Stars of the Week

Central Star of the Week: Sam Crane - St. Cloud Norsemen

Central Division Star of the Week: Sam Crane, Forward, St. Cloud Norsemen

The 5’8 second-year skater of the Norsemen, Sam Crane, notched his first three-point game of the season in his last game of the year. Crane is committed to playing Division I hockey at the Air Force Academy and will be skating with the Falcons in the fall. This past week featured the Norsemen deep in the hunt for a playoff spot. His work on the ice started on Thursday night against the Minnesota Mallards. The Illinois native notched the first goal in the 6-1 victory and was the primary assist on the last St. Cloud goal in the contest. Moving into Friday evening, Crane was again the first scorer of the contest, finding the back of the net with less than four minutes on the clock for the Norsemen. However, his lone goal would end up being the only goal for St. Cloud in the matchup. The Norsemen would fall 2-1 to the Watertown Shamrocks. 

Heading into the final game of the season on Saturday night, St. Cloud was looking to end their season on a high note and they did just that. The Norsemen produced a 5-0 shutout victory in front of their home crowd. The ‘05 skater had his first three-point game with a goal and two assists. He notched his first assist in the first period on Alex Sandhu’s goal in the first 45 seconds into the contest. His goal and second assist took place in the third period in the last ten minutes of the matchup. 

The ‘05 forward rounded out his weekend with three goals, three assists, and a +6 rating. Also, his goal on Saturday night was scored on the man advantage. On the season, Crane features 14 goals and 18 assists in his 57 games played. Seven of his 14 goals were scored on the power play. 

Head coach of the Norsemen, Joe Exter, shares why Crane was an important player for the Norsemen squad. 

“Sam had a fantastic weekend. He was a leader in all three games and set the tone for our team each shift with physical play and hunting pucks. This led to him dominating the scoresheet.”

2nd Star: Bryce Johnson, F, Aberdeen Wings

3rd Star: Louie Kamienski, F, Bismarck Bobcats

Midwest Star of the Week: Connor Jalbert - Chippewa Steel

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Connor Jalbert, Forward, Chippewa Steel

With a postseason spot on the line, Connor Jalbert rose to the occasion and helped his team get a chance to make a playoff run. The 5’11 lefty started his season with the Anchorage Wolverines and spent almost half the season with the Alaska squad before making the move to the Chippewa Steel. This weekend was a season-high performance for the Massachusetts native. This series marked his return to Sullivan Arena after being acquired by the Steel. On Friday night, the ‘05 lefty tallied a goal and an assist for the Steel in the first frame of the matchup. Chippewa ultimately lost this first game, however, kept the contest close. The matchup had to move into a shootout that lasted for five rounds. The Steel walked away with one point and a 6-5 shootout loss. 

Moving into Saturday night, the 5’11 forward had a season-high night of four points. His offensive prowess kicked off in the first 13 seconds of the game with a primary assist on Jackson Lackas’ goal. His dominance on the ice did not stop in the first period, because he tallied another primary assist on Jackson Lackas’ second goal of the contest. Moving into the second period, he produced his third and final primary assist on George Peterson’s goal before finding the back of the net himself with less than 90 seconds on the clock in the second period. This four-point matchup was a career-high for him. He played a role in four out of the Chippewa’s six goals. Thanks to his ability on the ice, he helped the Steel seal a spot in a postseason with a 6-3 victory against his old squad.

For the weekend, the 5’11 skater tallied two goals, made four assists, and featured a +4 rating. Since joining the Steel, Jalbert has been on an offensive tear, notching at least a point per game. He has scored nine goals and made 24 assists over 28 games with Chippewa. 

Head coach of the Steel, Cory Hunt, goes into detail on Jalbert’s contribution to the Steel. 

“Connor was a major contributor this weekend, leading to us clinching a playoff spot. He has been an offensive catalyst since he joined us and is a threat every time he touches the ice. He leads by example on and off the ice and will be a huge factor during the Robertson Cup playoffs.”

2nd Star: Jackson Lackas, F, Chippewa Steel

3rd Star: Noah Dziver, F, Minnesota Wilderness

Central Star of the Week: Jibber Kuhl - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Jibber Kuhl, Forward, Aberdeen Wings

As the Aberdeen Wings are fighting for the last spot in the Central Division postseason, Jibber Kuhl, played a critical role in aiding the Wings to a sweep over the Minot Minotauros. The 6’2 righty is a second-year skater for Aberdeen and this past weekend featured a career-high performance for Kuhl. Starting on Friday night, the matchup spotlighted a scoring affair only in the first period. Minot got on the board first, however with two late first-period goals by Aberdeen, the game-winning goal by Kuhl, put the Minotauros to rest. The Wings won 2-1 and notched their second victory against Minot this season. 

Moving into Saturday evening, the Minnesota native had his career-high night. Kuhl got the scoring started when he found the back of the net within the first 30 seconds of the contest. Aberdeen continued their scoring affair into the second period with three goals, two of them being assisted by Kuhl. Heading into the third period, the Wings were up 4-0. Minot was able to find the back of the net twice in the third, however, it could not stop the offensive prowess of the Wings. Kuhl notched his second goal of the game with less than three minutes on the clock and helped to lead Aberdeen to a 7-2 victory. In this contest, Kuhl produced two goals and two assists, making it a career-high four-point game for him.

On the season, the ‘05 skater leads his squad in points (47), assists (31), and points per game (1.12)  while sitting in third on his team in goals (16). This weekend, the Minnesota native dished three goals, made two assists and sports a +4 rating. 

Head coach of the Wings, Scott Langer, shares why Kuhl has been an asset to the Aberdeen squad. 

“Jibber takes his game seriously, putting in the work every day. He is a high IQ player who is a difference maker in our dressing room.”

This award marks the seventh time an Aberdeen Wing was named as the Central Division Star of the Week and the first time for Kuhl to be named to the honor. 

2nd Star: Damon Cunningham, G, Aberdeen Wings 

3rd Star: Damian Slavik, G, St. Cloud Norsemen

East Star of the Week: Jordin Palmer - Rochester Jr. Americans

East Division Star of the Week: Jordin Palmer, Defenseman, Rochester Jr. Americans

The 6’2 blueliner from New Hampshire, Jordin Palmer, made an impact on Rochester’s scoring front. Palmer is a second-year skater for the Jr. Americans and this past weekend against the New Jersey Titans featured him picking up points. Starting on Friday night, the offensive prowess of Rochester was evident through their 6-2 victory over the Titans. Palmer produced three assists in the matchup. This contest marked his third three-assist game of the season. Moving into Saturday evening, the ‘04 Stonehill College commit assisted in Rochester’s lone goal of the game. The Jr. Americans were down 2-0 heading into the second frame. With the help of Palmer, Rochester was able to cut the deficit in half. However, it would turn out to not be enough leading the Jr. Americans to a 2-1 loss. 

In five out of his last six matchups, Palmer has produced an assist for Rochester. He ended his weekends with four assists and a +1 rating with his squad. On the season, Palmer leads all defensemen on his squad in assists (33), total points (38), and points per game (0.68). The 6’2 skater additionally is tied for second overall for his squad with his +31 rating on the year. Palmer has been especially great while on the man advantage. He is tied for second overall in the league with 23 power play assists. 

Head coach of the Jr. Americans, Francois Methot explains what he has seen from Palmer this season.

“Jordin has been a standout leader for us throughout the entire season. Consistently delivering strong performances, he has been a reliable presence in every situation. This past weekend was no exception, as he logged significant minutes for the team. His growth and improvement year after year have been remarkable. We're fortunate to have such a high-caliber defenseman as we head into the playoffs.”

This award marks the seventh time a Rochester Jr. American was named as the East Division Star of the Week and first time for Palmer to be named to the honor. 

2nd Star: Zion Green, F, Maine Nordiques

3rd Star: Jack MacDonald, F, New Hampshire Mountain Kings

Midwest Star of the Week: Mason McElroy - Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Mason McElroy, Goaltender, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

The 6’0 netminder from the State of Hockey, Mason McElroy, was dominant between the pipes for the Ice Dogs this past weekend. The Ice Dogs hosted the Chippewa Steel in a three-game set over the weekend. McElroy laced up for the Ice Dogs in two of the matchups. Starting on Thursday night, the contest was tight with both squads scoring a goal in the second period. The game eventually went into a shootout for the Ice Dogs, where McElroy was the winner in the blue paint. He turned away 32 out of 33 shots and sported a .970 save percentage. Heading into Saturday night, the ‘06 goaltender notched his second win against the Steel. McElroy stopped 26 out of 27 shots during the contest. The lone Chippewa goal happened in the first period. Following that one goal, McElroy was lights out and helped to lift Fairbanks to two wins over the weekend. 

For the weekend, the Otsego, Minnesota native featured a .096 goals against average, a .967 save percentage, and stopped a total of 58 out of 60 shots. McElroy has served as a keystone piece of the Ice Dogs all season. He only has one regulation loss at the Big Dipper Ice Arena this year.

Head coach of the Ice Dogs, Ryan Theros, went into detail on McElroy’s contribution to the squad. 

“Mason has been great throughout the season and has been a key contributor to our team's success. His effort and great attitude he brings every day in practice, along with his ability to make timely saves in needed game situations, has been very consistent throughout. 

He has been one of the most consistent goalies in the league this season and great to see him get the recognition he deserves. We are looking forward to his continued development and success going forward.”

This award marks the seventh time a Fairbanks Ice Dog was named as the Midwest Division Star of the Week and the first time for McElroy to be named to the honor. 

2nd Star: Jackson Stimple, D, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Beau Altman, G, Wisconsin Windigo

South Star of the Week: Nikola Goich - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Nikola Goich, Goaltender Shreveport Mudbugs

The 6’5 netminder from Homer Glen, Illinois, Nikola Goich, earns his third South Division Star of the Week honors thanks to work between the pipes for the Mudbugs. Goich is a second-year goaltender for Shreveport and he has been a critical component of the Mudbug's success. Starting on Friday night, Goich turned away all 32 shots and produced his fifth shutout of the season against the Corpus Christi IceRays. This shutout marks his second shutout against the IceRays this season. His work in the blue paint helped to lift the Mudbugs over the IceRays to second in the South Division standings. Heading into Saturday night, the ‘04 goaltender allowed one goal to Corpus Christi in the first period. Following that lone goal, Goich was dominant between the pipes. He stopped a total of 29 out of 30 shots and helped to give the Mudbugs a weekend sweep over Corpus Christi. 

For the weekend, the Illinois native produced his fifth consecutive win in the blue paint, featured 0.50 goals against average, a .984 save percentage, and stopped 61 out of 62 shots. His work on the ice has contributed to Shreveport’s success this season. In his 39 games played, he has won 24 of those matchups and features a .924 save percentage. This season he was named as a Top Prospect for the South Division squad at the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament.

Head coach of the Mudbugs, Jason Campbell, explains why Goich played a vital role in Shreveport’s performance this past weekend. 

“Niko performed exactly how we needed him to this past weekend. You can not win games against good opponents without good goaltending and Niko was great for us.  Through his performances, our team played more confidently.”

This award marks the tenth time a Shreveport Mudbug was named as the South Division Star of the Week and the third time for Goich to be named to the honor. 

2nd Star: Cole Saterdalen, F, Amarillo Wranglers

3rd Star: Charles-Antoine Girard, G, Amarillo Wranglers

Central Star of the Week: Ian Engel - Bismarck Bobcats

Central Division Star of the Week: Ian Engel, Defenseman, Bismarck Bobcats

Hortonville, Wisconsin native, Ian Engel, shined bright for the Bobcats this past weekend. The 5’11 lefty started his weekend on a high note Friday night with an assist on the game-winning goal. Moving into Saturday night, the ‘04 blueliner scored a goal and made two assists for Bismarck in their 6-1 victory over the North Iowa Bulls. His lone goal was a power play game-winning goal for the Bobcats. This matchup also marked Engel’s first three-point game of the season. Engel has laced up for the Bobcats since the 2021-2022 season. This year he played in the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament for Team Central. 

For the weekend, Engel tallied a goal, made three assists, and produced a +3 rating. He is also one of the top scorers for Bismarck. He ranks third on his squad for his 35 points on the year. He leads with 31 assists. 16 of his assists came on the power play.

Head coach of the Bobcats, Garrett Roth, shares more about the impact that Engel has played for Bismarck.

“Ian has been great for us all season long with his ability to break pressure and create offense while bringing a physical element to the game. He has been a huge part of our success on the ice and off the ice and has been instrumental in creating our culture and accountability. This past weekend he played a huge part in helping us get a couple of important wins including his game-winning goal Saturday. His game has continued to grow which puts him in a category of being one of the best defensemen still available in junior hockey.”

2nd Star: Will Mizenko, G, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Luc Malkhassian, F, Austin Bruins

East Star of the Week: Oli Genest - New Hampshire Mountain Kings

East Division Star of the Week: Oli Genest, Forward, New Hampshire Mountain Kings

The leading goal scorer in the NAHL, Oli Genest, finessed his way to the top of the East Division for the first time this season. The 6’1 Air Force commit got his weekend started against the Northeast Generals on Friday night. In the contest he tallied a goal and two assists. His lone goal was made shorthanded. His offensive prowess carried into the next night at the Canton Ice House. On Saturday night, the Mountain Kings defeated the Generals in a 6-2 fashion. Four of the six goals were scored with the help of Genest. The ‘04 righty got the scoring started and scored the first goal in the matchup within the first minute. During this contest, he notched two goals and made two assists.

The Sanford, Maine native ended his weekend with three goals, four assists, and a +4 rating. He extended his scoring streak to six straight games. He sits second in the league with 77 points on the season. 

Head coach of the Mountain Kings, Cam Robichaud, shares his excitement for Genest.

“We are happy for Oli and the offensive success he has earned this season! He was a huge pick-up for our program. The consistency and rate at which he has scored this season has been fun to watch.”

2nd Star: Ruslan Jamaldinov, F, Philadelphia Rebels

3rd Star: Jaden Johnson, F, New Hampshire Mountain Kings

Midwest Star of the Week: Braydon Beahm - Wisconsin Windigo

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Braydon Beahm, Forward, Wisconsin Windigo

Second-year veteran, Braydon Beahm, continues his offensive dominance while in Alaska. On Friday night, the 6’4 lefty found the back of the net and produced two assists for the Windigo. Wisconsin won in a 6-3 fashion against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Moving into Saturday night, the ‘04 Wisconsin native tallied the game-winning goal for the Windigo. His first goal was scored in the first period, while his second goal was made in the final frame. Additionally, one of his goals was scored on the man advantage. He was the only skater in the contest to be successful while on the power play.

His offensive prowess has played a crucial role for the Windigo. Beahm wrapped up his weekend with three goals, two assists, and a +4 rating. The 6’4 Wisconsin native leads his squads with 67 points, 32 goals, and 35 assists. He additionally leads the league with his +42 rating on the year. Additionally, Beahm was named as a 2025 Top Prospect. The ‘04 skater has notched a point in eight of the nine matchups in March. He currently rides a five-game scoring streak.

