NAHL Alumni Update

February 27, 2015

NAHL alumni swept the WCHA weekly awards this past week. Others were honored in their respective NCAA Division III conferences, which are beginning their playoffs.  Even more have recently made commitments to play NCAA Division I hockey, and finally, a former NAHL Top Prospects goalie picked up his first NCAA win on Thursday night.

 

Bauman helped Bemidji State to a WCHA series sweep of visiting Alaska Anchorage, netting a pair of goals in Friday's 3-2 triumph and finishing the weekend with a +3 on-ice rating. The freshman from Apopka, Fla. gave the Beavers an early lead with a goal just 1:56 into the game; then, with BSU trailing 2-1, he tallied the game-tying strike in the second period. The multi-goal game stood as the first of the rookie's career, while he is tied with Matt Prapavessis for the team's lead with five multi-point games. Bauman leads all Beavers freshman with seven goals, while the first-year collegian tops BSU with 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in 13 games since Jan. 1. Bauman played two seasons in the NAHL for the Wichita Falls Wildcats from 2012-14 and also played in the NAPHL for the Pikes Peak Miners during the 2009-10 season.

 

Seckel lifted Northern Michigan to a road sweep at Bowling Green, factoring in three of the Wildcats' four goals in Saturday's 4-3, come-from-behind victory. The senior from Melvin, Mich. ignited NMU's comeback from a 3-0 deficit by assisting on the Wildcats' first goal, then netting the team's second and third goals – including the game-tying strike with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation. Seckel finished with seven shots on the weekend, while his Saturday effort marked a season-high for goals and points. Seckel played in the NAHL for the Topeka RoadRunners during the 2007-08 season.

 

Motte led Ferris State to a weekend road sweep at Alabama Huntsville as the Bulldogs clinched a spot in the 2015 WCHA playoffs and kept their hopes alive for potential home ice advantage. The senior from St. Clair, Mich. posted a 1.50 goals against average and stopped 43-of-46 shots for a .935 save percentage in a pair of one-goal wins. Motte tallied 18 saves in a 2-1 victory Friday and recorded 25 saves Saturday in a 3-2 triumph, while making several critical stops late in both contests. Two of the three goals he allowed on the weekend were power-play markers. Motte played in the NAHL during the 2008-09 season for the Traverse City North Stars.

 

After earning Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week accolades for two consecutive weeks, Petersen becomes the first goalie this season to be recognized as the Warrior Hockey Player of the Week. He stopped 78 of 82 shots over two games at No. 2 Boston University, including 44 of 46 in a 3-2 win Saturday. Petersen helped Notre Dame become the first team this season to take points from the Terriers in two games. Petersen played in the NAHL during the 2011-12 season for the Topeka RoadRunners.

 

Goalie Nick Lehr, who played for the Austin Bruins and in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament last season, posted his first NCAA win on Thursday night making 21 saves in a 5-3 win over Michigan State (Story)

 

Former Coulee Region Chill and current University of North Dakota forward Connor Gaarder brings uniqueness, relentlessness to the team (Story)

 

Former Amarillo Bulls forward Mike Davis was named Rookie of the Year in the NCAA Division III ECAC West Conference.

 

Former Michigan Warriors forward Colin Larkin was named Rookie of the Year in the NCAA Division III ECAC East Conference. The Massachusetts-Boston freshman tallied nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 25 games.

 

Former NAHL defenseman Alec Thieda (Kenai River, Texas, Motor City) was named to the All-ECAC East 1st Team as a defenseman.

 

Former Janesville Jets defenseman Grant Frederic (2013-14) has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Miami University in the NCHC.

 

Former Soo Eagles forward Derek Lodermeier (2013-14) has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Army in Atlantic Hockey.