​AWARE tops SHL standings at mid-season

Photography by Tadamasa Nagayama

AS the Sport Corner, Siam Hockey League (SHL) reached mid-season AWARE was sitting atop the standings with an 8-2 record; the Sukhumvit Spitfires were in the second spot at 5-5; Expedia was third with a 4-6 mark, and Hertz was at the foot of the table with a 3-7 record.
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Expedia’s Juhani Ijas and Hertz’s Andy Brine were leading the stats race with 12 points each; Expedia’s Jordan Ashton and AWARE’s Devin Michael were tied for second with 10 points  and AWARE’s Phanuruj (Phu) Suwachirat, the early candidate for SHL rookie-of-the-year honors, was in third spot with 9 points.   

Phu is one of the most interesting stories of the year. At 16, he is the youngest player in the league, and at 175cm and 67kg is certainly not one of the biggest, but a combination of speed and tenacity have seen him excel against the veteran players in the league. He even garnered Rolling Stone Pizza player-of-the-game honours in AWARE’s recent 5-2 victory over Hertz.
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AWARE is looking like the team to beat as we head towards the SHL championship on March 17th. Despite using three different goaltenders, the team has gelled like no other. While other squads have been dogged by injuries or absences, the Patrik Lundback-led AWARE squad just seems to find ways to win. And speedster Corry Day continues to play as if he’s continually dipping into the fountain of youth. Nearing 50, Corry skates like a player in his early twenties, using that speed to score some highlight reel goals.

Hertz’s Carly Hill made history becoming the first woman to score a goal in SHL action. Carly won a silver medal at the 2003 Canada Winter Games, as a member of Team Quebec, as well as gold medals at two of the World University Games (2009 and 2011). She also played in the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League) for Montreal Stars and the Montreal Canadiennes. The 168cm, 58kg sized-Carly doesn’t back down from anyone and continues to amaze with her superb hockey sense and positional play.
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Come check out the SHL action if you can: games are Thursday and Sunday nights and are played at the Rink, 7th floor, Central Grand Rama IX; admission is free. 

Catch all the highlights of the SHL Big Chilli podcast: 
https://youtu.be/nBRV8q8RiKA
www.siamhockeyleague.com
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