Assistant Coach of the Windigo, Bryce Reddick, shares more on what he has seen from Beahm this season.

“Braydon has been a stalwart for us all season. His ability to come through during big moments speaks volumes of his character and his will to win. We look forward to his contributions as we close out the regular season and begin our playoff run.”

2nd Star: Niko Laus, F, Springfield Jr. Blues

3rd Star: Cole Christian, F, Anchorage Wolverines

South Star of the Week: Lucas Deeb - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Lucas Deeb, Forward, Shreveport Mudbugs

The 6’2 righty from New Baltimore, Michigan, Lucas Deeb, helps to lead his squad to a weekend sweep over the Oklahoma Warriors. Starting on Friday night, Deeb notched an assist in overtime for the Mudbugs. Heading into Saturday night, the 2025 Top Prospect, played a role in every goal scored by the Mudbugs. Deeb got the scoring started for the Mudbugs in the second period. He tied the matchup 1-1 before Riley Fast of the Warriors created a lead for Oklahoma. Heading into the third period, the Mudbugs were down 2-1. With less than five minutes on the clock, Deeb produces an assist on the game-tying goal. As the matchup moved into overtime, the ‘04 skater scored the game-winning goal within the first 30 seconds.

His weekend ended with two goals, two assists, and a +4 rating. On the season, Deeb leads his squad with 25 goals while sitting in second with 48 points on the year. Thanks to his weekend performance, he extends his point streak to five straight games.

Head coach of the Mudbugs, Jason Campbell, went into detail on Deeb’s contribution to the squad this season.

“Lucas has had a great season so far in so many ways. One of his strengths is his offensive abilities and that came through in a big way for us this past weekend.  His poise and vision coupled with the way he can shoot make him extremely dangerous.  You rely on all of your players to be great at what they do.  Lucas Deeb has been great at what he does.”

2nd Star: Max Matthews, D, New Mexico Ice Wolves

3rd Star: Harper Lolacher, F, El Paso Rhinos

Central Star of the Week: Gavin Middendorf - Minot Minotauros

Central Division Star of the Week: Gavin Middendorf, Forward, Minot Minotauros

Second-year NAHL skater, Gavin Middendorf skated his way to the top. Hailing from the State of Hockey, Middendorf had hats flying on Friday night. The 5’10 righty offensive prowess was on display in Austin as the Minotauros were in the hunt to produce a win on the road against the Austin Bruins. The matchup was scoreless heading into the second period and Middendorf turned up the heat and started the scoring. The ‘04 skater produced two goals in the middle frame. The Bruins were able to tally a goal in the final period thanks to Ashton Bynum; however, it would not turn out to be enough. With 20 seconds on the clock, Middendorf found the back of the net and produced his first hat trick. He was the lone scorer for the Minotauros during this contest, allowing Minot to win 3-1 against Austin.

The Forest Lake, Minnesota native leads his squad with 32 goals on the season. Since joining the Tauros, Middendorf has averaged almost a goal per game. He features 23 goals over 25 games and spotlights 1.20 points per game with Minot. This award marks his first Star of the Week honors and the Tauros’ sixth player to win this award this season.

Head coach of the Minotauros, Cody Campbell, shares more on Middendorf’s contribution to the squad. 

“Gavin has been a key piece to our team since we acquired him over the holiday break. He was fantastic Friday night picking up a hat trick. We look forward to Gavin continuing his strong play as we prepare for the playoffs and he continues to try to earn a division one opportunity.”

2nd Star: Jibber Kuhl, F, Aberdeen Wings

3rd Star: Ashton Bynum, D, Austin Bruins

East Star of the Week: Ruslan Jamaldinov - Philadelphia Rebels

East Division Star of the Week: Ruslan Jamaldinov, Forward, Philadelphia Rebels

The 20-year-old from Sweden, Ruslan Jamaldinov, played an offensive role for the Rebels. Starting on Friday night, the 5’11 lefty notched both goals for Philadelphia. Jamaldinov kept the matchup tight with the Maryland Black Bears. After every goal that the Black Bears scored, Jamaldinov was finding the back of the net quickly. The Rebels would fall to Maryland in a 3-2 fashion however thanks to Jamaldinov's offensive prowess, he kept Philadelphia in the hunt. Moving into Saturday night, the ‘05 skater helped the Rebels notch their second win of the season against the Black Bears. The contest featured a group effort in scoring with Philadelphia orchestrating three goals in both the second and third periods. Jamaldinov found the back of the net in the second period and ultimately helped the Rebels take their first regulation win against the Black Bears this season in a 6-2 fashion.

For the weekend, the first-year skater logged three goals and a plus-three rating. He currently features a four-game point streak. Over the last four games he has scored five times and made one assist for the Rebels. This weekly award marks the first time Jamaldinov has won it, and the second time the Rebels have had a skater named to the honor this season.

Head coach of the Rebels, Justin Hale, explains what he has seen from Jamaldinov’s development. 

“I am very happy for Ruslan. He is playing with a ton of confidence right now and continues to get better as the year goes on. Over the last few games he has scored some big-time goals for us!”

2nd Star: Adam Gionta, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

3rd Star: Laurent Trépanier, F, Maine Nordiques

Midwest Star of the Week: Brady Zugec - Minnesota Wilderness

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Brady Zugec, Forward, Minnesota Wilderness

The Western Michigan commit, Brady Zugec, had a season-first on Saturday night. The ‘06 Geneva, New York native is a first-year skater in the NAHL. This past weekend against the Janesville Jets, Zugec helped to lift his squad to an 8-1 victory on Saturday evening. The Jets got the scoring started with a goal in the last three minutes of play in the first period. Moving into the second period, that is when the Minnesota Wilderness was finding the back of the net quickly and fast. The Wilderness built a 3-1 lead heading into the third and final frame. Zugec dished three goals within nine minutes for the Wilderness. His offensive prowess helped him to produce his first hat trick of the season. 

For the weekend, the 6’1 righty spotlights four points (three goals, one assist) and a plus-two rating. Zugec was also named as a 2025 Top Prospect for the Selects Gold squad this year. This award marks the sixth time a Wilderness player has been named to the honor and is Zugec’s first Midwest Division Star of the Week honors this season.

Head coach of the Wilderness, Zach Stepan, went into detail on Zugec’s play this past weekend. 

“Brady deserved everything he got from the weekend as he has continued to get better and better as the stakes have become higher for the playoff push. My favorite part from the weekend was the goals he scored were good and hard hockey goals that he will continue to score over his career. I am happy he finally gets rewarded for the amount of work he puts in day in and day out.”

2nd Star: Hunter Hayes, F, Wisconsin Windigo 

3rd Star: Nick Madsen, D, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

South Star of the Week: Stepan Kuznetsov - Corpus Christi IceRays

South Division Star of the Week: Stepan Kuznetsov, Forward, Corpus Christi IceRays

Earning his third South Division Star of the Week honors on his birthday, Stepan Kuznetsov has been on an offensive tear. Kuznetsov laced up for three matchups this past week and in every contest, he scored two goals in each. His six-goal performance started on Wednesday against the New Mexico Ice Wolves. The IceRays would fall to the Ice Wolves in a 7-4 fashion, however, it does not take away from Kuznetsov's contribution on the ice. He produced half of the goals for the IceRays during this midweek contest, helping to continue his scoring streak into the weekend. 

Heading into Friday evening, the 21-year-old played a major role in the scoring for the IceRays. Three of the four goals scored were in part of Kuznetsov’s work on the ice. The IceRay would fall again, but this time to the Odessa Jackalopes. Kuznetsov notched a three-point performance (two goals, one assist) helping to try to keep Corpus Christi in the matchup. Moving into Saturday night, the 6’1 righty from Mississippi native had a three-point game against the Odessa Jackalopes again. His performance is thanks to his goals in the second and third periods, and his assist on the final goal of the game. Corpus Christi was able to flip the script during this matchup and walk away with an 8-4 victory.

The fourth-year Corpus Christi skater is on a five-game point streak, picking up points in six of the seven matchups in March. On the weekend, Kuznetsov registered six goals and two assists over three contests. For the season, the ‘04 righty leads the IceRays with 25 goals while sitting in second with 50 points the year. This honor marks the third time Kuznetsov has won the award and the sixth time Corpus Christi has had a skater win the award this season.

Head coach of the IceRays, Sylvain Cloutier, shares his excitement for Kuznetsov.

“I am extremely happy for Kuzy. He’s been on fire for us at the right time. The hard work and dedication is paying off for him.”

2nd Star: Kowin Belsterling, F, Odessa Jackalopes

3rd Star: Owen Kerr, F, Lone Star Brahmas

Central Star of the Week: Luc Malkhassian - Austin Bruins

Central Division Star of the Week: Luc Malkhassian, Forward, Austin Bruins

The 5’11 righty from Toronto, Ontario, Luc Malkhassian, helped to lift the Bruins to a sweep over the weekend. Malkhassian has served as a cornerstone scorer on his squad. Starting on Friday night, the first-year skater helped to cut the deficit for the Bruins in the second period. The Wings were leading 3-1 when Luc Malkhassian found the back of the net around the 13-minute mark and then sunk his second goal of the game with less than 30 seconds on the clock in the period. Heading into the third period, Malkhassian helped longtime teammate, Alex Laurenza, with the game-winning goal in the final frame. Austin ends the matchup with a 6-4 victory while punching their ticket to the postseason. 

Moving into Saturday night, the 19-year-old got the scoring started for Austin. He notched the Bruins's first goal within the first two minutes of the game and then went on to log his second goal with 30 seconds left on the clock in the first period. During this matchup, he scored the game-winning goal, helping the Bruins win 5-1 over the Aberdeen Wings.

For the weekend, he orchestrated four goals, three of them on the man advantage, and made one assist. His offensive prowess is felt by Austin. Malkhassian trails behind longtime teammate, Alex Laurenza, with 69 total points and 24 goals on the year. The ‘05 skater features the most assists on his squad with 45 and was a 2025 Top Prospect. 

Head coach of the Bruins, Steve Howard, shares more on how Malkhassian has served as a key asset. 

“Luc had another great weekend. He’s an ‘all situations’ player for us. He can make plays, score goals, and has a high hockey IQ. We look forward to Luc continuing to play well down the stretch and hopefully earning a commitment to a Division I school.”

This weekly award marks the fourth time that a Bruin has been named. 

2nd Star: Tomas Anderson, G, Bismarck Bobcats

3rd Star: Denis Hodas, F, North Iowa Bulls

East Star of the Week: Nick Avakyan - Johnstown Tomahawks

East Division Star of the Week: Nick Avakyan, Goaltender, Johnstown Tomahawks

Serving as the star in the blue paint and in the East Division, Nick Avakyan, had one of his best weekends in the league. The ‘04 netminder from Glendale, California helped to lift his squad to fourth place over the New Jersey Titans in the East Division standings. His dominant weekend between the pipes started on Friday night for Johnstown. He faced 25 shots in the game with 14 of them happening in the first period. The Hat Tricks were coming off a weekend sweep against the Maryland Black Bears and their hero and last week’s East Division Star of the Week, Brendan Boring, got the scoring started for the Hat Tricks. Heading into the second period, the 6’1 goaltender gave up his last goal of the weekend to Danbury’s leading scorer, Niko Tournas. The Tomahawks walked away with a 4-2 victory. 

Moving into Saturday night, Avakyan orchestrated a season first with his performance between the pipes. The first-year player turned away all 43 shots, making it his first and the Tomahawks’ first shutout of the season. This matchup featured the second-most number of shots he has faced by an opponent this season while notching his second sweep when he was in the blue paint during a series. Johnstown skated away with a 2-0 win and a step closer to solidifying a spot in the postseason. 

The ‘04 netminder picked up two wins this past weekend, featuring a 1.00 goals against average and a .971 save percentage. Avakyan faced a total of 68 shots between the two games against the Hat Tricks. For the season, Avakyan spotlights an 11-4-1-2 record and a .933 save percentage over 20 games. 

Head coach of the Tomahawks, Jared Kersner, shares more on what he has seen from the California native.

"Nick has had a great season since joining us. His calming presence in the net gives our team confidence, knowing he's behind them. He reads the game at a high level and is an excellent skater, allowing him to stay in position for the first save. His rebound control and retention rate keep him steady on his skates and pads. He's also an intense competitor and incredibly athletic, with the ability to make spectacular saves when needed.”

This weekly award marks the second time that a Tomahawk has been named.

2nd Star: Oli Genest, F, New Hampshire Mountain Kings

3rd Star: Charlie Spencer, F, Philadelphia Rebels

Midwest Star of the Week: Matic Percic - Chippewa Steel

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Matic Percic, Forward, Chippewa Steel

First-year Slovenia skater, Matic Percic, notched a season-first over the weekend with the Steel. Chippewa is in the hunt to solidify a postseason spot. After coming off a split series with the Wisconsin Windigo, the Steel were looking to pick up some crucial points in the Midwest Division standings. Kicking off their series on Friday night, the 6’3 lefty got the scoring started for Chippewa in the second period when the squad was down by one. Percic sunk two goals within six minutes of each other in the middle frame. With less than a minute on the clock in the third period, the 18-year-old found the back of the net and produced his first hat trick of the season. His work on the ice also marked his first three-point game of the season. The Steel walked away with a 5-2 victory over the Janesville Jets. Heading into Saturday night, the ‘06 skater got the scoring started again for Chippewa. He scored the first goal of the matchup and ultimately helped his squad to a weekend sweep over Janesville.

Thanks to his offensive prowess on the ice, this marked his second four-point weekend this season. Percic ended his weekend with four goals and a plus-four rating for the series. 

Head coach of the Steel, Cory Hunt, explains how Percic has become a key piece of the Chippewa Steel skaters.

“Matic’s performance this weekend has become the norm for him as he has adjusted to junior hockey. His combination of skating, size, and skill makes him a difficult player to defend, and that showed this weekend. His work ethic is second to none as he is always one of the last players off the ice each day. We look forward to Matic being a difference maker as we look to clinch our spot in the Midwest division playoffs.”

This award marks the third time that a Chippewa Steel player has been honored.

2nd Star: William Lubimov, G, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Mason McElroy, G, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

South Star of the Week: Brendan Holahan - El Paso Rhinos

South Division Star of the Week: Brendan Holahan, Goaltender, El Paso Rhinos

The Army commit, Brendan Holahan, worked his defensive dominance in the blue paint as he helped to lift his squad to a weekend sweep over the Oklahoma Warriors. The 6’3 netminder was stopping shots on both nights during this series. Starting on Friday night, the New Canaan, Connecticut native kept the Warriors at bay through the first 50 minutes of the matchup before giving up his only goal of the night to Oklahoma. His Friday night performance featured Holahan turning away 29 out of 30 shots and featuring a .967 save percentage. Moving into Saturday night, the ‘04 netminder was blocking all shots by the Warriors until around the ten-minute mark when he allowed his one and only goal of the matchup again. This time he saved 25 out of 26 shots and lifted his squad to a 2-1 victory in back-to-back nights. 

