Friday, November 4, 2016
BC Hockey announced that Eli Zummack of the Okanagan Rockets has named the Major Midget League (MML) Player of the Month for October 2016.The 5’10” forward from Kelowna, BC racked up 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) in six (6) games.
Zummack serves as the captain of the Rockets and has been called up to play games for the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs. He was also named to Team Canada Black at the 2016 World U17 Hockey Challenge taking place this month in Sault Ste Marie, ON.
Said Rockets General Manager Braden Pistawka, “Eli has been every bit of a leader in all aspects since being named captain of the Rockets. He pushes all players in every practice and game with his on ice capabilities. He demonstrates small acts that show his character. He stays late after every practice to ensure the dressing room is clean, waits for every player to get off the bus before leaving, does pushups with the losing team during scrimmages, and shows genuine care for all his teammates. His on-ice stats speak for themselves. He plays in every situation for the Rockets. He not only represents himself, our club, and the entire league in the most professional manner.”
Off the ice, Zummack volunteers with the “Reading with the Rockets” initiative, spending time each week before practice reading with children at the Okanagan Regional Library.
Zummack was chosen from a high-calibre list of other nominees, including: Mason Richey (Cariboo Cougars), Jonathan Rees (Fraser Valley Thunderbirds), Christopher Douglas (Greater Vancouver Canadians), Jaysen MacLean (Kootenay Ice), Keaton Mastrodonato (North Island Silvertips), Evan Easton (South Island Royals), Seiji Brown (Thompson Blazers), Reece Klassen (Valley West Hawks), Ethan Leyh (Vancouver North East Chiefs), and Jesse Makaj (Vancouver North West Giants).
The MML was established in 2004 to provide elite level 15, 16 and 17 year olds an opportunity to play within their own age group at a high level and be developed for the next level of hockey. These teams have an opportunity each year to compete for the TELUS Cup, Canada’s National Midget Championship.