NAHL announces monthly player awards for November
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its monthly player awards for the month of November. The Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month is Ben Almquist from the Austin Bruins. The Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month is Jake Beaune from the Aberdeen Wings. The Vaughn NAHL Goaltender of the Month is Richie Parent from the Shreveport Mudbugs. Only players who are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the NAHL monthly awards.
Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Ben Almquist, Austin Bruins
Austin Bruins forward Ben Almquist, 20, made the most of his nine games played in the month of November as he helped the Bruins stay in the thick of the playoff race in the Central Division. The 6’0/175 lbs. native of Victoria, Minnesota, recorded 13 points, including a league-high 9 goals during the month. That included four multi-point games and two game-winning goals to go along with a +6 rating. For the season, Almquist leads the Bruins in scoring so far this season with 23 points in 24 games played. “Ben being awarded forward of the month is something that our entire staff and his teammates are very proud of. Ben is a huge team player and he doesn’t look for or expect to win individual awards. He wants to get the Bruins a win every game. Our team had a good month and that helps earn individual success. We expect Ben and the rest of our players to keep playing well down the stretch. In the Central Division, every point in the standings is so important and hard to get,” said Bruins head coach Steve Howard.
“November by far was our best month as a team and I think that reflected in my performance because with team success usually comes individual success, so my teammates definitely played a big part in all that,” said Almquist. “We want to keep pushing hard and playing this way and make the playoffs. After that, anything can happen and we need to stay focused on getting wins. After that, I hope to play NCAA Division 1 hockey somewhere next season.”
Runner-Up: Oliver Kjaer, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jay Buchholtz, Minot Minotauros – Daniel Chladek, Bismarck Bobcats – Ryan Coughlin, Corpus Christi IceRays – Nate Horn, Minnesota Wilderness – Noah Kane, Maine Nordiques – Max Kouznetsov, Johnstown Tomahawks – Zach Krajnik, Kenai River Brown Bears – Mitch Machlitt, New Jersey Titans – Liam McCanney, Northeast Generals – Marko Reifenberger, Minnesota Magicians – Valerii Rykov, Jamestown Rebels – Dawson Sciarrino, Shreveport Mudbugs – Jordan Venegoni, Amarillo Bulls – Natan Vertes, Aberdeen Wings
Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Jake Beaune, Aberdeen Wings
Aberdeen Wings defenseman and captain Jake Beaune, 19, had a good month to help the Wings climb the Central Division standings with an 8-2-0 record during the month. The 6’3/190 lbs. native of Livonia, Michigan, recorded nine points in 10 games during the month, which included five goals from the blue line and a +4 rating. Beaune, who was the captain for Team NAHL during the 2019 Sirius Ice Hockey World Cup this past summer, currently leads all Aberdeen defensemen in scoring this season with 16 points in 23 games played. “Jake’s play in the month of November is a big reason for our team’s climb up a very competitive Central Division. He’s a player that leads on and off the ice and dedicates every ounce of his attention to the Aberdeen Wings,” said Wings head coach Scott Langer.
“We got off to a slow start and I think in November we came together as a team. Everyone is very positive right now and there is a great energy in the lockerroom. I want to just keep being a good leader and get better every day I touch the ice and hopefully a commitment will follow soon,” said Beaune. “I worked really hard this summer and that culminated with the best experience of my life so far in representing Team NAHL in Sochi. That really opened my eyes to the level hockey we played and experiencing playing for your country and league. I think it made me a lot better of a player and person.”
Runner-Up: Hampus Rydqvist, Maryland Black Bears
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Dylan Abbott, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Nikolai Charchenko, Minot Minotauros – Carl Fish, Bismarck Bobcats – Blake Holmes, Minnesota Wilderness – Renars Karkls, Jamestown Rebels – Blake Kryska, Minnesota Magicians – Tyler Love, Corpus Christi IceRays – Sam Miller, Shreveport Mudbugs – Joe Nagle, Northeast Generals – Ethan Prout, Maine Nordiques – Jaden Shields, Austin Bruins – Quinn Warmuth, Johnstown Tomahawks – Preston Weeks, Kenai River Brown Bears -
Vaughn NAHL Goaltender of the Month: Richie Parent, Shreveport Mudbugs
For the second time this season, a Shreveport Mudbugs goalie has been selected as a goaltender of the month. In November, it was 20-year-old goalie Richie Parent, who only gave up two goals in three wins, all on the road, during the month. The 6’0/172 lbs. native of Pensacola, Florida, posted a 3-0 record, a 0.67 goals against average, and a .975 save percentage in November. That included a 23-save shutout at Odessa on November 2nd, 31 saves in a 4-1 win at Lone Star on November 9th, and 23 saves in a 4-1 win in Corpus Christi on November 23rd. For the season, Parent currenly leads all NAHL goalies with a 1.36 goals against average and .951 save percentage. “The Mudbugs would love to congratulate Richie on being named goalie of the month. Richie has been one of our most consistent players in practice and games over the past two months so it’s nice to see him reaping the benefits of his consistency. We are very excited to start moving into to second half of the season as Richie being a big part of our goaltending tandem,” said Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell.
“I think playing on the road is a little easier for me. There are less distractions and has really helped the team bond and develop some good chemistry. I have gotten great support from my teammates and they are doing the little things to make me successful,” said Parent. “I have a great relationship with Maiszon and we push each other to get better every day, be it in practice and in games. He is a great person and friend and we have made one another better. I just want to get better every day and help my team get back to the Robertson Cup. Hopefully after that will come the opportunity to play NCAA and pro hockey.”
Runner-Up: Charlie Glockner, Amarillo Bulls
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Guy Blessing, Topeka Pilots – Ben Garrity, Minot Minotauros – Josh Graziano, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Wes Mankowski, Minnesota Magicians – Andrew Miller, Bismarck Bobcats – Brett Miller, Austin Bruins – Landon Pavlisin, Kenai River Brown Bears – Mattias Sholl, Fairbanks Ice Dogs - Joey Stanizzi, Northeast Generals – Henry Welsch, Aberdeen Wings – Noah West, Jamestown Rebels