Holahan is currently riding a four-game win streak between the pipes. On the weekend, he features a 1.00 goals against average and a .965 save percentage. Thanks to his work on the ice, he has helped to continue El Paso’s hunt for the Robertson Cup. 

Head coach of the Rhinos, Mike Rivera, went into detail on what he has seen from Holahan. 

“Brendan has really found his rhythm as of late, coming off hip surgery earlier this season. He has been lights out for us over the past few weeks and took another step only allowing two goals against this weekend. We love our chances through the rest of the season with him between the pipes.”

This award marks the third time that an El Paso Rhino player has been honored.

2nd Star: Jordan Larkee, F, Odessa Jackalopes

3rd Star: Owen Kerr, F, Lone Star Brahmas

Central Star of the Week: Ian Spencer - Minot Minotauros

Central Division Star of the Week: Ian Spencer, Forward, Minot Minotauros

The 5’9 Assistant Captain of the Minotauros, Ian Spencer, orchestrated a six-point weekend. Spencer is a second-year veteran of the Tauros and was just featured a month ago at Top Prospects with the Central Division squad. On Friday night, the New Lenox, Illinois native had hats flying at the Maysa Arena. Spencer got the scoring started and found the back of the net twice in the first period. Moving into the second period, that is when the ‘04 lefty notched his first hat trick of the season. Thanks to his work on the ice, he helped to lift Minot to a 7-1 victory over the Minnesota Mallards. Heading into Saturday evening, the Mallards struck first thanks to a goal by Jordan Brothers. However once Minot got the scoring started, they did not lift off the breaks. Spencer scored the equalizing goal that was done on the man advantage in the first period. After Spencer found the back of the net, he then went on to assist in two goals.

For the weekend, Spencer tallied four goals, made two assists, and featured a +3 rating between the two contests. Additionally, three out of his four goals were scored on the power play. The Minotauros currently lead the league in their effectiveness on the power play. Minot spotlights a 24.3% power play percentage. Spencer’s offensive production has been felt by the Minotauros since the start of 2025. Spencer has contributed to the scoresheet in 18 out of 20 matchups and is currently riding a five-game point streak. On the season he currently sits in second in the league with his 66 points (23-43–66) on the year and 1.35 points per game. 

This weekly award marks the fifth time that the Minot Minotauros had an athlete featured and first time that Ian Spencer was named.

Head coach of the Minotauros, Cody Campbell, goes into detail on how Spencer has contributed to his squad.

“Ian has been great for us all season long in all facets. He had a great weekend when it came to putting the puck in the net. We are happy Ian’s play is being recognized and look forward to him continuing his strong play as we push toward the playoffs as a group and as Ian works toward earning a Division I opportunity.” 

2nd Star: Tomas Anderson, G, Bismarck Bobcats

3rd Star: Tyler Wishart, F, St. Cloud Norsemen

East Star of the Week: Brendan Boring - Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks

East Division Star of the Week: Brendan Boring, Forward, Danbury Hat Tricks

Nothing was boring about Brendan Boring this past weekend. The 6’0 righty from West Babylon, New York served as the overtime savior for the Danbury Hat Tricks. Walking into this series, the Hat Tricks were looking to secure their first win against the Maryland Black Bears for the season. Starting on Friday night, the contest was a battle back and forth between the teams. Danbury got the scoring started in the first period. However, every time the Hat Tricks would score, the Black Bears were right there behind them finding the back of the net. As the matchup went into overtime that is when Boring’s savior story started. The ‘05 skater gets the puck and immediately makes a breakaway down the ice and scores backhanded around the four-minute mark. Boring helps to end the six-game skid with a 3-2 overtime victory.

Moving into Saturday night, the contest was tight again between the Hat Tricks and Black Bears. Danbury got the scoring started and was riding a lead of 4-2 heading into the third period. Maryland battled back and was able to equalize the contest with less than two minutes in the third frame, forcing the matchup to go into overtime again. However, just like the night before, Brendan Boring was the hero of the game. Instead of scoring a minute into overtime, Boring finds the back of the net with less than 40 seconds on the clock. On back-to-back nights, Boring scored the overtime game-winning goals for his squad, helping the Hat Tricks to produce their first sweep in eight weeks. 

Boring made his NAHL debut on January 4, 2025. For his 19 games played so far this season, he has tallied three goals and three assists. This weekly award also marks the fourth time that a Danbury Hat Tricks player was named this season.

Head coach of the Hat Tricks, Lenny Caglianone, explains what he has seen from Boring on the ice. 

“Brendan was a dog this weekend, with relentless puck pursuit and a hard 200-foot game. He has grown incredibly in his role and will continue to provide offense and a sound defensive game. We’re very proud of Boro and his commitment to the game.”

2nd Star: Austin McNicholas, G, New Jersey Titans

3rd Star: Jack MacDonald, F, New Hampshire Mountain Kings

Midwest Star of the Week: Daniel Bagnole - Anchorage Wolverines

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Daniel Bagnole, Forward, Anchorage Wolverines

The 6’0 second-year veteran, Daniel Bagnole, produced his first four-point game of the season. The Wolverines were coming off a 3-2 loss to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday night. Moving into Saturday night, the offensive production for Anchorage was picked up. The contest started scoreless in the first frame at the Big Dipper Ice Arena. Heading into the second period, that is when scoring started. The Wolverines tallied a trio of goals before Fairbanks could find the back of the net. With a 3-1 lead moving into the third and final frame, the Wolverines continued to extend their lead and that is when Bagnole’s breakout moment happened. The Franklin Park, Illinois native found the back of the net immediately into the period with a goal scored in the first 12 seconds. This goal would turn out to be the game-winning goal. He then dished a shorthanded goal nine minutes later for the Wolverines and finally notched his third and final goal of the matchup with less than four minutes on the clock. His trio of goals in the third marked his first hat trick of the season. Bagnole walked away from this game with three goals, an assist, and a +4 rating on the weekend. 

Bagnole was featured at the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament on Team Midwest less than a month ago. On the year, the ‘04 skater leads his squad with 24 goals and sits third overall with 47 points (24-23–47) on the season. This honor marks the first time Bagnole has gone home as the Midwest Star of the Week and the fourth time the Anchorage Wolverines had an athlete named as the weekly award winner.

Head coach of the Wolverines, Nick Walters, describes what he has seen from Bagnole’s development and commitment to the game. 

“Danny has been a sneaky scorer for us this year and had a big-time game on Saturday when we needed someone to step up and get the scoring going. To see him get recognized by the league for his efforts is outstanding. He has come a long way since he first landed in Anchorage, and he has taken the step this year that we all wanted to see, and then some. He has put the time into becoming a better player when the puck is not on his stick. Whether that is supporting the puck, going to the net, backchecking, forechecking, etc. Because of that, he is finding himself with more opportunities when that puck does land on his stick. Saturday’s hat trick and four-point night is a testament to that. We will be leaning on him down the stretch and going into the playoffs.”

2nd Star: Hunter Hayes, F, Wisconsin Windigo

3rd Star: Connor Broadhead, D, Springfield Jr. Blues

South Star of the Week: Stepan Kuznetsov - Corpus Christi IceRays

South Division Star of the Week: Stepan Kuznetsov, Forward, Corpus Christi IceRays

A fourth-year veteran of the NAHL, Stepan Kuznetsov, notches his second Star of the Week honors thanks to his work on the ice for the IceRays. This series featured a thrilling matchup between the number two-ranked IceRays and the number three-ranked Mudbugs for a three-game set in Corpus Christi. On Friday night, the IceRays fell to Shreveport 3-2 in overtime. As Corpus Christi looked to bounce back from that loss, on Saturday night, the IceRays started from behind. This time Shreveport found the back of the net twice in the first period. Corpus Christi got the scoring started in the second period thanks to a goal by Grayson Gerhard. Heading into the third frame, Kuznetsov scored the equalizing goal that helped to take the matchup into overtime. Max Ranstrom of the IceRays became the hero of the matchup by dishing a goal within the first 40 seconds of overtime. Corpus Christi walked away with a 3-2 overtime victory. 

Finally, heading into Sunday’s matinee special, the 6’1 righty from Biloxi, Mississippi had a season-high four-point performance. He tallied his first goal in the first frame and then went on to produce an assist on Carter Krenke’s goal. Moving into the second period, Kuznetsov dished two goals for the IceRays, with one of them on the man advantage. This marked for the ‘04 skater his first hat trick of the season. In this 7-2 victory, he helped to produce four of the seven goals. 

On the weekend, Kuznetsov logged four goals, an assist, and a +3 rating against the Shreveport Mudbugs. His offensive production has been felt by the IceRays all season. He currently sits second overall on his squad with 42 points (19-23–42) and 19 goals on the year. The 6’1 righty was featured at the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament on the South Division squad. The last time Kuznetsov earned the South Division Star of the Week honors was October 7, 2024. This marks the fifth time the IceRays have had an athlete named to this weekly award.

Head coach of the IceRays, Slyvain Cloutier, shares his excitement for Kuznetsov.

“Hard work and dedication always pay off. Winning South Division Star of the Week is a reflection of his effort and commitment to the team. We are proud of Kuzy.”

2nd Star: Jackson Fuller, G, New Mexico Ice Wolves

3rd Star: William Karphed, G, Odessa Jackalopes

Central Star of the Week: Tomas Anderson - Bismarck Bobcats

Central Division Star of the Week: Tomas Anderson, Goaltender, Bismarck Bobcats

The Stillwater, Minnesota native, Tomas Anderson, was dominant between the pipes for the Bobcats during their road trip to Austin. Starting on Friday night, the 6’2 netminder allowed his one and only goal on the weekend in the first period to Luc Malkhassian. This first-period goal would turn out to be the only goal of the game, landing Anderson with the loss on the scoresheet. Anderson saved 18 out of 19 shots and ended with a 1.04 goals against average during the matchup. Heading into Saturday night, the Bobcats and Anderson were hungry to avenge their loss 1-0 loss. The Niagara University commit notched his seventh shutout of the season with his 35-save performance in the blue paint. With his performance, he hit a season-high on saves during a shutout and now leads the league with his seven shutouts.

For the weekend, he saved 53 out of 54 shots, produced a .974 save percentage, and 0.50 goals against average. Anderson is one of the top goaltenders in the league. He features the second-best goals against average (1.537) and wins (26), while ranks third with his save percentage (.938).

Head coach of the Bobcats, Garrett Roth, shares more on Anderson’s contribution to the squad. 

“Tomas had a great weekend and has continued to elevate his game as the season has progressed. He gave us a great chance to win both games this weekend and has been the backbone of our team.”

2nd Star: Jack Solomon, G, Austin Bruins

3rd Star: Jack O’Hanisain, F, Minot Minotauros

East Star of the Week: Charlie Zetterkvist - Johnstown Tomahawks

East Division Star of the Week: Charlie Zetterkvist, Forward, Johnstown Tomahawks

An 18-year-old from the hockey-rich nation of Sweden, Charlie Zetterkvist notched his first five-point weekend in the league. The ‘06 skater started his offensively dominant weekend on Friday night versus the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. Zetterkvist produced his second two-goal game of the season during Tomahawks 3-1 victory on Friday evening. The 5’11 lefty scored the first and game-winning goal during the contest. Moving into Saturday night, the Mountain Kings were able to quickly tie the game up early in the second period, 2-2. However, within seven minutes, Zetterkvist helped his squad put together three goals. Two of the goals came with the help of his assist, while the goal he scored was named the game-winning goal. This game marked his third three-point game of the year and first +3 rating matchup of the season.

For the weekend, the Swede scored three goals, made two assists, and produced a +5 rating. His offensive prowess was felt at major times in the matchup because two of his three goals scored were game-winning goals. On the year, Zetterkvist ranks with the best point-per-game statistic on his squad with a 0.75.

Head coach of the Tomahawks, Jared Kersner, shares what he has seen from Zetterkvist this season.

"Charlie is an outstanding player with the ability to create scoring chances from anywhere on the ice, thanks to his elite stick skills and vision. His quick release makes him a scoring threat, even from tough angles. More importantly, he’s an incredible teammate and person—always showing up to the rink with a smile and approaching his development with passion and enthusiasm."

2nd Star: Jaden Dyke, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

3rd Star: Danick Leroux, G, Rochester Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Michael Manzi - Anchorage Wolverines

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Michael Manzi, Goaltender, Anchorage Wolverines

Michael Manzi was one of the main keys to Anchorage’s success over the weekend. The 6’1 netminder from the “First State” played a key role in the 49th state battle of the Alaska Airlines Club 49 Cup. Starting on Friday night, the Anchorage Wolverines were determined to bounce back from the road trip in Chippewa. Anchorage had a 3-0 advantage heading into the third period against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Fairbanks was able to score an early third-period goal, however it would not be enough to take down the Wolverines. Manzi walked away saving 26 out of 27 shots and produced a February best .963 save percentage. Heading into Saturday night, the contest started with a bang with both squads scoring two goals each in the first period. The rest of the matchup went scoreless forcing the game to go into a shootout. While in the shootout, Manzi gave up a goal to Fairbank’s Luca Ricciardi. That one goal would allow the Ice Dogs to take the 3-2 shootout victory at the Sullivan Arena. 

This honor marks the third time this season that Manzi has won a weekly award. The ‘04 goaltender features a 1.50 goals against average and a .952 save percentage. He turned away 60 out of 63 shots.

Head coach of the Wolverines, Nick Walters, explains how much Manzi impacted the Wolverines’ series over the weekend.

"Michael had an outstanding weekend and was the backbone of the team that helped us get three out of four points against an in-state rival. In both games, he made timely saves to keep the team in it. On Friday it was an early, first-period penalty kill, where he stopped a couple of grade-A scoring chances to weather the storm and allow the guys in front of him to settle in. On Saturday it was a third-period surge by Fairbanks and he was able to keep them at bay allowing us a chance to go to overtime. Knowing you have a goalie who will make big saves when we miss our assignments in front of him, brings a certain calmness to the team and bench, allowing us to continue to play our game. We will continue to build off of this weekend as we head into this final stretch and I know we will continue to see big things from Michael.”

2nd Star: Noah Dziver, F, Minnesota Wilderness

3rd Star: Hunter Hayes, F, Wisconsin Windigo

South Star of the Week: Jackson Fuller - New Mexico Ice Wolves

South Division Star of the Week: Jackson Fuller, Goaltender, New Mexico Ice Wolves

Third-year Ice Wolves veteran, Jackson Fuller, earns his third Star of the Week honors of the season thanks to his work in the blue paint over the weekend. Starting on Friday night, the 6’0 netminder was perfect between the pipes saving all 25 shots. This shutout marks his fourth shutout of the season. Heading into Saturday night, the Centerville, Minnesota native allowed his one and only goal of the weekend quickly in the first period. El Paso’s Andrew DellaDonna found the back of the net within the first 30 seconds of the matchup. After that early goal, Fuller got to work in the net and turned away 17 out of 18 shots against the Rhinos. Fuller has served as a keystone piece for the Ice Wolves this season. Out of New Mexico’s 24 wins, 19 of them came with the help of Fuller between the pipes. 

