance in 2010-11 earned an invitation to the London Knights training camp the following fall. The experience served the netminder well upon returning to the OJHL, but this time as a member of the Stouffville Spirit. Teamed with Jon Hall between the pipes, the two led the Spirit on a remarkable run that was capped off with the club’s first OJHL Championship, before falling in the Dudley-Hewitt Cup regional championship held in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Dawe would improve his totals during the season to a 13-3-5 record with two shutouts, a 2.74 goals against average and a .911 save percentage, while also being selected as a member of the OJHL North Division All-Stars who would finish as runner-up at the inaugural Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

With a league championship under his belt, Dawe would attend the Sarnia Sting’s training camp entering this season and faced more adversity as one of the club’s final cuts entering the season. He would return to Stouffville on a mission, posting an 8-6-5 record, despite the loss of numerous key players from the previous year’s victory. His play was once again recognized with selection as a member of the OJHL North Division All-Star Team; however, unable to compete this time. On December 1 Dawe would be part of a five player blockbuster trade that would see him join the Georgetown Raiders, along with Spirit leading scorer Alex Botten and Jacob Bauchman. Dawe would instantly taste success with his newest club, only losing a single game of six played, in a shootout, before officially being signed by the Sarnia Sting. During his first weekend of play with Sarnia, Dawe would continue his stellar play, going 3-0 to help the Sting maintain their hold on first place in the West Division standings.