NAHL announces 2016 Top Prospects rosters
January 25, 2016
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced the rosters for next month’s NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, presented by Easton, which will be held from February 15-16, 2016 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
The number of players each NAHL team is sending to the tournament, in which four teams from the four NAHL divisions: Central, East, Midwest and South and a special fifth NAHL Selects team, will each play in two game games, was based on each team’s winning percentage within their group as of January 19, 2016.
Only those NAHL players without an NCAA commitment at the time of selection are eligible to participate in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, with the exception of those who will be playing on the NAHL Selects team, or those that have been identified as a player of interest by NHL Central Scouting. Each of the teams consists of a 20-man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen, 2 goaltenders).
2016 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament Schedule (Eastern time)
Monday, February 15th
1:30pm: East Division vs. South Division
4:30pm: Midwest Division vs. NAHL Selects
7:30pm: Central Division vs. USNTDP 17-Team
Tuesday, February 16th
11:00am: Midwest Division vs. South Division
2:00pm: Central Division vs. East Division
5:00pm: NAHL Selects vs. USNTDP 17-Team
The head coach of the Central team will be Layne Sedevie from the Bismarck Bobcats and the assistant coach will be Kyle Grabowski from the Austin Bruins. The head coach of the East team will be Rich McKenna from the New Jersey Titans and the assistant coach will be Joe Coombs from the Aston Rebels. The head coach of the Midwest team will be Trevor Stewart from the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and the assistant coach will be Corey Millen from the Minnesota Wilderness. The head coach of the South team will be will be John LaFontaine from the Wichita Falls Wildcats and the assistant coach will be Dan Wildfong from the Lone Star Brahmas.
The NAHL has also announced that Minot Minotauros head coach Marty Murray will be the head coach of the NAHL Selects team, while Janesville Jets head coach Joe Dibble will serve as the assistant coach for the NAHL Selects team.
The NAHL is also pleased to announce that the US National Team Development Program (NTDP) 17-Team will also take part in the NAHL event. The NAHL and the NTDP have a rich and productive 12-year history together, as the NTDP was a full-time member of the NAHL from 1997-2009 and has been a part of the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the past two seasons.
In a very short period of time, the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament has become one of the most highly-scouted events of its kind. Last season, over 200 scouts attended the event, which featured almost every NHL team and NCAA Division I school. Over a third of the players that competed in last year’s event ended up with an NCAA Division I opportunity. Combined in 2016 with the NAPHL 18U and 16U Dixon Cup Championship Games and the NA3HL Top Prospect Tournament, it will make for an exciting week of hockey and provides a great opportunity for every scout and coach to get a close look the talent in the three leagues.
For more information on the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, visit www.nahl.com/tpt
