NAHL Alumni Update

March 15, 2018

The sophomore netminder posted back-to-back shutouts in the Bulldogs’ NCHC quarterfinal sweep of Western Michigan. In Friday’s series opener he stopped all 26 Bronco shots in a 5-0 victory. On Saturday it was more of the same as he made 19 saves in a 2-0 win. The Cohasset, Minn. native now has eight shutouts on the season and a .927 save percentage, while lowering his goals-against average to 1.92.

 

Northern Michigan's surprising run to second in the WCHA standings was fueled by many factors, including Tolvanen's play in net. Despite missing six games due to injury, the native of Vihti, Finland tied for the league lead with 17 WCHA wins and ranked second with a .773 winning percentage in his 22 starts (17-5-0). He also was second in the league with a .917 save percentage and two shutouts (tied), while finished third with a 2.05 goals-against average.  The junior, who in 2016-17 set the WCHA Men's League record with five-consecutive shutouts, yielded two-or-fewer goals in 13 of his league starts (including two shutouts and four games with just a single goal allowed). Tolvanen enters Saturday's WCHA Championship tied for the NCAA lead with 23 overall wins (23-9-1).

 

Princeton freshman netminder Ryan Ferland was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie and Goaltender of the Week. Ferland went 2-0 as Princeton upset No. 2 seed Union in a quarterfinal sweep. He stopped 53 shots and allowed five goals as Princeton won 5-3 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday. It was the first time Princeton defeated Union since 2009 and first wins at Messa Rink since 2008. Ferland finished the weekend with a .914 save percentage and a 2.50 goals against average.

 

Wilkins scored both game-winning goals for Providence in a sweep of Maine, lifting the Friars into the Hockey East semifinals. Each win was a one-goal victory for Providence. He tallied three points total on the weekend.

 

Former NAHL and current Ohio State University goaltender Tommy Nappier (Springfield Jr. Blues) was named to the All-B1G Rookie Team.

 

Tomas Sholl of the Idaho Steelheads is the CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week for March 5-11. Sholl went 1-0-1 with a 1.39 goals-against average and a save percentage of .947 in two appearances last week. The 23-year-old turned aside 23 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to Allen in his Steelheads’ debut on Wednesday and made 31 saves in a 3-2 overtime win against Kansas City on Saturday. A native of Hermosa Beach, California, Sholl has appeared in 10 ECHL games this season with Idaho and Adirondack posting an overall record of 6-0-2 with a 1.89 goals-against average and a save percentage of .941. He began the season in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Macon and Evansville where he was 14-3-3 with one shutout, a 2.53 goals-against average and a save percentage of .917.

 

Former NAHL (Wichita Falls Wildcats) and NAPHL alum Kyle Bauman (Bemidji State) has signed a pro contract with the LA Kings organization (read)

 

Former NAHL (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) and NAPHL alum Justin Woods (Alaska-Fairbanks) has signed with the Jacksonville Icemen in the ECHL (read).

 

Former NAHL (Port Huron Fighting Falcons) forward Mitch Maloney (Ferris State) has signed with the Wichita Thunder in the ECHL. (read)

 

Former NAHL (Wenatchee Wild) defenseman Zach Frye (Alaska-Fairbanks) has signed with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL (read).

 

Former NAHL (Alexandria Blizzard) goaltender Michael Bitzer (Bemidji State) has signed with the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL (read).

 

Former NAHL (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) forward Viktor Liljegren (RPI) has signed with the Reading Royals in the ECHL (read).