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Whitehorse native Simon Isabelle was recently named CCM player of the week and Player of the Month in the Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL)

Isabelle, 20, tallied three goals and three assists in three games to win the Weekly award. He led the league with 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 13 games in October to capture Player of the Month honours.

The CCHL is considered a Junior A level and a feeder league for Major Junior A and the NCAA hockey programs.

The 5鈥�10鈥�, 161 pound Right Winger (as per eliteprospects.com) was born in Whitehorse, but after two years, his family moved to Quebec.

Two years ago, his parents decided to move back to the Yukon and live in Whitehorse.

He is currently taking a class at the University of Ottawa in the Civil Engineering program.

Isabelle explains how he ended up in Ottawa.

鈥淭wo years ago I was playing in Quebec ... and my coach decided to quit, so 鈥� I really liked that coach and so I decided to quit the team too and join the 鈥� he referred me to the Ottawa Junior Sens so that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 here now.鈥�

Isabelle is proud of the awards.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty nice to receive those awards. I鈥檝e been putting in some work so it鈥檚 pretty nice to have some results; pretty proud of it.鈥�

Isabelle says his team enables him to play at such a high level.

鈥淔or sure we have a pretty good team, so it鈥檚 easier for me to play with those guys, because I know they鈥檙e good for me too, but I work hard during the summer ... so that might be why I鈥檓 doing good right now.鈥�

During the summer, Isabelle is in the gym, and on the ice at least four times a week.

鈥淚 work hard on the ice and in the gym.鈥�

Does he work on power skating?

鈥淢ore like skill stuff and do pickup games ... to keep the shape.鈥�

Isabelle plays on the number one line in Ottawa. This is his second year in Ottawa, although, according to eliteprospects.com, Isabelle didn鈥檛 play any games last season.

鈥淟ast year we didn鈥檛 really play much because of COVID ... we only played exhibition games against ... the same team.鈥�

Not surprisingly for a scoring leader, Isabelle has some notable strengths in his game.

鈥淚鈥檓 pretty good with the puck. I have a good hockey IQ. I love to pass it. I鈥檓 good in face-offs too. I think I can skate pretty well, too.鈥�

Isabelle is more of a passer than a shooter. He models his game after Matthew Barzal, a centre with the New York Islanders. He is an assistant captain with the Junior Sens.

鈥淚 always liked to be a leader on teams ... I鈥檓 pretty proud of it this year,鈥� related Isabelle.

As with all young players, Isabelle has room to improve.

鈥淒efensively sometimes ... that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 working on this year. I鈥檇 like to work on my shot too, a bit and be more dangerous.鈥�

He has had some major influences in his life that contributed to his success.

鈥淚鈥檇 say my dad,鈥� relates the young phenom. 鈥淢y dad pretty much coached me all my life and he鈥檚 the one that coached me when I was really young and he started me really young, so he helped me a lot.

鈥淚鈥檝e got a few coaches I can think of in high school .... but I鈥檇 say my dad for sure.鈥�

Another coach Isabelle lists as a key contributor to his career is Louis-Philippe Blanchet, who coached Isabelle during his time with the Saint-Hyacinthe Laur茅ats of the QCHL (Ligue de Ligue de Hockey Coll茅giale du Qu茅bec).

Isabelle is listed as a Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) commit. He is planning on playing there next season, and is looking at a four-year stint there. Isabelle would continue to pursue a career in Civil Engineering at RIT.

What about if someone offers him a pro contract?

鈥淚 would consider it for sure, because I love hockey, but I don鈥檛 know, I guess we鈥檒l see.鈥�

As for how far he wants to take his career 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, honestly, I pretty much just go with the flow. I鈥檒l see after my years at RIT. If I do good, I might go in Europe or something, but right now I don鈥檛 really know. I鈥檓 just excited to go next year and go to the United States and play hockey.鈥�

Needless to say, Isabelle would like it if the NHL or Team Canada came calling.

鈥淔or sure, I would like that, but I need to work hard a lot to go there because I鈥檓 getting old now.鈥