NAHL Alumni Update

January 8, 2015

It was a big week for several NAHL alumni as hockey in the NCAA returned after a holiday break. Here is a look at some of those honored:

 

Marooney supplied both game-winning goals as Alabama Huntsville posted its first-ever WCHA series sweep and first brooming of a D-I opponent since Jan. 29-30, 2010. The sophomore from Eden Prairie, Minn. needed just three shots to bury his two game-winners against Alaska Anchorage, while his Saturday night strike at the 12:50 mark of the second period snapped a 1-1 tie and provided the final 2-1 margin. Marooney played in the NAHL during the 2012-13 season for the Brookings Blizzard and the 2010-11 season for the Aberdeen Wings.

 

McHugh had a three-point weekend against Alaska Anchorage and played a large role in Alabama Huntsville's first-ever WCHA sweep. The freshman from Seattle, Wash. logged his first career two-goal performance in Friday's 3-2, series-opening victory, before tallying an assist on the Chargers' equalizing goal on Saturday as UAH rallied from a one-goal deficit to win, 2-1. McHugh now leads all WCHA rookies with 15 points, while his seven goals are tied for fifth nationally (just one shy of the NCAA co-leaders). McHugh spent three seasons in the NAHL, all with the Wenatchee Wild from 2010-13.

 

Zink scored three times en route to being named tournament MVP at the Mariucci Classic, his second holiday tournament MVP award of the year. He the River Hawks capture the Mariucci Classic title with wins over RIT and No. 18 Merrimack. The sophomore defenseman scored the game-winning goal in Saturday night's championship game and leads all NCAA Division I defensemen with eight goals. Zink played in the NAHL for the Brookings/Alexandria Blizzard and Jamestown Ironmen from 2011-13.

 

Tirronen wins Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week accolades for the second time this season. The senior netminder stopped a career-high 40 shots in a 3-2 win against No. 8 Minnesota and upped that mark with 41 saves the following night in a 3-1 loss against No. 7 UMass Lowell in the tournament final. He finished the Mariucci Classic with a 2.50 GAA and .942 SV%. Tirronen played in the NAHL for the Topeka RoadRunners during the 2010-11 season.

 

Allen Americans forward Chad Costello has been named the CCM ECHL?Player of the Month for December. Costello, who was also the ECHL?Plus Performer of the Month, scored 11 goals, added 17 assists and was a +14 in 13 games as Allen went 9-1-3 during December. The 28-year-old recorded at least one point in all but one game during the month and had nine multiple-point games. Among his multi-point performances were a four-point night (2g-2a) in a 5-4 win against Tulsa on Dec. 20 and five three-point games. A native of Johnston, Iowa, Costello leads the ECHL with 32 assits and in plus-minus with a +25 rating and is second with 49 points. Costello played in the NAHL for the Wichita Falls Wildcats during the 2004-05 season.

 

Former NAHL’ers Connor Hellebuyck, Matt Taormina and Chris Wideman were all named to the American Hockey League (AHL) All-Star Team. Hellebuyck played in the NAHL for the Odessa Jackalopes during the 2011-12 season. Taormina played in the NAHL for the Texarkana Bandits during the 2004-05 season and Wideman played for the St. Louis Bandits in 2006-07.

 

Former NAHL MVP Joe Kalisz doing big things at Wisconsin-Stevens Point (story)