For the weekend, the ‘04 netminder saved 42 out of 43 shots, featured 0.50 goals against average, and a .972 save percentage. With this weekend sweep, the Ice Wolves have solidified a lead over the El Paso Rhinos and currently sit in fourth place for the South Division standings. 

Head coach of the Ice Wolves, Kevin Hartzell, shares more on how Fuller contributed to the Ice Wolves’ sweep over the weekend. 

“Another fine weekend for Jackson. As we have climbed in the standings, Jackson has only gotten better. I Love the fact that in Saturday's game with El Paso, we gave up a goal in the first 30 seconds, and Jackson shut the door the next 59 and a half minutes. We needed every stop in the 2-1 win. Jackson continues to lead our charge.”

2nd Star: Paul Wiczek, F, Oklahoma Warriors

3rd Star: Owen Kerr, F, Lone Star Brahmas

Central Star of the Week: Travis Lefere - Watertown Shamrocks

Central Division Star of the Week: Travis Lefere, Forward, Watertown Shamrocks

The 6’0 righty from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Travis Lefere, notched his first five-point weekend and first hat trick of the season. Lefere played a vital role for the Shamrocks this weekend against the red-hot Minot Minotauros. Starting Friday night, the ‘07 skater produced two assists, marking the first time since September Lefere had a two-assist game. Watertown dealt Minot’s first loss since January 3 with a 5-2 victory. This win for the Shamrocks marked the end of the Minotauros’ 13-game win streak. 

Heading into Saturday night, the contest featured a battle between the squads in South Dakota. Minot got the scoring started but Watertown was quickly behind them finding the back of the net. Lefere’s scoring did not start until the second period where he scored his first and second goal of the night within four minutes of each other. He helped to tie the game 3-3 as the squads moved to the third period. Minot took the lead in the third with less than eight minutes on the clock with the help of Dane Ramirez’s goal. However, the Shamrocks were not going to give up that easily. With 10 seconds on the clock, Travis Lefere completed his hat tricks and helped the Shamrocks take the matchup into overtime. The game eventually went into a shootout where the Shamrocks fell to the Minotauros, 5-4. 

For the weekend, the Miami commit scored three goals, made two assists, and featured a plus-four rating.

Head coach of the Shamrocks, Casey Kirley, shares his excitement for Lefere being named the Central Star of the Week.

“It is great to see the effort and work that Travis has put in all season long be rewarded this weekend. His work ethic is second to none and he has been an awesome person to work with throughout the season. We look forward to continuing to watch him grow as a player as he prepares for his college career at Miami.”

2nd Star: Alex Laurenza, F, Austin Bruins

3rd Star: Evan Hunter, F, Bismarck Bobcats

East Star of the Week: Dexter Kichline - Rochester Jr. Americans

East Division Star of the Week: Dexter Kichline, Defenseman, Rochester Jr. Americans

The second-year blueliner for the Jr. Americans, Dexter Kichline, had a season-high performance over the weekend against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. On Friday night, the 6’0 lefty made a season-high three points. Kichline scored a late third-period goal for Rochester while tallying two assists in this 6-2 victory. Moving into Saturday night’s thriller, the Jr. Americans featured a battle from behind with a win against the Mountain Kings. New Hampshire first found their groove in the last ten minutes of the first period and scored five goals. However, Kichline turned the tide and started the scoring for the Jr. Americans in the last 15 seconds of the first period with a goal. Following that spark by Kichline, the Jr. Americans battled from behind and slowly cut the deficit where they eventually took the victory in overtime. Rochester survived an early five-goal scare with the help of Kichline’s goal and assist during this 6-5 overtime win.

On the weekend, the Henderson, Nevada native tallied two goals, made three assists, and produced a plus-four rating.

Head coach of the Jr. Americans, Francois Methot, shares how vital Kichline has been for the squad.

“Since our team's formation last season, Dexter has played a pivotal role in shaping the culture we aimed for, both on and off the ice. His team-first mentality is contagious and remains constant every single day. One of Dexter's key strengths as a player is his reliability; we know exactly what to expect from him each night. Over the past year and a half, his growth as a player has been remarkable. This past weekend, he made significant contributions to securing the crucial four points against a formidable New Hampshire team, showcasing his strong defensive skills but also adding impactful offensive play in both games. We are very excited to see what the future holds for him.”

2nd Star: Ryan Friedman, F, New Jersey Titans

3rd Star: Calle Karlsson, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Wyatt Carlson - Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Wyatt Carlson, Forward, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

The 5’8 lefty who is coming off of the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament, Wyatt Carlson, notched his first two-goal game this season against the Janesville Jets. On Friday night, the Hermantown, Minnesota native played a major offensive role for the Ice Dogs. He found the back of the net in the second period, helping to extend Fairbanks’ lead to 2-0. As the matchup moved into the third and final frame, Carlson tallied another goal and made an assist. The ‘04 skater recorded his second three-point game of the season with his work on the ice on Friday night. 

Heading into Saturday night’s contest, Fairbanks starts the scoring in the second period with the help of Carlson on the assist. Following that point on the board for the Ice Dogs, the Jets started scoring and building a lead. After being down 3-1, Carlson finds the back of the net to cut the deficit to 3-2 with less than 12 minutes remaining in the third period. The Ice Dogs would eventually fall to the Jets, however, both points scored in this matchup would come with the help of Carlson.

For the weekend, the second-year Ice Dog featured three goals and two assists during this road trip to Janesville. 

Head coach of the Ice Dogs, Ryan Theros, explains what Carlson brings to the ice every day.

“What Wyatt brings to a team is what every coaching staff, teammate, and team wants and needs in a player. His effort and the relentless compete he brings to the rink every single day is a key piece to our team success, as well as his individual success he is having. He has a team-first attitude and plays in every aspect and situation of the game from start to finish. This is well deserved for Wyatt and looking forward to his success going forward.”

2nd Star: Hunter Hayes, F, Wisconsin Windigio

3rd Star: Ryder McIntosh, F, Chippewa Steel

South Star of the Week: Chris Graves - Odessa Jackalopes

South Division Star of the Week: Chris Graves, Forward, Odessa Jackalopes

The 5’10 lefty from Clearwater, Florida, Chris Graves, has made a splash since joining the Jackalopes eight games ago. With the help of Graves, Odessa was able to record their first win against New Mexico since October 18. Starting on Friday night, the Jackalopes got the scoring started with the help of Marcus Fechko in the first period. New Mexico did take the lead in the second period with two goals scored by Laaksonen and Waugh, however, it was short-lived. Graves finds the back of the net and scores the game-tying goal with less than three minutes on the clock in the second period. Moving into the third period, Graves continues his offensive prowess and scores the game-winning goal and then makes an assist on Marcus Fechko’s second goal of the game. Thanks to his performance on the ice, he had his first three-point game of the season as well as his first two-goal game.

Moving into Saturday night, the Jackalopes battled from behind during the whole matchup. Every time the Ice Wolves scored, the Jackalopes were quickly responding. Graves was able to produce an assist during this contest through Jack L’Esperance’s goal in the second period. The Jackalopes would eventually fall 3-2 to the Ice Wolves. 

For the weekend, Graves scored two goals while making two assists for Odessa. Head coach of the Jackalopes, Scott Deur, shares more about Graves’ performance.

“Chris had a great weekend. He has been consistent in his play with us since his trade. He competes and helps give us a chance to win every night. We are happy that Chris is finally getting recognized for his play.”

2nd Star: Nicolas Rempel, G, Lone Star Brahmas

3rd Star: Alexander German, D, Colorado Grit

Central Star of the Week: Lukas Swedin - Minot Minotauros

Central Division Star of the Week: Lukas Swedin, Goaltender, Minot Minotauros

Playing a vital role in the sweep over the Bismarck Bobcats, Lukas Swedin was electric between the pipes for the Minotauros. Starting Friday night, the 5’9 netminder limited the Bobcats to one goal and saved a season-high 48 out of 49 shots. His work helped the Minotauros to win 4-1. The Stockholm, Sweden native continued his dominance for the Minotauros on the road. The Saturday night showdown was a vital moment for Minot. A win against the Bobcats would put the squad at the top of the Central division standings. Even with the pressure on the line, he produced his sixth shutout of the season. Swedin had a 30-save performance helping to lift Minot into the number one spot in the Central standings. This additionally marks Minot’s 13th consecutive win.

On the weekend, Swedin walked away with two wins, .500 goals against average, while featuring a .987 save percentage.

Head coach of the Minotauros, Cody Campbell, shares more about Swedin’s performance.

“Lukas was great this weekend. He continues to play at a level that is helping us have a chance to win on a nightly basis. We are happy to see Lukas’ play be recognized as he continues to work towards a division one opportunity.”

2nd Star: Tyler Wishart, F, St. Cloud Norsemen

3rd Star: Kyle Miller, D, St. Cloud Norsemen

East Star of the Week: Owen King - Rochester Jr. Americans

East Division Star of the Week: Owen King, Forward, Rochester Jr. Americans

Hometown kid of the Jr. Americans, Owen King, reigned supreme over the weekend against the Northeast Generals. The 5’11 Providence commit scored two goals, made four assists, and features a plus-four rating. Starting on Friday night, he helped to lift Rochester to a 5-2 victory at home. He produced an assist in the second frame, while he tallied two goals in the third period, marking his third three-point performance. Heading into Saturday night, the ‘05 righty joined the scoring frenzy for the Jr. Americans. He notched two assists in Rochester’s 8-2 victory. 

On the season, King has 18 goals, 21 assists, and a +18 rating in 43 games played with the Jr. Americans.

2nd Star: Luke Chappelle, D, Maine Nordiques

3rd Star: Isac Nielsen, F, Maryland Black Bears

Midwest Star of the Week: Kyle Rohrer - Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Kyle Rohrer, Forward, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Second-year Ice Dog veteran, Kyle Rohrer, notches his second Star of the Week honors with his five-point performance over the weekend. The 6’0 Lindenwood commit played a vital role for the Ice Dogs against the Springfield Jr. Blues. Starting on Friday night, Kyle scored his 10th goal of the season in the third period to tie the matchup 2-2. However, Springfield was able to tally two more goals in the final frame. Rohrer’s teammate, Luca Ricciardi scored a goal with less than two minutes on the clock, however, it would turn out to not be enough. Fairbanks falls to Springfield 4-3. Heading into Saturday night, the Oregon, Wisconsin native produced his second four-point game of the season. Rohrer played a vital role in this game with his two goals and two assists. He helped to produce four of the six goals scored during this matchup. Fairbanks won 6-2 against the Jr. Blues.

On the season, Rohrer sits second on his squad with 38 total points. In his 38 games played, he has tallied 12 goals, 26 assists, while featuring a plus-nine rating.

Head coach of the Ice Dogs, Ryan Theros, shares more about Rohrer work ethic.

“Kyle has been great throughout the season and has taken his game to even another level over the last three to four weeks. His consistent effort and ability to make skilled plays were a big reason why he was rewarded on the scoresheet this past weekend. This is well deserved for Kyle and we are looking forward to his continued development and success going forward!”

2nd Star: Camden Shasby, D, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Nick Messina, F, Janesville Jets

South Star of the Week: Saxton Tess - Lone Star Brahmas

South Division Star of the Week: Saxton Tess, Forward, Lone Star Brahmas

Second-year Lone Star native, Saxton Tess, shows off his offensive prowess against the Shreveport Mudbugs. On Friday night, Tess produced one assist. The 6’1 lefty had his first four-point game of the season on Saturday night. After coming off a 4-2 loss against the Mudbugs on Friday night, the Brahmas turned up the heat and put on a show Saturday night. Tess tallied first and second assists in each of the first two periods. He then found the back of the net with a little over two minutes on the clock in the second frame. The ‘05 skater ended the game with a bang with a goal in the last 12 seconds of play.

On the season, Tess sits in second on his squad with 37 points, while featuring 15 goals, 22 assists, and a plus-30 rating.

Assistant coach of the Lone Star Brahmas, Logan Murphy, explains more about Tess’ dominance on the ice.

“Saxton has done an outstanding job this year in maintaining consistency in his play which has helped him produce offensively. His dedication to putting in extra work on and off the ice has made him such a major part of our team. We are looking forward to seeing him continue his success and couldn’t be more happy for him.”

2nd Star: Cooper Faughnan, F, Lone Star Brahmas

3rd Star: Lucca Ori, F, Colorado Grit

Central Star of the Week: Kyle Miller - St. Cloud Norsemen

Central Division Star of the Week: Kyle Miller, D, St. Cloud Norsemen

Leading defensemen by a mile this past weekend was the 5’9 lefty, Kyle Miller. The San Jose, California native played an integral role for the Norsemen against the Austin Bruins. There was only one goal during the series that Miller did not contribute to. Starting on Friday night, St. Cloud played from behind during the whole contest. The Bruins registered three goals in the first period and then went on to tally three more in the second frame. In both periods, Miller was able to produce an assist. He assisted on Krisjanis Sart’s goal in the first and then helped Bronson Hunt find the back of the net in the second. Heading into the third period, the Norsemen were down by four. Miller scored a goal alongside his teammate Tim Runtso in the third. Despite Miller’s three-point game, the Norsemen would fall to the Bruins.

Heading into Saturday night, St. Cloud was hungry to bounce back on the road. The contest was tight, and the scoreboard was blank in the first period. In the second period, Austin found the back of the net first with a goal by Zander Lipsett. Miller quickly registered an assist a minute and a half later. The game was tied in the third period, forcing the contest into overtime. In overtime, that is when Miller became the hero of the matchup. He scored the shorthanded game-winning goal for the Norsemen around the three-minute mark.

Miller registered two goals, three assists, and a plus-two rating over the weekend. He leads defensemen for the week with his five-point weekend. Thanks to his work on the ice, Miller extended his point streak to five straight games. The ‘04 skater also sits second among defensemen in the league in total points (46), assists (36), and points per game (1.15). 

Head coach of the Norsemen, Joe Exter, shares the impact Miller has on the ice. 

“This weekend, Kyle showed why he is one of the top defensemen in all of junior hockey. He impacts all areas of the game. One play says it all. In overtime, he helps us kill a penalty and finishes it by getting the game-winning shorthanded goal. He is the ultimate team player.”

2nd Star: Jack O’Hanisain, F, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Cam Markham, F, Watertown Shamrocks

East Star of the Week: Calle Karlsson - Rochester Jr. Americans

East Division Star of the Week: Calle Karlsson, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

Edging his name as the East Division Star of the Week for the third time this season is the 6’1 skater from Sweden, Calle Karlsson. Karlsson played a vital role for the Jr. Americans this past weekend. Out of the seven goals scored by Rochester, Karlsson registered six out of seven points on the scoresheet. Starting on Friday night, the ‘04 righty recorded an assist on Jaden Dyke’s game-tying goal in the first period. The matchup stayed tied 1-1 until the third period. The Philadelphia Rebels capitalized in the third frame and logged three goals. The Jr. Americans could not find the back of the net again, losing 4-1.

