CALGARY, AB – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) released the names of the five players that have been selected finalists for the CJHL’s Top Defenceman Award for the 2021-22 campaign, and Bandits defenceman Zach Bookman was named one of them.
Each of the finalists were determined through a voting process completed by the CJHL’s nine-member leagues, for their respective contributions over the course of the regular season. Bookman is also listed 163rd amongst North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings, released Thursday.
Bookman, 20, is in his second year with the Bandits and finished with 102 points (21g, 81a) in 60 games during the regular season. Through 9 playoffs games, he’s tallied 10 points (2g, 8a).
The Syracuse, NY product set three League Records in his final games of the regular season and finished third overall in the AJHL Scoring Race. The Merrimack College commit led all AJHL defencemen and rookies in scoring, setting new AJHL Records for most points by a defenceman (102), most assists by a defenceman (81) and most assists by a rookie (81).
He was recognized twice as the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week and four times as the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week. Bookman (Syracuse, NY) was also a finalist for AJHL Rookie of the Year and won the team award as Top Defenceman.
He was named to the AJHL South All-Rookie Team and AJHL South All-League Team.