NAHL Alumni Update
October 29, 2014
It was a big week for NAHL alumni both in the NHL and in the NCAA. Here is a look at some of the standouts in both:
Former NAHL forward and current Robert Morris senior Cody Wydo was named as Co-Player of the Week by the Atlantic Hockey Association. Last year's RMU scoring leader is on top of the team's list again after a four-point weekend at Army. After an assist in Friday's win, Wydo scored all three Colonials goals in Saturday's tie - his fourth career hat trick. The senior wing has 10 points (6g, 4a) this season and has scored at least a point in every game. Wydo played in the NAHL for two seasons (2009-11) and was the NAHL Forward of the Year during the 2010-11 season when he led the league in scoring.
An Amarillo Bulls and NAHL Alumni is sharing some weekly honors this week. Cody Freeman was selected as the Atlantic Hockey Co-Player of the Week following his great play over the weekend. Freeman led the Griffs to their first sweep of the season, recording four points, three goals and one assist in a pair of victories against AIC, including the game-winning third-period tally in each contest. In the opener, Freeman netted his first goal of the season in the opener, which proved to be the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory. He then matched his career high with three points in the finale, netting two goals to go along with one assist. After AIC grabbed the lead, Freeman registered an assist on a power-play goal to tie the game. He then netted two goals in the third period to give Canisius a 3-1 lead, which the team held on for a 4-2 victory. Overall, Freeman now leads the team with seven points (3g, 4a). Freeman played in the NAHL for the Bulls during the 2010-11 season.
Former NAHL and Minnesota Wilderness goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo was named the NCHC Rookie of the Week. Kaskisuo had a strong weekend in goal for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, backstopping them to a NCHC-opening split with No. 11 Denver. He compiled a .923 save percentage and a 2.02 goals-against average in the series with the Pioneers while going 1-1. On Friday, he suffered a 3-1 loss, despite making 19 saves and helping kill 3-of-4 DU power plays. On Saturday, he stopped 29 shots in a 6-1 victory, allowing only a power play goal while killing 4-of-5 Denver power plays. Kaskisuo conceded just two even strength goals in the series while helping UMD go 7-for-9 on the penalty kill and totaling 48 saves. Kaskisuo was named to the All-NAHL Midwest Division Team last season.
Former NAHL goalie Lukas Hafner was named as the NCHC Goalie of the Week. Hafner backstopped Western Michigan to a split with No. 16 Alaska, playing both games in net while compiling a 1.52 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage. He made at least 30 saves both nights, combining for 61 total, while allowing just three goals all weekend, including only one even strength, against a team that came in averaging 3.50 goals per game. On Friday, he made a season-high 31 saves, including six on UAF’s power plays, in a tough, 1-0 loss, as Alaska scored the game’s only goal on the power play. The next night, he stopped 30 more shots and gave up just two goals in a 4-2 victory to hand the Nanooks their first loss of the season, while one of the goals allowed came on a penalty shot. Hafner helped WMU go 8-for-9 on the penalty kill on the weekend, including 6-for-7 Friday. Hafner played in the NAHL during the 2009-10 season for the Marquette Electricians.
Former NAHL and Aberdeen Wings goalie Henry Dill was named as the Rookie of Week in Hockey East. In the first two Hockey East starts of his career for UMass, Dill kicked out a total of 69 shots, and posted a 2.51 GAA and a .932 save percentage, helping the Minutemen to 1-1-0 weekend on the road. He also backstopped UMass to its first Hockey East win of the year after making 42 saves en route to a 3-2 victory at Northeastern, and earned first star honors for his performance. Dill played in the NAHL last season for the Wings.
Former NAHL and Soo Indians goaltender Ryan Miller won his 300th NHL game as the Vancouver Canucks downed the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 on Tuesday night. Miller played in the NAHL for two seasons in 1997-98 and 1998-99. During his first season in the league, Miller made the NAHL All-Rookie Team. During his second season, he was named league MVP and made the All-NAHL 1st Team.
"It means I have been playing a while," said Miller. "It feels good. It's a collection of a lot of good teams, a lot of good players over the years. I'll take a little moment to reflect. It's been a lot of fun. Just winning's fun and I've gotten to do it quite a bit with some good guys. So I'll try and enjoy this."
Former NAHL goalie Scott Darling made and won his NHL debut back on October 26th as the Chicago Blackhawks posted a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Darling looked strong and steady in net during his NHL debut, stopping all 16 shots he faced in the third period and a total of 32 shots to earn his first career win.
Darling played and made his junior hockey debut in the NAHL during parts of two seasons, both with the North Iowa Outlaws during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
A battle of former IceRays netminders took place for the first time on Sunday in the American Hockey League as Pheonix Copley (2010-11) of the Hershey Bears and Anthony Stolarz (2011-12) of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms played in a rematch of the Flyers-Capitals rookie game on September 16. This time around, it was Copley that recorded the 3-0 victory, earning his second-straight shutout in a 22-save effort. Stolarz stopped 27 of 29 shots in his second game of the season. Copley is now 3-0-0 while Stolarz dropped to 0-2-0.