Heading into Saturday night, Rochester, especially Karlsson, put on a clinic for Philadelphia. The scoring affair started with Karlsson's goal around the eight-minute and 30-second mark. Less than three minutes later, Karlsson tallied his first assist of the night alongside his second goal. Moving into the second period of the game, Karlsson tallied his second and third assists of the night. His second assist was made on Adam Gionta’s goal, while his third assist was produced on Jaden Dyke’s goal. The Jr. Americans, in the second period, extended their lead to 6-0, and it was looking like it was going to be a shutout night for Rochester’s netminder Danick Leroux. However, Philadelphia’s Brock Jones found the back of the net with less than two minutes on the clock in the third frame. 

For the week, Carlsson ranked second among skaters with his six-point affair against Philadelphia. He features a 3.00 points per game thanks to his two goals and four assists in the series. Carlsson additionally extends his hot streak of registering points to six straight games. His five-point game from Saturday night marks a season-high single-game performance for the 6’1 skater.

On the season, Karlsson leads Rochester in points (48), goals (20), assists (28), and points per game (1.14).

Head coach of the Jr. Americans, Francois Methot, goes into detail about Carlsson’s development. 

“Calle had an outstanding weekend for us once again. He has seamlessly adapted to the North American style, continuously enhancing his overall game. Following our loss to Philadelphia on Friday, Calle elevated his performance on Saturday, playing a key role in our ability to split the weekend with the Rebels and secure two crucial points on the road. I have no doubt that Calle would be an excellent addition to any college program next season.”

2nd Star: Niko Tournas, F, Danbury Hat Tricks

3rd Star: Jaden Dyke, F, Rochester, Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Zachary Cline - Wisconsin Windigo

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Zachary Cline, F, Wisconsin Windigo

The third-year Windigo skater, Zachary Cline, helped Wisconsin secure their third-straight win thanks to his offensive prowess on the ice. Starting on Friday night, the Michigan native recorded a goal in the second period, helping the Windigo extend their lead 3-1 heading into the third frame. His teammate, Cashen Naeve, found the back of the net in the third, allowing the Wisconsin Windigo to walk away with a 4-1 victory over the Janesville Jets.

Moving into Saturday night, the Windigo start the scoring in the first period with the help of Cline. He recorded his first assist of the matchup on Ronnie Hill’s goal. Heading into the second frame, Cline found the back of the net and extended Windigo's lead over the Jets. However, this would not be the last time the ‘04 skater would score during this game. He recorded another goal in the third period, but this time shorthanded. He helped Wisconsin to walk away with a 4-0 shutout victory over Janesville. His offensive ability was felt by the Windigo. Three of the four goals scored on Saturday were thanks to his work on the ice. 

He ended his weekend with three goals, one assist, and a +4 rating. So far this season, Cline leads his squad in assists (25), sits second overall in points (38), and third in goals (13).

Head coach of the Windigo, John Mitchell, shares more about Cline’s work ethic.

“Zach has been our most reliable player to date. He has consistently produced from day one, which speaks volumes to his daily preparation and focus. As many know, it’s extremely difficult to stay healthy and produce game in and game out on a regular basis. He is a natural leader, and embodies everything a coach looks for in a player. As an organization, we could not be more happy for him.”

2nd Star: Gavin Jensen, F, Kenai River Brown Bears

3rd Star: Mason McElroy, G, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

South Star of the Week: Jackson Fuller - New Mexico Ice Wolves

South Division Star of the Week: Jackson Fuller, Goaltender, New Mexico Ice Wolves

The Minnesota native, Jackson Fuller, extended his win streak to six games thanks to his work between the pipes on Friday and Saturday night. The 6’0 netminder has served as a keystone piece for the Ice Wolves this season. As New Mexico battled back to a playoff contention spot in the South division, Fuller has been a crucial piece of the puzzle. On Friday night, Fuller notched his third shutout of the season as he turned away all 42 shots against the Odessa Jackalopes. The game was a scoreless affair heading into the second period. However, New Mexico was able to get a goal on the board, thanks to Jake Kasay. In the final frame, the Ice Wolves tallied their second goal thanks to Andrey Moskvitin. This game also featured Fuller’s largest shutout of the season. 

Heading into Saturday’s matchup, New Mexico started from behind as Odessa’s Jeremy Jacob was able to strike first in the game. However, once the game moved into the second frame, the Ice Wolves’ offensive dominance was felt. New Mexico tallied two goals in the second and then tallied two more goals in the third period. Odessa tried to battle back with two goals in the last two minutes of the final frame. It would end up to be not enough for the Jackalopes to come back from behind. The Ice Wolves walked away with a 5-3 win, featuring Fuller turning away 36 out of 39 shots. 

For the weekend, out of the 81 shots faced, Fuller saved 78. He additionally ranks second in the league for most shots faced while featuring the best save percentage at .960. Additionally, Fuller was one of two netminders this past weekend to have a shutout performance. 

On the season, the ‘04 goaltender features a 2.05 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. 

Head coach of the Ice Wolves, Kevin Hartzell, breaks down what it means to have Fuller on the Ice Wolves. 

“Jackson has, without question, been the backbone to our second-half surge. His solid play night after night has helped us grow confidence as a team. Jackson is a calm, effective leader for us and a great guy, too! He is well-liked by his teammates. We are happy for him and appreciate what he is doing for our team. It goes well beyond just stopping the puck.”

2nd Star: George Porier, F, Colorado Grit

3rd Star: Daniel Rassega, F, Amarillo Wranglers

Central Star of the Week: John Small - Minot Minotauros

Central Division Star of the Week: John Small, Forward, Minot Minotauros

Leading the charge for the Minotauros’ sweep over the Watertown Shamrocks was John Small. The 5’10 second-year skater tallied two goals, made two assists, and featured a plus-four rating over the weekend. On Friday night, the Minotauros played from behind after an early first-period goal by Watertown’s William Shephard. In the second period, Minot charged ahead of the Shamrocks thanks to three goals within seven minutes of each other. Small scored the third and final goal of the matchup, allowing Minot to win 3-1. Heading into Saturday night, Small’s offensive prowess was felt by the Minotauros in the first period. The 5’10 lefty scored the first goal of the game and then tallied two assists during the first frame. Both of those assists were made on Ian Spencer’s goals. The Minotauros walked away with a 5-2 victory thanks to his work on the ice.

For the season, Small is ranked second on his squad in goals (19) while ranks first with his plus-minus rating (+34). He has additionally registered 23 assists and 42 total points on the year.

Head coach of the Minotauros, Cody Campbell, shares more about Small’s work on the ice.

“John has been great for us all season long. His consistent play for us was rewarded on the scoresheet this past weekend. We look forward to John continuing his high-level play as he works towards earning a Division I opportunity.”

2nd Star: Ian Spencer, F, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Kyle Miller, D, St. Cloud Norsemen

East Star of the Week: Owen King - Rochester Jr. Americans

he top of the East Division with the Maryland Black Bears.

Head coach of the Rochester Jr. Americans, Francois Methot, talks about the determination he has seen from King to return to the ice.

“Owen had an exceptional weekend, going up against one of the top teams in the league. After missing an entire season due to injury, he’s put in an incredible amount of work to get back to his best, and it’s clearly paying off. Since Christmas break, Owen has been one of our most consistent players. No matter the competition, he’s been logging major minutes and making an impact on both ends of the ice.”

2nd Star: Jordin Palmer, D, Rochester Jr. Americans

3rd Star: Zack Ferris, G, Johnstown Tomahawks

Midwest Star of the Week: Michael Manzi - Anchorage Wolverines

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Michael Manzi, Goaltender, Anchorage Wolverines

The 6’1 netminder from Delaware, Michael Manzi, notched his second Star of the Week honors with his work between the pipes against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Over the weekend, Anchorage raged at home with a weekend sweep versus Fairbanks. Starting on Friday night, the Wolverines could tally a goal in every period. Fairbanks was scoreless until the last two minutes of the matchup where Wyatt Carlson could find the back of the net on the power play. Manzi saved 31 out of 32 shots, helping Anchorage to win 3-1. 

Leading into Saturday night, Fairbanks was able to get on the board first with a goal, however, this lead was short-lived with Anchorage responding. The first period went back and forth with the teams tied two to two heading into the middle frame. In the second period, Anchorage was able to find the back of the net twice, versus Fairbanks’ one goal. The Wolverines’ Cole Frawner produced the game-winning goal in the second period, while Manzi battled between the pipes saving 21 out of 24 shots on Saturday night.

The weekend sweep marks the first two wins as a Wolverine for Manzi. He ended the weekend with a 2.00 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. 

Head coach of the Anchorage Wolverines, Nick Walters, shares more about working with Manzi and his quick adjustment to being on the Anchorage squad.

“It was a unique situation getting Manzi to Anchorage, and we are still only two weeks into that venture, but we could not be happier that he’s here. He has proved early on that he can be the backbone of the team when between the pipes. He could not be more deserving of the award this week as he made some big-time saves and bailed us out when we missed our assignments. He is a big reason we got two important wins this week.”

2nd Star: Brady Engelkes, F, Kenai River Brown Bears

3rd Star: Zachary Cline, F, Wisconsin Windigo

South Star of the Week: Kirill Evstigneev - Amarillo Wranglers

South Division Star of the Week: Kirill Evstigneev, Forward, Amarillo Wranglers

Making his Wranglers debut, Kirill Evstigneev had a season-high performance. The 5’11 lefty dished three goals and made an assist over the weekend against the El Paso Rhinos. On Friday night, Amarillo was playing from behind during the whole matchup. In the first period, Evstigneev found the back of the net in the second period to tie the game. However, El Paso extended their lead in the second and third periods to make the matchup four to one. With less than three minutes left in the game, Evstigneev produced an assist on Noah Ribeiro’s goal helping Amarillo to cut El Paso’s lead in half. Amarillo did walk away with a 4-2 loss, however, Evstigneev played a role in both goals scored that night. 

Looking at Saturday night’s rematch, Amarillo was hungry for a win. El Paso first took the lead early with two first-period goals. However, the Wranglers responded with a late first-period goal and a game-tying goal in the middle frame by Evstigneev. Amarillo was able to extend their lead in the final frame thanks to a goal by Cole Saterdalen and an empty-netter by the 5’11 lefty in the final seconds of the game. The ‘06 first-year skater produced his first two-goal game on Saturday night and registered his first four-point weekend in the league. He ended his weekend debut with a plus-three rating.

Head coach of the Wranglers, Corey Wogtech, shares more about having Evstigneev on the team.

“In just two games, Kirill has made a huge impact on our team. He is a dedicated athlete, whose desire to improve is infectious. It’s nice to see a player's hard work pay off on the score sheet, and I’m excited for his future as a Wrangler!

2nd Star: Kristo Pitkanen, F, Lone Star Brahmas

3rd Star: Jackson Fuller, G, New Mexico Ice Wolves

Central Star of the Week: John Small - Minot Minotauros

Central Division Star of the Week: John Small, Forward, Minot Minotauros

Leading the charge for the Minotauros’ sweep over the Watertown Shamrocks was John Small. The 5’10 second-year skater tallied two goals, made two assists, and featured a plus-four rating over the weekend. On Friday night, the Minotauros played from behind after an early first-period goal by Watertown’s William Shephard. In the second period, Minot charged ahead of the Shamrocks thanks to three goals within seven minutes of each other. Small scored the third and final goal of the matchup, allowing Minot to win 3-1. Heading into Saturday night, Small’s offensive prowess was felt by the Minotauros in the first period. The 5’10 lefty scored the first goal of the game and then tallied two assists during the first frame. Both of those assists were made on Ian Spencer’s goals. The Minotauros walked away with a 5-2 victory thanks to his work on the ice.

For the season, Small is ranked second on his squad in goals (19) while ranks first with his plus-minus rating (+34). He has additionally registered 23 assists and 42 total points on the year.

Head coach of the Minotauros, Cody Campbell, shares more about Small’s work on the ice.

“John has been great for us all season long. His consistent play for us was rewarded on the scoresheet this past weekend. We look forward to John continuing his high-level play as he works towards earning a Division I opportunity.”

2nd Star: Ian Spencer, F, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Kyle Miller, D, St. Cloud Norsemen

Central Star of the Week: Mason Lebel - St. Cloud Norsemen

Central Division Star of the Week: Mason Lebel, Forward, St. Cloud Norsemen

6’3 lefty, Mason LeBel, had a season-high weekend with the Norsemen. On Friday night, St. Cloud started the series at home against the North Iowa Bulls. The Bulls took the lead with a goal by Cole Wirun in the first period. The Bulls maintained their lead in the second period and kept the Norsemen from scoring. As the game progressed to the third period, St. Cloud stayed scoreless until Mason LeBel found the back of the net around the 10-minute and 30-second mark. Three minutes later, LeBel assisted Sam Crane’s game-winning goal for the Norsemen.

 The Columbus, Ohio native continued his offensive dominance into Saturday night. He tallied two goals and two assists during St. Cloud’s scoring affair. The Norsemen won 7-3 and ended the series with a sweep. 

Saturday night marked the first time this season that LeBel found the back of the net twice in one game. The ‘05 skater on the weekend scored three goals, made three assists, and notched a plus-two rating. His six-point weekend marks a season-high for LeBel.

LeBel leads his squad in goals (17) and powerplay goals (11), while he is second in assists (18) and total points (35).

Head coach of the Norsemen, Joe Exter, shares more on LeBel's work ethic and ability on the ice.

“Mason was fantastic all weekend. In both games, he generated offensive opportunities which led to key goals that helped us earn two victories. His willingness to get to the net with and without the puck sets the tone for how our team needs to play. It is a detail of his game that makes him one of the top goal-scorers in the NAHL and a leader in our room.” 

2nd Star: Luc Malkhassian, F, Austin Bruins

3rd Star: Gavin Middendorf, F, Minot Minotauros

East Star of the Week: Alex Papaspyropoulos - New Jersey Titans

East Division Star of the Week: Alex Papaspyropoulos, Forward, New Jersey Titans

Good things must come in threes, because for the third time this season Alex Papaspyropoulos earns East Division Star of the Week honors. The 20-year-old from Whitby, Ontario has served as a keystone skater for the Titans. Starting on Friday night, the 6’1 lefty recorded his second four-point game of the season. The matchup started with Danbury getting on the board first thanks to a goal by Kai Elkie. The Titans responded in the first period with three goals, two of the goals assisted by Papaspyropoulos. The ‘04 skater was able to tally a goal in the second and third periods, helping the Titans maintain their lead and eventually win the game, 6-4. 

Heading into Saturday night, New Jersey started from behind against the Hat Tricks, thanks to a late first-period goal by David Utkin and an early second-period goal by Niko Tournas. However, the Titans battled back with a goal by Alex Papaspyropoulos and Nikolai Meshkantsov. With the game tied leading into the third, Papaspyroplous was able to assist Ryan Friendman’s game-winning goal, allowing the Titans to sweep the Hat Tricks.

