January 12, 2022 – Brooks Bandits defenceman Zach Bookman has been named the Alberta Junior Hockey League Alberta Ford Dealers Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, the league announced on Wednesday.
Bookman, 19, closed out 2021 with a four-point game on New Year’s Eve with four assists in a 6-3 win versus the Blackfalds Bulldogs and was selected as the Viterra AJHL Star of the Game. The New Year opened with a 13-0 shutout of the Calgary Canucks and another four-point game for Bookman (1G, 3A). On January 5th, Zach added two assists versus the Grande Prairie Storm in a 7-1 Bandit victory.
Bookman set a new team record for most points in a single season by a defenceman with 76 on January 7th, passing Cale Makar and Dennis Cesana who previously had 75-point seasons. He scored a goal and two assists in the record breaking night, which saw the Bandits defeat the Bonnyville Pontiacs 8-3, and was awarded with his 5th Viterra AJHL Star of the Game selection.
Bookman leads all AJHL defenceman in scoring and is third overall in the AJHL with 77 points (18G, 59A).
Bookman has been listed 208th among North American Skaters on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Season Rankings ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft. He is committed to Merrimack College of the NCAA Division I.
Pizza 73 AJHL Player of the Week Recipients:
October 11-17, 2021: Ryan McAllister, Brooks Bandits
November 22-28, 2021: TJ Hughes, Brooks Bandits
Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week:
September 17-19, 2021: Brendan Kennette, Brooks Bandits
October 11-17, 2021: Zach Bookman, Brooks Bandits
November 8-14, 2021: Zach Bookman, Brooks Bandits
November 22-28, 2021: Zach Bookman, Brooks Bandits
December 29, 2021 – January 9, 2022: Zach Bookman, Brooks Bandits
Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week:
November 1-7, 2021: Zach Bookman, Brooks Bandits
The Bandits next game is Wednesday, January 12 in Blackfalds. Live coverage on Real Country 105.7 FM begins at 6:45 PM.