The Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves might not have been able to score like the top end teams in the league, but they were pretty much on par with the best in the GNML at keeping the puck out of their net in 2019-2020.

Much of the credit, in this regard, goes to goaltender Jake Marois, who was rewarded for his work between the pipes, named both as Top Goaltender and All-Star Goaltender, the only member of his team recognized when the northern midget "AAA" loop doled out the hardware about a week ago.

Despite the fact that the Caps finished in fourth place, albeit just a point back of the North Bay Major Trappers, Marois would lead all puckstoppers with a 2.16 goals against average, comfortably ahead of Gavin Disano (2.57) of the Soo Greyhounds.

Marois played in 22 of his teams 38 games, surrendering just 46 goals, while also posting three shutouts, tying him for the league lead with Caleb Sanders of the North Bay Minor Trappers.

"I think this was one of my strongest seasons," said Marois. "I think getting lots of shots helped me become better, especially towards the end of the season." A mainstay with a very talented 2003-group that were extremely competitive, provincially speaking, at the minor midget level, the grade 11 student at College Notre-Dame provided a bit of a scouting report on his strengths between the pipes.

"I think I am really fast, I have a lot of speed," he said. "It helps me a lot on backdoor plays, or on breakaways, with guys coming in with a lot of speed. I see the puck really well, and I know the game very well, too."

Following is a complete breakdown of the GNML award winners, with the season halted due to COVID-19 on exactly the same day the year-end tournament had commenced in Kapuskasing:

Most Valuable Player - Ryan Maynard (Kapuskasing)
Top Forward - Nathaniel Lalonde (North Bay)
Top Defenceman - Ryan Maynard (Kapuskasing)
Top Goaltender - Jake Marois (Sudbury)
Top Defensive Forward - Will Rivet (North Bay)
Most Gentlemanly Player - Alex Little (North Bay)
Rookie of the Year - Devin Mauro (Sault Ste Marie)
Coach of the Year - Steve Polyblank (New Liskeard)
Trainer of the Year - Andre Guenette (North Bay)
Trainer of the Year - David Losier (Kapuskasing)
Manager of the Year - Stephane Tremblay (Kapuskasing)

GNML Minor Midget Awards
Minor Midget Most Valuable Player - Devin Mauro (Sault Ste Marie)
Top Minor Midget Forward - Nico Laforge (North Bay)
Top Minor Midget Defenceman - Mason Chitaroni (Sault Ste Marie)
Top Minor Midget Goaltender - Noah Metivier (Sault Ste Marie)

2019-2020 GNML All-Stars
Forward - Nathaniel Lalonde (North Bay)
Forward - Michael Chaffay (Sault Ste Marie)
Forward - Devin Mauro (Sault Ste Marie)
Defenceman - Ryan Maynard (Kapuskasing)
Defenceman - Alex Little (North Bay)
Goaltender - Jake Marois (Sudbury)