Papaspyropoulos scored three goals and made three assists against Danbury. He currently ranks first on his squad with his 20 goals and is tied first with his plus-three rating on the season. The 6’1 skater additionally ranks second on his squad for assists (29), total points (49), and points per game (1.40).

Head coach of the Titans, George Haviland explains more about Papaspyropoulos’ ability on the ice.

“Alex continues to be an offensive force! He has been able to combine a 200-foot game while consistently scoring and making offensive plays. His ability to create offense is explosive and fun to watch. Very happy he is part of our New Jersey Titans NAHL program.”

2nd Star: Harrison Smith, F, Maryland Black Bears

3rd Star: Adam Ondris, F, Johnstown Tomahawks

Midwest Star of the Week: Devin Shakar - Chippewa Steel

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Devin Shakar, Goaltender, Chippewa Steel

Making Chippewa Steel history, Devin Shakar, produced back-to-back shutouts over the weekend against the Janesville Jets. The 6’1 netminder was electric between the pipes for the Steel. Starting on Friday night, he produced a 22-save shutout, allowing Chippewa to walk away with a 4-0 victory over the Jets. Moving into Saturday night, the New York native topped his Friday night performance with a 27-save shutout. Thanks to Shakar’s ability in the net, he helped to lift his squad to fourth place in the Midwest Division standings. This marks the first time since early December that the Steel are in playoff contention for the Midwest division. The Steel are now on a four-game heater, tying their longest heater for this season. 

The Brown University commit had a career-best weekend with his 0.00 goals against average, 1.00 save percentage, and two back-to-back shutouts. On the season, when Shakar is between the pipes, he has helped to produce 15 out of the 19 Steel victories.

Head Coach of Chippewa, Cory Hunt, shares more on how Shakar has served as an instrumental piece for the Steel. 

“Devin has been a stud in the net for us this year. He has been a big part of our success the last month and had a great weekend with two shutouts. He is a competitor and his transition to junior hockey this year has been seamless.”

2nd Star: Beau Atlman, G, Wisconsin Windigo

3rd Star: Charlie Menard, G, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

South Star of the Week: Logan Hughes - El Paso Rhinos

South Division Star of the Week: Logan Hughes, Goaltender, El Paso Rhinos

The 6’4 netminder from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin produced his first shutout of the season. Logan Hughes played an instrumental role in the Rhinos’ sweep over the Amarillo Wranglers. Starting on Friday night, the ‘06 netminder produced a 33-save shutout for the Rhinos. His teammates were able to find the back of the net three times in the second period, allowing El Paso to win 3-0 against Amarillo. During Saturday night’s matchup, the Rhinos were able to get on the board first and grow a substantial lead. Heading into the last 16 minutes of play, the Rhino were up 4-0. However, Amarillo was able to tally two third-period goals thanks to Nolan Mix and Jake Boulanger. However, the two goals would not be enough to come back. The game ended with a 4-2 victory for the Rhinos.

On the weekend, Hughes featured a .943 save percentage, 1.00 goals against average, and saved a total of 66 out of 68 shots. 

Head coach of El Paso, Mike Rivera, shares his excitement for Hughes.

“Star of the Week honors is well deserved for Hughes. As an ‘06, he was patient for his opportunity, which speaks to his character. He stepped up big when the team needed him. He played lights out against Amarillo and we look forward to what he will accomplish in the Rhino uniform.”

2nd Star: Bryce Boucher, F, Shreveport MudBugs

3rd Star: Niko Goich, G, Shreveport MudBugs

Central Star of the Week: Beck Liden - St. Cloud Norsemen

Central Division Star of the Week: Beck Liden, Goaltender, St. Cloud Norsemen

The 5’11 netminder from Minnesota, Beck Liden, was a dominating force between the pipes for the Norsemen. This is the second time this season that Liden has earned the Central Division Star of the Week honors. On Saturday night, he returned to the starting six in a series rematch with Bismarck. The last time he faced the Bobcats, Liden allowed six goals. However, this time Liden was able to seek revenge. The 19-year-old only allowed one goal on his watch. He saved 30 out of 31 shots. Bismarck’s one goal came 20 seconds into the third period and helped the Bobcats cut the Norsemen’s lead in half. However, St. Cloud responded and produced two more goals in the third, walking away with a 4-1 victory. 

Out of St. Cloud’s 15 wins on the season, 11 of them came with the Alexandria, Minnesota native between the pipes. Liden sports a 1.00 goals against average and a .968 save percentage for the matchup.

Head coach of the Norsemen, Joe Exter, shares more about Liden’s dominance on Saturday night.

“Beck was a rock for us all night. His timely saves combined with his excellent rebound control allowed us to set the pace of the game and come away with a road win versus our division's top team. It also shows what Beck and our team can do when we are all locked into the game together.”

2nd Star: Lukas Swedin, G, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Noah Diemer, F, North Iowa Bulls

East Star of the Week: Ty Levy - Elmira Aviators

East Division Star of the Week: Ty Levy, Goaltender, Elmira Aviators 

In his NAHL debut, Ty Levy helped the Aviators take flight and sweep the New Hampshire Mountain Kings on the road. The 6’2 netminder made his return to the lineup after coming off an injury. On Friday night, he started his debut with a bang with a 40-save shutout. The next night, the ‘06 Ontario native saved 35 out of 38 shots. Elmira took the lead quickly in the first period on Saturday night and did not let off the brakes. They scored four goals before New Hampshire was able to put a goal on the board. The Mountain Kings produced two more goals in the third, however, it was not enough. Levy walked away with a weekend sweep between the pipes.

Levy sported a 1.50 goals against average and a .962 save percentage for the weekend.

Head coach of Elmira, Dominick Manochio, shares more about Levy’s determination to return to the ice.

“It was great to see Ty back in the net, getting rewarded for his hard work. Rehabilitating from injuries is never easy and he has done a tremendous job staying focused day in and day out being a positive teammate! We look forward to seeing continued success from Levy!”

2nd Star: Austin McNicholas, G, New Jersey Titans

3rd Star: Grady Logue, F, Northeast Generals

Midwest Star of the Week: Lucas Szyszka - Wisconsin Windigo

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Lucas Szyszka, Goaltender, Wisconsin Windigo

First-year Windigo netminder, Lucas Szyszka helped to lift his squad to a sweep over the Springfield Jr. Blues. The 6’2 Westmont, Illinois native produced his third shutout of the season on Friday night with a 19-save performance. Heading into Saturday night, the Windigo scored two goals in the first period to give them the lead. Springfield cut the Windigo’s lead in half with a power play goal by Jack Klevby. However, it was not enough for the Jr. Blues to come back. Wisconsin walks away with a 2-1 win and Szyska ends his night saving 24 out of 25 shots. 

Szyszka produced two wins between the pipes for the Windigo, sporting a 0.50 goals against average and a .977 save percentage for the weekend. His presence in the net contributes to the Windigo’s win column; 19 out of 25 wins that Wisconsin had this season feature Szyszka in the net. 

Head coach of Wisconsin, John Mitchell, shares more about the progress he has seen from the first-year Windigo goaltender. 

“Lucas’s performance and competition across the last five months has been nothing short of spectacular. His maturity and preparation trickle down through the lineup. This league has some great teams and fantastic goaltending. It is hard to set the pace in the win column like he has. We are proud of him.”

2nd Star: Mitchell McCusker, G, Kenai River Brown Bears

3rd Star: Connor Jalbert, F, Chippewa Steel

South Star of the Week: Kyan Haldenby - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Kyan Haldenby, Forward, Shreveport Mudbugs

The 6’1 skater from Toronto, Ontario has won Star of the Week for the third time this season. Kyan Haldenby is a second-year skater for the Mudbugs. The Canisius College commit was electric on the ice against the Odessa Jackalopes. On Friday night, for the second time this season, Haldenby had a five-point game thanks to a goal and four assists. He produced a single-game season-high +3 rating thanks to his offensive dominance. The Mudbugs won 8-3 at home against the Jackalopes. Skating into Saturday night, Shreveport produced a 3-0 victory against Odessa. Haldenby scored a goal early in the third period for the Mudbugs. 

For the weekend, the ‘04 righty scored two goals, made four assists, sported six total points, and a +4 rating. On the season, he is ranked fourth overall in the NAHL for points per game (1.46) and fifth overall in assists (30). Haldenby additionally ranks first on his squad in points (41), assists (30), and is tied third for goals (11). 

Head coach of the Mudbugs, Jason Campbell, shares more about Haldenby’s offensive prowess on the ice.

“Kyan has been pretty hot since his return to the lineup. He’s a dynamic player with a great competitive level that allows him the opportunity to have success on both sides of the puck.”

2nd Star: Lucas Deeb, F, Shreveport Mudbugs

3rd Star: Nikita Konevych, D, Corpus Christi IceRays

Central Star of the Week: Lukas Swedin - Minot Minotauros

Central Division Star of the Week: Lukas Swedin, Goaltender, Minot Minotauros

Second-year veteran of the Minotauros, Lukas Swedin charged ahead and helped his squad sweep the St. Cloud Norsemen on the road. The 5’9 netminder from Stockholm, Sweden was superior between the pipes. Starting on Friday night in St. Cloud, Swedin allowed one goal three minutes into the matchup. However, that early first-period goal by the Norsemen would end up becoming the only goal they scored all weekend. Minot was able to respond to the goal and walk away with a 4-1 victory. 

Heading into Saturday night, Swedin reinforced why he is one of the top goaltenders in the league. He produced a 23-save shutout, making it his fourth shutout this season. On the weekend, he posted a 1.00 goals against average, a .975 save percentage, saved 40 out of 41 shots, and made two assists. He made more assists than goals allowed on the weekend.

Swedin ranks second overall in the league with his save percentage (.944), third in shutouts (4), tied fourth in wins (16), and fifth overall in goals against average (1.657).

Head Coach of the Minotauros, Cody Campbell, shares how Swedin has been a keystone player for the Minotauros. 

“Lukas has been great for us this season. He is a steady competitor who does a great job giving us a chance to win night in and night out. We are excited for him to be recognized for his play this past weekend and look forward to Lukas continuing his play to earn an NCAA Division I opportunity.”

2nd Star: Phileas Lachat, G, Watertown Shamrocks

3rd Star: Carter Sproule, F, Watertown Shamrocks

East Star of the Week: Niko Tournas - Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks

East Division Star of the Week: Niko Tournas, Forward, Danbury Hat Tricks

The ‘06 righty from Connecticut, Niko Tournas, had a season-high weekend with the Hat Tricks. On Friday night, the 6’2 New Hampshire commit found the back of the net twice for his squad. He helped to lead Danbury to a 4-1 victory over Elmira. Moving into Saturday night, Tournas was even more of a dominant offensive force for the Hat Tricks. He contributed to every goal that Danbury scored and ironically, the Hat Trick skater picked up his first hat trick of the season during this matchup. 

Thanks to his ability on the ice he has extended his point streak to seven straight games. He wrapped up his weekend with five goals, one assist, six total points, and a +6 rating. 

For the season, Tournas leads his squad in almost every category. He ranks first in goals (23), assists (21), total points (44), and points per game (1.38), while is tied for second with his +12 rating. 

Head coach of the Hat Tricks, Lenny Caglianone, shares about the development he has seen from Tournas. 

“Niko has elevated his game at a consistent pace this year. His physical game has taken a considerable step and has only elevated his overall skill set. He brought that physicality against Elmira and allowed him to create and maintain more ice. It was a great weekend for a deserving player.”

2nd Star:  Carter Richardson, G, Maine Nordiques

3rd Star: Joseph McGraw, F, Northeast Generals

Midwest Star of the Week: Jakub Bednarik - Anchorage Wolverines

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Jakub Bednarik, Forward, Anchorage Wolverines 

The 6’2 lefty from Czechia, Jakub Bednarik, made an impact on the Wolverines during their three-game series. After Anchorage’s ten-game road trip, Bednarik raged at home and put together a season-high performance. Starting on Friday night, Bednarik got the Wolverines on the board first with a goal in the first period, however, Janesville kept the matchup competitive. As the squads battled back and forth, the game went into overtime. Teammate, Brock Devlin, was able to help seal the win with an overtime goal. 

On Saturday night, the ‘05 skater had a season-high night of two goals and three total points. The first period featured the Wolverines dominating the Jets. Janesville was able to first get a goal on the board, however, following that one goal, Anchorage raged with five goals just in the first period. Following that period, the Wolverines were able to tally a pair of goals in the second and third periods. The squad ended with a 9-1 victory. 

Finally, on Sunday’s early evening game, the Wolverines produced a 2-1 shootout win. The matchup was close with both goals coming in the third period. The shootout went six rounds with Anchorage able to clinch the win.

For the weekend, Bednarik scored three goals, made two assists, and ended with a +4 rating.

Head coach of the Wolverines, Nick Walters, shares how monumental this weekend was for Bednarik. 

“Bedsy had a monster weekend for us in our three games in three days. He can fly under the radar and then all of a sudden show up on the score sheet. He is always thinking one to two plays ahead and he hangs around the net for those second and third chances which is why he was rewarded this weekend.”

2nd Star: Charlie Menard, G, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

3rd Star: Owen Zenone, G, Kenai River Brown Bears

South Star of the Week: Carter McKay - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Carter McKay, Forward, Shreveport Mudbugs

The 5’10 lefty from Canada, Carter McKay, was more than okay on the weekend, he saved the day during one of the games. The second-year skater helped the Mudbugs to sweep the former number one in the South division, the Corpus Christi IceRays. On Friday night, he recorded a season-high of two goals, two assists, and four total points in the Mudbugs 9-4 victory. However, McKay's offensive prowess was especially displayed on Saturday night’s matchup. 

Saturday night’s game was a low-scoring affair until the third period. Corpus Christi led 1-0 over Shreveport, however, the Mudbugs went pedal to the metal. Two Shreveport goals were scored in the first two minutes of the third period, however Corpus Christi responded with two goals. With less than two minutes left on the clock, McKay turned up the heat. He tallied the game-tying goal with 1 minute and 43 seconds left on the clock. However, the moment he saved the day was when he found the back of the net with two seconds to spare. Thanks to his help, he helped the Mudbugs clinch the sweep over the IceRays. 

For the weekend, McKay tallied three goals, two assists, five total points, and a +4 rating.

Head coach of the Mudbugs, Jason Campbell, shares more of McKay’s work ethic and growth on the ice.

“Carter has been so good for us all year. His focus on the details of the game and being consistent with it are paying off. He has a great knack for getting himself to scoring areas, putting the puck to scoring areas, or doing the dirty work to allow his teammates to get to the scoring areas. He is a very responsible player, who plays a huge role on special teams and five-on-five. Seven points in two games is pretty awesome but it is the details and work that he is playing with that makes him great.”

