NAHL announces Bauer Hockey Stars of the Week
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending December 10, 2023. The Divisional Stars of the Week is a weekly feature during the 2023-24 season that honors the top performing players in each of the four NAHL divisions. Only players that are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the Divisional Players of the Week award.
Central Division Star of the Week: Nikolai Tishkevich, Forward, Aberdeen Wings
Aberdeen forward Nikolai Tishkevich, 19, helped his team pick up their first weekend sweep of the season as the Wings picked up two wins in St. Cloud against the Norsemen. The 5’11/185 lbs. native of Minsk, Belarus, recorded four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in the two road wins. On Friday, he had a goal in a 3-2 shootout win. On Saturday, he recorded two more goals and added an assist in a 4-3 win. For the season, Tishkevich has recorded 16 points in 22 games played to date. “Niko’s play this weekend is indicative of how much he works on his game. He loves the game, and it shows daily. This weekend his leadership came through and allowed us to win two games against a very good opponent,” said Wings head coach Scott Langer.
2nd Star: Colby Woogk, D, Minot Minotauros
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Tommy Cronin, F, Bismarck Bobcats – Adam Dybal, G, Aberdeen Wings – John Emmons, F, Minot Minotauros – Matthew Rafalski, D, Bismarck Bobcats
East Division Star of the Week: Jacob Osborne, Goaltender, Johnstown Tomahawks
Johnstown goalie Jacob Osborne, 20, helped the Tomahawks pick up a weekend road sweep of the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. The 6’1/190 lbs. native of Ottawa, ON, stopped 88 of 91 shots in the two wins. On Friday, Osborne posted a 44-save shutout in a 3-0 win. On Saturday, he made 44 saves on 47 shots in a 6-3 win. For the season, Osborne has a 12-3-1 record in 17 games played with a 3.15 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. “Jacob was a rock for us in net this past weekend helping our team to two very important road wins. He made routine saves as well as big saves when needed. He was competing all weekend long like he does every night for us when he is in net. The shutout Friday was a big way to kick off the weekend for us, and then Saturday the 1st period was a little chaotic, and he calmed the game down helping us to our second win of the weekend. As we wrap up the first half of the season, and move towards the back half, it will be imperative for us to have Jacob continue to play at a very high level for our team,” said Johnstown head coach Mike Letizia.
2nd Star: Shane Kozlina, F, Maine Nordiques
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Luke Arnell, D, Maryland Black Bears – Jack Fialkoff, G, Philadelphia Rebels – Brendan Kimball, D, Northeast Generals – Will Moore, F, Johnstown Tomahawks – Charles Panchisin, F, Philadelphia Rebels – Nick Reif, F, New Hampshire Mountain Kings – Colin Ronan, G, Maryland Black Bears – Landon Steffen, F, New Hampshire Mountain Kings – Charles Tardif, F, Maine Nordiques – Jacob Wilson, F, Northeast Generals
Midwest Division Star of the Week: Nick Erickson, Goaltender, Minnesota Wilderness
Minnesota Wilderness goalie Nick Erickson, 19, helped his team to two home wins over the weekend in their three-game series against Fairbanks. The 6’3/180 lbs. native of Apple Valley, MN, posted back-to-back shutouts on Friday and Saturday, stopping all 74 shots that cam his way. On Friday, he made 35 saves in a 5-0 win, and then on Saturday, he stopped all 39 shots through regulation and overtime, and then stopped all four Ice Dogs shooters in a 1-0 shootout win. For the season, Erickson has a 5-2-1 record in 8 games played with a 1.67 goals against average and a .944 save percentage. “Nick has done an outstanding job for our organization so far. It’s great to see him gain some confidence before we head into break. We couldn’t be prouder of the compete that he played with over the weekend. Nick is a great goalie, and we are very happy to see him get rewarded for the work that he has put in,” said Wilderness head coach Colten St. Clair.
2nd Star: Everett Pietila, F, Wisconsin Windigo
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Liam Beerman, G, Anchorage Wolverines – JJ Cataldo, G, Springfield Jr. Blues – Tyler Grahme, F, Wisconsin Windigo – Tyler Krivtsov, G, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Jackson Lackas, F, Chippewa Steel – Marc Lund, F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Alessandro Lurati, F, Minnesota Wilderness – Peyton Platter, F, Chippewa Steel – Nick Sajevic, F, Janesville Jets – Oliver Salo, F, Anchorage Wolverines – Nicholas Stevens, F, Kenai River Brown Bears – Christian Venticinque, F, Janesville Jets
South Division Star of the Week: Frank Tafelski, Forward, El Paso Rhinos
El Paso forward Frank Tafelski, 20, helped his club pick up a three-game weekend home sweep over the New Mexico Ice Wolves. The 6’0/180 lbs. native of Troy, MI, recorded five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in the three wins. On Friday, Tafelski had an assist in a 5-1 win. On Saturday, he had two assists in a 4-3 win. On Sunday, he had two goals in another 5-1 win. For the season, Tafelski currently leads the Rhinos in scoring with 25 points in 28 games played. “Frank has really stepped to the plate in a lot of faucets for our team. I am proud of how far he has come in the last year. This is a deserved reignition and there is more to come from Frank,” said Rhinos head coach Joe Coombs.
2nd Star: Quentin Sigurdson, G, Odessa Jackalopes
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Bryce Boucher, F, Shreveport Mudbugs – Graham Harris, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Michael Kadlecik, F, Odessa Jackalopes – Luke Lindsay, D, El Paso Rhinos – Jacob MacDonald, F, Lone Star Brahmas – Jack McDonald, F, Amarillo Wranglers – Henry McRoberts, D, Amarillo Wranglers – Wil Murphy, D, Shreveport Mudbugs – Michael Schermerhorn, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Ivan Zadvernyuk, F, Lone Star Brahmas
