NAHL Alumni earn season-long honors
March 19, 2014
As NCAA Division I hockey conferences start to hand out their regular season awards, the list of those honored is filled with those who played in the NAHL previous to the current spots in the NCAA. Here is a look at some of the winners who are NAHL alumni:
The WCHA Coach of the Year was Bob Daniels from Ferris State University. Daniels not only played in the NAHL back in the late 1970’s for the Paddock Pools Saints, but he also was a three-time NAHL Coach of the Year when he coached in the league from 1983-86 for the Hennessey Engineers.
The WCHA Rookie of the Year is Alex Globke from Lake Superior State University. Globke is not only an NAHL graduate, playing for the Port Huron Fighting Falcons during the 2011-12 season, but he is also an NAPHL graduate as he played for the Detroit Falcons 16U team during the inaugural 2009-10 NAPHL season. Globke was also named to WCHA All-Rookie Team.
Former Traverse City North Stars and Ferris State goaltender C.J. Motte (2008-09) was named to the All-WCHA 1st Team and former Traverse City and current Ferris State teammate Garrett Thompson, who played for the North Stars in the NAHL from 2007-10, was named to the All-WCHA 2nd Team as a forward.
The NAHL had two alumni on the WCHA All-Rookie team including former Traverse City North Stars (2011-12) forward Kyle Schempp (Ferris State) and former Janesville Jets/Springfield Jr. Blues (2011-13) defenseman Ruslan Pedan (Bemidji State).
In the Big 10 Hockey conference, former Brookings Blizzard and current Ohio State defenseman Drew Brevig (2012-13) was named to the Big 10 All-Rookie team.
In the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), two alumni were named to the All-NCHC 1st team in St. Could State forward Nic Dowd (Wenatchee Wild, 2008-09) and Miami forward Austin Czarnik (USNTDP, 2008-09). Western Michigan forward Chase Balisy (USNTDP, 2008-09) and St. Could State goaltender Ryan Faragher (Bismarck Bobcats, 2009-11) were named to the All-NCHC 2nd Team.
Former Alexandria Blizzard and current North Dakota defenseman Paul LaDue, who played in the NAHL during the 2010-11 season, was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team.
In the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA), former Motor City Metal Jackets (2009-11) and current Robert Morris forward Cody Wydo was named to the All-AHA 1st Team, while former Wenatchee Wild (2008-10) and current Air Force defenseman Adam McKenzie and former Coulee Region Chill (2009-12) and current Bentley defenseman Matt Blomquist were both named to the All-AHA 2nd Team. Former Topeka RoadRunners (2008-10) and current Niagara defenseman Kevin Ryan was named to the All-AHA 3rd Team.
NAHL alums forward CJ Reuschlein (Texas Tornado/Aberdeen Wings) and goaltender Chris Truehl (Johnstown Tomahawks) were named to the All-AHA Rookie Team.