2nd Star: Billy Stuski, G, Oklahoma Warriors

3rd Star: Travis Bryson, F, Oklahoma Warriors

Central Star of the Week: Leonid Bulgakov - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Leonid Bulgakov, Forward, Aberdeen Wings

The 20-year-old skater, Leonid Bulgakov has played an instrumental role for Aberdeen this season. This past weekend the 5’9 lefty helped the Wings produce a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Mallards on Friday night. As both squads were scoreless heading into the second period, the Wings were able to get on the board first with a goal by Cade Moxham a little over a minute into the game. Minnesota tied the game up 12 minutes later thanks to James Ghebbari finding the back of the net for the first time this season. Following that goal, Bulgakov clinched the game-winning goal with less than two minutes on the clock in the second period. 

Heading into the third period, Central's second star of the week, Luke Backel found the back of the net in the first 2:30 of the period. Later on in this period, the Mallards pulled goaltender Zane Spaniol to give Minnesota the man advantage around the three-minute mark. However, with 45 seconds on the clock, Bulgakov scores an empty-netter to extend the lead and help to seal the victory. 

In game two on Saturday night, the Mallards were hungry for a win and to produce some points for the standings. Bulgakov tallied an assist in the first period during this matchup. As the squads headed to the third period, Aberdeen was leading 2-1. However, the Mallards were able to produce three goals in the last 12 minutes of play. 

The Augustana University commit leads his squad in goals (22) and total points (34) while ranks third for points per game (1.17). 

Scott Langer, head coach for the Wings shares more about Bulgakov’s work ethic.

“Leo puts in a lot of work when it comes to his game. He is a threat every night offensively. He creates his offense through hard work.”

2nd Star: Luke Backel, F, Aberdeen Wings

3rd Star: Phileas Lachat, G, Watertown Shamrocks

East Star of the Week: Carter Richardson - Maine Nordiques

East Division Star of the Week: Carter Richardson, Goaltender, Maine Nordiques

Earning his second East Division Star of the Week honors, Carter Richardson was a dominant force between the pipes for the Nordiques. The 6’2 netminder played in three back-to-back matchups over the weekend and helped the Nordiques produce a win in each game. His weekend started with two games at home versus the Philadelphia Rebels. On Friday night, he only allowed one goal on his watch against one of Philadelphia’s top goal-scorers, Ruslan Jamaldinov. He ended the game saving 27 out of 28 shots. 

Heading into Saturday night’s matchup, the Lake Superior State commit again only allowed one goal against the Rebels' other top goal-scorer, Caesar Bjork. Bjork struck first in the matchup, however, the Nordiques shut down Philadelphia’s lead quickly. Less than a minute after Bjork’s goal, Shane Kozalina of the Nordiques found the back of the net. In this 3-1 victory, Richardson saved 28 out of 29 shots on the night.

Following these two games in Lewiston, the Nordiques head South to play the Danbury Hat Tricks for one game. Richardson stayed diligent in the net and helped the Nordiques produce their third win of the weekend. The second-year netminder allowed two Danbury goals in the third period, however, it proved not to be enough for Maine’s offensive dominance. Nordiques won 5-2 and picked up their fourth consecutive win. Maine has jumped from fourth in the standings to now tied for second with the help of Richardson. 

On the weekend, Richardson sported a 1.33 goals against average, a .956 save percentage, and saved 87 out of 91 shots.

Maine’s head coach, Nick Skerlick, shares his thoughts on Richardson’s and the Nordiques’ weekend.

“Carter is Carter. He’s a special talent. Nice work by all Nordique players this week. He was averaging 26 shots against teams that can score. It’s a great team effort backstopped by the best goalie in the division.”

2nd Star: Jaden Davis, F, New Hampshire Mountain Kings

3rd Star: Benji Motew, G, Maryland Back Bears

Midwest Star of the Week: Logan Nickolaus - Wisconsin Windigo

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Logan Nickolaus, Forward, Wisconsin Windigo

Third-year veteran Logan Nickolaus really put things in motion for the Windigo and produced a season-high weekend against the Kenai River Brown Bears. The 6’1 lefty from Michigan had one of his most offensively dominant weekends of his season. On Friday night, he scored a goal and made two assists in the Windigo’s 5-2 victory. However, his single-game season-high in goals came on Saturday night. The 20-year-old scored two goals for the first time this season. He found the back of the net in the first period around the nine minute mark for Wisconsin. Kenai River put up a battle for the Windigo. Every time the Windigo scored, Kenai River was finding the back of the net quickly after. However, with Nickolaus on the ice, he provided the offensive prowess that the Windigo needed. He scored his first game-winning goal in the third period at the 12:15 mark. He scored two of the three goals in Wisconsin’s 3-2 victory.

Nickolaus wrapped up his weekend with three goals, two assists, five total points, and a +5 rating for the two games.

Head coach of the Windigo, John Mitchell, shares how much Nickolaus means to the squad and community. 

“Logan is a pillar here in the community of Eagle River and epitomizes everything a coach would hope for in a player. He’s a pro, through and through. From his preparation on and off the ice, to his leadership traits, he’s a great example for our young players to learn from. We are happy to have him back in the lineup.”

2nd Star: Logan Sutton, F, Springfield Jr. Blues

3rd Star: Kyler Rohrer, F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

South Star of the Week: Cooper Conway - Corpus Christi IceRays

South Division Star of the Week: Cooper Conway, Forward, Corpus Christi IceRays

The 6’0 lefty from Minnesota, Cooper Conway, led the way for the IceRays in scoring points this past weekend. The second-year NAHL skater was traded earlier this season from the North Iowa Bulls. After Conway transitioned to the squad in late October and early November, he has been an offensive dominant force for the IceRays. In his last 10 games, he has tallied at least one point in nine of those 10 games. His offensive prowess was obvious this past weekend. He played in three back-to-back games for the IceRays and starting on Friday night he scored a goal and made an assist in the IceRays 5-2 victory. 

The next night, the Colorado College commit made a season-high three assists in Corpus Christi’s 4-2 victory. Each of his assists came in each period for three different skaters. Thanks to the ‘05 skater, the IceRays swept the Amarillo Wranglers. 

With one series finished, the IceRays had a matinee special at the American Bank Center against the Oklahoma Warriors. The Warriors were coming off back-to-back shutout losses by the Lone Star Brahmas and they were hungry for a win. During this one-game special, the IceRays and Warriors battled to score goals. Each squad had six goals by the end of the third period, and Conway scored two goals during this affair. The game went into overtime, however neither team was able to produce a goal. As the squads head to the shootout, the Warriors were able to come off victorious in the fourth round thanks to Kyle Sorensen. This game marked the second shootout loss of the season for Corpus Christi. 

Conway ended his weekend with three goals, four assists, seven total points, and a +5 rating for the three games. He leads his squads for points per game at 1.04 while is tied second with 11 goals. 

Sylvain Cloutier, head coach of the IceRays, shares about the development he has seen from Conway.

“Since we’ve acquired Cooper, he has been exceptional for us offensively and has become a key part of our team. The dedication he has shown since joining us is clearly paying off.”

2nd Star: Luc Bydal, F, Colorado Grit

3rd Star: Andy Earl, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves

Midwest Star of the Week: Matthew Alberti - Janesville Jets

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Matthew Alberti, Goaltender, Janesville Jets

Second-year veteran of the Jets, Matthew Alberti saved 81 out of 88 shots on the weekend against the Chippewa Steel. Starting on Friday night, the Jets produced a 7-3 victory. Most of the scoring in this contest happened in the first and third periods. The game started with a goal by Chippewa’s skater, Tomas Trunda in the first 15 seconds of play. However, the Jets responded 10 minutes later with three goals within two minutes of each other. Heading into the second period Trunda puts another goal on the board for the Steel. However, the Jets extended their lead once it hit the third period. Janesville produced four goals in the third, while Chippewa was able to put one more goal on the board by Ryder McIntosh.

Heading into game two on Saturday night, the Jets took the lead in the first period with three goals versus the two goals scored by Chippewa. However, Janesville fell behind as Chippewa produced a goal in the second and two goals in the third. While Alberti did walk away from a loss on Saturday, the New York native finished the weekend with a .921 save percentage and a 3.5 goals against average. 

"Berti has been strong in net for us all year," said Janesville's head coach, Brett Walls. "It was great to see his work and effort rewarded this weekend as we start the second half of the season."

South Star of the Week: Nikola Goich - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Nikola Goich, Goaltender, Shreveport Mudbugs

The 6’5 netminder from Illinois was electric between the pipes for the Mudbugs. Nikola Goich produced his second shutout of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Mudbugs were facing the top of the South division, the Corpus Christi IceRays. Prior to this series, the IceRays were hot and were on a seven-game heater. Starting on Friday night, Goich was in the net for his squad. The contest stayed close between the two teams. Every time the Mudbugs scored, the IceRays were scoring moments later.  As the teams battled back and forth, the contest went into overtime. With less than a minute on the clock Corpus Christi’s defenseman, Matteus Soderbom, scored the overtime game-winning goal. Shreveport walked away with a 4-3 overtime loss.

Moving into the matinee matchup on Sunday, the ‘04 goaltender was hungry for a win. The game was scoreless heading into the third period. With less than three minutes on the clock his teammates, Lucas Deeb and Bryce Boucher find the back of the net for the Mudbugs. Nikola finishes the matchup with a 26-save shutout. The third-year veteran of the Mudbugs ends his weekend with a 1.87 goals against average and .944 save percentage. 

“Merry Christmas Niko! Both of our goalies were great this weekend against a good Corpus Christi team. Niko finished the weekend off right with a huge shutout performance Sunday after helping us get a big point on Friday,” said Shreveport’s head coach, Jason Campbell. “His play was confident and poised in both games he played. Niko and Gariepy both performed excellently during a tough three-game set on the road.”

Central Star of the Week: Nikolai Tishkevich - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Nikolai Tishkevich, Forward, Aberdeen Wings

The 20-year-old lefty from Belarus put on a show in his third and fourth game back with the Aberdeen Wings. Nikolai Tishkevich played a crucial role in Aberdeen’s offensive game over the weekend against the North Iowa Bulls. Starting Friday night, the 5’11 skater produced two goals and an assist in the 4-3 overtime victory. He first assisted Luke Backel’s goal in the first period. Moving into the second period, Tishkevich found the back of the net at the 12:55 mark. However, the North Iowa Bulls responded. With less than a second on the clock in the third period, the Bulls produced the game-tying goal. However, that did not hinder the Wings. As they move into overtime, Tishkevich scores the game-winning goal at the 2:30 mark for Aberdeen.

Heading into Saturday night, the third-year veteran of the Wings played just as strong. Tishkevich scored a goal and assisted Leonid Bulgakov’s goal in the third period. The Wings did walk away with a 4-3 loss against the Bulls. However, Tishkevich walked away with three goals, two assists, and five total points on the weekend. Thanks to his work on the ice, he continues his goal streak to four straight games.

“Nikolai has come back and picked up where he ended last year,” said Aberdeen’s head coach, Scott Langer. “He is a mature ultra-competitive individual who was an instant difference maker in our lineup.”

2nd Star: Cole Wirun, F, North Iowa Bulls

3rd Star: Phileas Lachat, G, Watertown Shamrocks

East Star of the Week: Carter Richardson - Maine Nordiques

East Division Star of the Week: Carter Richardson, Goaltender, Maine Nordiques

In the battle versus the top of the East division, Carter Richardson showed off his defensive dominance between the pipes. The 6’2 netminder shined bright in game two against the Jr. Americans. After coming off a 2-1 loss against Rochester on Friday night, the ‘05 Canadian was electric between the posts in Saturday night’s matchup. He produced a 38-save shutout against the number-one-ranked squad in the East division. This marked his second shutout of the season with the Nordiques. 

On the weekend, he featured a 1.01 goals against average, a .967 save percentage, and saved 62 out of 64 shots. The ‘05 goaltender leads his squad with 11 wins and will head to Lake Superior State University next year to play Division I college hockey.

“Carter came into this series looking for more out of himself. A slow and strange start to the season; coming back from the USHL, and CHL teams looking to acquire him, it all became a distraction. There is some fantastic goaltending in this league, but Carter over his last five starts is starting to show again why he will sit as a candidate for the league’s top goalie,” said head coach of the Nordiques, Nick Skrelick. “We are happy with his preparation and focus as of late which has his game trending up. He was a Rochester roadblock last season and we believe he will be the ‘X Factor’ to get us out of the East division this season.”

2nd Star: Alex Papaspyropoulos, F, New Jersey Titans

3rd Star: Danick Leroux, G, Rochester Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Cole Burke - Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Cole Burke, Forward, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Third-year veteran of the Ice Dogs, Cole Burke, played an offensive role in Fairbanks’ sweep over Wisconsin. The 6’2 righty in Friday night’s matchup produced two of the six goals scored by the Ice Dogs. His first goal was scored in the first period around the 14:28 mark while his second goal was tallied in the third period with a little more than three minutes left on the clock. The Ice Dogs ended the night with a 6-2 victory over Wisconsin. 

Heading into Saturday night, the Michigan native found the back of the net again for the Ice Dogs. He scored his game-winning goal in the second period with a little more than a minute left on the clock. Fairbanks finishes their sweep with a 4-1 win over Wisconsin. The 6’2 righty is tied first on his squad in goals (11) and his plus-minus rating (+16), while he is tied second in total points (26).

“Cole has been very consistent in his play from the start of the season. He brings a ton of energy and a great attitude every day to practice. The effort he puts forth throughout the week has been a staple he brings to every game. Cole is a player that is reliable and he plays in every situation during a game,” said by the head coach of the Ice Dogs, Ryan Theros. “He plays with great structure, consistency, and accountability. As one of our captains and one of many leaders we have on the team, he leads by example. We are excited for Cole going forward as he continues to have individual success for the team. It is not surprising to us with his success as his loyalty to his teammates and the organization is top-notch. He has a great team-first mentality and he plays for his teammates and the logo.”

2nd Star: Justin Collins, F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

3rd Star: Mitchell McCusker, G, Kenai River Brown Bears

South Star of the Week: Carl Jacobson - Amarillo Wranglers

South Division Star of the Week: Carl Jacobson, Forward, Amarillo Wranglers

First-year skater for Amarillo, Carl Jacobson wrangled up an award thanks to his offensive production on the ice. The ‘04 lefty had a season-high weekend in assists and total points. Starting on Friday night, Jacobson tallied his first power play goal of the season during the first period against the Colorado Grit. He then assists Trace Day’s game-winning goal in the second period.

Moving forward to Saturday night, Jacobson hit his season-high of three assists. He helps to get the teddy bears to start flying in Amarillo by assisting Salvatore Cerrato’s goal in the first thirty seconds of play. He then assisted on Corson Maguire’s goal five minutes later in the first period. Jacobson notched his third and final assist of the night with less than a minute on the clock for the Wranglers in the third period. Amarillo took down Colorado with a 6-3 victory at home.

On the weekend, Jacobson scored a goal, made four assists, and produced a +3 rating.

"I’m excited for Carl! He is very deserving of this award. Day in and day out, he does all of the little things well, said by the Wranglers' head coach, Corey Wogtech. "This is a testament to Carl’s dedication to his development, and it’s exciting to see him get recognized for his efforts."

2nd Star: Seth Murch, D, Shreveport Mudbugs

3rd Star: Sebastian Speck, F, Oklahoma Warriors

Central Star of the Week: Kyle Doll - Bismarck Bobcats

Central Division Star of the Week: Kyle Doll, Forward, Bismarck Bobcats

A third-year veteran of the Bobcats, Kyle Doll, had a season-high weekend for himself. On Friday night against Watertown, he scored two season-high goals and produced a three-point game. Heading into Saturday night, the 5’11 righty from Lakeville, Minnesota found the back of the net and assisted on Julian Beaumont’s goal. The Bismarck Bobcats walked away with a sweep over Watertown thanks to his performance. During the season, the ‘05 skater scored six goals and six assists while holding a +12 rating.

“Kyle and his line had a great weekend which helped us get two big wins. He has been a heart and soul player for us all season and embodies what we want our team's identity to be,” said the head coach of the Bobcats, Garrett Roth. “He impacts the game for us in every situation on a nightly basis and his offensive production has continued to grow the past 10 games. As an organization, we can not express how much he means to our group and I could not be more proud of Kyle for what he has done this first half.”

2nd Star: Jack O’Hanisain, F, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Jesse Juhola, F, Minot Minotauros

East Star of the Week: Alex Papaspyropoulos - New Jersey Titans

East Division Star of the Week: Alex Papaspyropoulos, Forward, New Jersey Titans

The 6’1 forward from Canada put on a show this weekend for the Titans. Alex Papaspyropoulos on Friday night found the back of the net twice, while assisting on two goals.  He played a role in four of the five goals scored in the Titans’ 5-3 victory over the Maryland Black Bears. Moving forward to Saturday night, the 20-year-old lefty contributed to every goal that the Titans scored. Papaspyropoulos scored two goals and made an assist in the Titans’ 4-3 overtime loss. 

This is the second time this season that the ‘04 skater has been named East Division Star of the Week. The last time he was named with this accolade was on October 28th.

On his squad, he is ranked second in goals (14), assists (21), and total points (42).

“Alex was an offensive force in an important bounce back weekend against a strong team. His offensive numbers speak for themselves, and there's a reason why the Titans identified him as a player to bring in last summer, said head coach of the Titans, George Haviland. “With his talents and a motor that doesn't seem to quit, he's going to make a collegiate program very happy next season.”

2nd Star: Ryan Nolan, G, Northeast Generals

3rd Star: Laurent Trépanier, F, Maine Nordiques

Midwest Star of the Week: Frank Murphy - Springfield Jr. Blues

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Frank Murphy, Goaltender, Springfield Jr. Blues

The 20-year-old from Canada, Frank Murphy, was a tank between the pipes for the Jr. Blues. Thanks to his work in the net, Springfield swept the Ice Dogs at home. Starting on Friday night, the 6’3 netminder blocked 33 out of 35 shots. The two goals that Murphy allowed happened in the second period of the matchup. Heading into Saturday night, he continued his electric weekend for Springfield. The ‘04 goaltender saved 35 out of 36 shots by Fairbanks. Murphy ends the weekend with a .958 save percentage and a 1.50 goals against average. 

On the season, he has produced nine wins, features a .9312 save percentage, and a 2.274 goals against average.

“Frank has been a rock for us all season on the back end," said head coach of the Jr. Blues, Todd Pococke. “He competes hard every game and keeps the rest of the guys calm. He had a great weekend for us and we are very proud of him.”

2nd Star: Noah Dziver, F, Minnesota Wilderness

3rd Star: Jack Clarke, F, Kenai River Brown Bears

South Star of the Week: Carter Krenke - Corpus Christi IceRays

South Division Star of the Week: Carter Krenke, Forward, Corpus Christi IceRays

Third-year skater in the NAHL, Carter Krenke, had a season-high performance this past weekend against Odessa. The 6’5 righty produced five total points on the weekend against the Jackalopes. Starting on Friday, he assisted two of the five goals scored by the IceRays. Moving into Saturday night, he found the back of the net twice for the first time this season. His two-goal game marked a season-high. Right now, Krenke is on a five-game point streak. This heater started on December 6th against Oklahoma.

Krenke ended his weekend with two goals, three assists, five total points, with a +4 rating. 

“Carter had an outstanding weekend, stepping up and taking control, said head coach of the IceRays, Sylvain Cloutier. “His hard work paid off as he scored two crucial goals for us.”

2nd Star: Salvatore Cerrato, D, Amarillo Wranglers

3rd Star: Tyler Kedzo, F, El Paso Rhinos

Central Star of the Week: Cade Moxham - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Cade Moxham, Forward, Aberdeen Wings

The 6’2 lefty, Cade Moxham, played a crucial role in Aberdeen’s Friday night victory against the North Iowa Bulls. The Wings entered the third period ahead of the Bulls, 3-2. However, with two back-to-back goals in the first 10 minutes of the third period, the Wings were down by one. That did not stop Moxham. With less than four minutes on the clock, Moxham found a way to produce a shorthanded game-tying goal. Heading into overtime, Moxham was clutch again. With 11 seconds on the clock, he handled the pressure and found the back of the net for the game-winning goal.

On the weekend, the 20-year-old skater produced three goals, one assist, four total points, and a +4 rating. Right now, Moxham sits first on his squad for assists (16) and plus-minus rating (+17), while he is second in goals (8) and points (24).

“Cade showed the value of his leadership this weekend,” said Aberdeen’s head coach, Scott Langer. “He seems to do it day in and day out. His speed, skill, and work ethic make him a true difference maker.”

2nd Star: Chase Reid, D, Bismarck Bobcats

3rd Star: Gustas Zemaitis, F, Aberdeen Wings

East Star of the Week: Andrew Gibbons - Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks

East Division Star of the Week: Andrew Gibbons, Forward, Danbury Hat Tricks

Living up to the squad’s name, Andrew Gibbons, picked up his first and second hat trick of the season in his first two games with the team. Over the weekend, the 5’10 righty was an offensive force for Danbury. He produced seven goals in the two-game sweep over the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. This past weekend was also a career-high affair for the Wakefield, Rhode Island native. 

In Friday’s night matchup, he found the back of the net four times. His first two goals came in the first 15 minutes of the game. He produced his third goal in the second period around the 14:40 mark. Finally in the third period, with less than 10 seconds on the clock, he found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the night. The 19-year-old was effective when the Hat Tricks had the man advantage. Two of the goals on Friday night occurred during power plays.

Heading into game two, Gibbons and the Hat Tricks were on a goal frenzy. In the 10-5 victory, Gibbons found the back of the net in each period. He was effective again on Saturday night when the Hat Tricks had the man advantage. Two of his goals were produced on power plays. 

The ‘05 skater ended his weekend with a weekend career-high of seven goals, seven total points, and a +4 rating. Gibbons also just joined the squad from the Rochester Jr. Americans. He was traded this prior week to the Danbury Hat Tricks. 

“Gibby was a polarizing force this weekend. His attention to detail with his 200-foot game opened up the offensive zone and allowed him to capitalize on his “grade A” chances,” said Danbury’s head coach, Lenny Caglianone. “His natural ability to find quality ice has also bolstered our power play as well. We’re happy to have him here in Danbury.”
 

2nd Star: Kai Elkie, F, Danbury Hat Tricks

3rd Star: Owen Crudale, G, Philadelphia Rebels

Midwest Star of the Week: Jakeb Lynch - Minnesota Wilderness

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Jakeb Lynch, Forward, Minnesota Wilderness

Career-high weekends must be in the water because Jakeb Lynch clinched a seven-point weekend with the Wilderness. The first-year player in the NAHL had an offensive-heavy weekend. During Friday night’s matchup with the Janesville Jets, he produced his second two-goal night of the season. He found the back of the net late in the third period with his first goal happening around the 15-minute mark, while his second goal happened with less than a minute on the clock. During Saturday night’s affair, he scored a goal quickly in the second period. The ‘07 righty also produced three assists during that matchup. Thanks to his work on the ice, the Wilderness produced a sweep over the Janesville Jets.

The skater from the “Cornhusker State” produced three goals, four assists, seven total points, and a +6 rating on the weekend. Thanks to those seven total points, he sits third on his squad with 21 total points on the season.

“Jakeb’s performance not only this past weekend but the last few weeks has been really enjoyable to see. As a smaller skilled forward he knows how to find those scoring areas and arrive at the right time to finish them off,” said the Minnesota Wilderness head coach, Zach Stepan. “My favorite part about his play is even though he is a smaller forward, a lot of his goals are coming around the net front because he is not afraid to get there. That’s why he is being rewarded and also why he has been called up to the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL this week. We are rooting for him!”

2nd Star: Roberto Leonardo Henriquez, G, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Cole Burke, F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

South Star of the Week: Brent Litchard - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Brent Litchard, Forward, Shreveport Mudbugs

A third-year veteran on the Mudbugs, Brent Litchard, played an integral role in Shreveport’s matchup against El Paso. Starting on Friday night, the 5’10 righty played a role in three of the four goals scored. He produced a season-high three assists during the matchup. However, on Saturday night, he turned up the heat and picked up his first career hat trick. The 20-year-old from Michigan produced all three goals in Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over the Rhinos. Each of his goals came in separate periods. Starting from behind, Litchard found the back of the net around the seven-minute mark to tie up the game. He then rolls into the second period and produces his second game-tying goal of the night around the 11-minute mark. Finally, immediately in the third period, he scored the game-winning goal in the first 19 seconds of the period. Thanks to his work on the ice, he helped the Shreveport Mudbugs split the series against the El Paso Rhinos and stay close in the standings with them.

On the season, Litchard is tied second on his squad for total points (21), while is third for goals (8) and assists (13).

“Overall, Brent has had a great year so far,” said Shreveport’s head coach, Jason Campbell. “This past weekend we were met with a few lineup changes and that’s when you expect your leaders to step up. Brent did exactly that by contributing to six of our seven goals on the weekend. He was also strong on the faceoff dot and did a phenomenal job on our penalty kill. He’s a great player and captain.”

2nd Star: Cooper Conway, F, Corpus Christi IceRays

3rd Star: Jack Erickson, G, Colorado Grit

Central Star of the Week: Jack Solomon - Austin Bruins

Central Division Star of the Week: Jack Solomon, Goaltender, Austin Bruins.

Coming from the “Show-Me State,” Jack Solomon showed off his ability between the pipes last week for three straight nights. The 19-year-old played over 154 minutes and only allowed one goal on the weekend. He produced a .987 save percentage and picked up his first shutout of the season. The 6’2 netminder has helped the Bruins produce points for the standings in his last 11 games. Thanks to his work, the Bruins inch closer to the top of the Central Division standings.

“Jack had a fantastic week and continues to impress all of us on a daily basis,” said Austin’s head coach, Steve Howard. “Jack is a major reason that we’ve been able to have some success so far this season.”

2nd Star: Leo Bulgakov, F, Aberdeen Wings

3rd Star: Willum Braun, G, Aberdeen Wings

East Star of the Week: Ryan Novo - New Jersey Titans

East Division Star of the Week: Ryan Novo, Forward, New Jersey Titans

The 20-year-old future West Point Black Knight, Ryan Novo had an electric weekend for the Titans. The third-year veteran produced three goals for New Jersey’s sweep over the Northeast Generals. The 5’8 lefty leads his squad with 13 goals, is second with 28 points, and is tied third with 15. Novo has been productive on the ice and leads the Titans with a +7 rating.

He ended the weekend with three goals, three points, and a +3 rating. 

2nd Star: Hugo Branthsson, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

3rd Star: Daniel Leroux, G, Rochester Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Zach Homer - Minnesota Wilderness

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Zach Homer, Forward, Minnesota Wilderness

The 6’2 righty from Michigan had a season-high weekend. Zach Homer started this week with a big win over the top of the Midwest, the Wisconsin Windigo. He struck first in the matchup with a goal at the 17:48 mark. Then in the second period, the Wilderness found the back of the net three more times with Homer tallying a goal and an assist. Finally in the third period with less than three minutes on the clock, Homer assisted on the final goal of the game.

In the 5-2 victory over the Windigo, he notched a season-high four-point game. He ended the weekend with four goals, two assists, six points, a +3 rating, and produced a three-game goal streak. 

Homer ranks second on his squad with 11 goals, and first overall with three game-winning goals on the season.

“Zach has really started to find his groove as of late scoring six goals in his last six games. He has a knack for having soft hands around the net while being hard to play against in that area, said the Wilderness head coach, Zach Stepan. “He is scoring goals because of his will to get to the hard areas consistently and I am glad he is getting rewarded for it!”

2nd Star: Wyatt Carlson, F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

3rd Star: Josh Sardo, F, Wisconsin Windigo

South Star of the Week: Michael Manzi - El Paso Rhinos

South Division Star of the Week: Michael Manzi, Goaltender, El Paso Rhinos

A Texas-sized showdown happened between the El Paso Rhinos and the Lone Star Brahmas over the weekend. The 6’1 netminder, Michael Manzi, shocked the Brahmas with his first shutout victory of the season on Friday night. The Brahmas were not shut out this season until Manzi was between the pipes. He saved all 26 shots that came his way. 

On Saturday night, Manzi gave up two goals early in the third period, however, it was not enough for Lone Star to topple El Paso’s three earlier goals. He saved 26 out of 28 shots and picked up his fourth consecutive win. The 20-year-old from Delaware finished his weekend with a .965 save percentage and a 1.01 goals against average.

Manzi leads his squad in wins (10), save percentage (.938), goals against average (1.699), and is the only Rhino to have a shutout so far this season. Additionally, with his save percentage, he ranks third overall in the NAHL.

“Michael had a great weekend for us, going into Lone Star is never an easy task for any team and he was a major piece of the puzzle for our success over the last two games,” said Alec Sherman. “Manzi is a competitor and a great teammate, I believe that showed this weekend with his focus and drive on and off the ice. He made big saves when we needed them and helped create momentum for his surrounding teammates.”

2nd Star: Nate Farrell, D, Oklahoma Warriors

3rd Star: Nayan Pat, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves

Central Star of the Week: Jack O’Hanisain - Minot Minotauros

Central Division Star of the Week: Jack O’Hanisain, Forward, Minot Minotauros

Third-year Minot veteran, Jack O’Hanisain, had a career-high weekend. The 5’11 lefty played an instrumental role in the Minotauros sweep over the Mallards. In Friday night’s overtime thriller, he hit a season-high of two goals scored. Then the following night, he assisted in every goal except two in the 6-1 win over the Minnesota Mallards. On the weekend he hit his career-high with seven total points and finished the series with two goals and five assists.

The Great Lakes state native leads his squad in total points (27) and assists (21).

“Jack was very good for us this past weekend. Jack and his linemates created offensively in both games and were able to finish consistently,” said Minot’s head coach, Cody Campbell. “We are happy for Jack to get recognized and look forward to him continuing to help lead our team to success and earn a Division I opportunity.”

2nd Star: Gavin Reed, D, Aberdeen Wings

3rd Star: Mason Lebel, F, St. Cloud Norsemen

East Star of the Week: Luke Janus - Maryland Black Bears

East Division Star of the Week: Luke Janus, Forward, Maryland Black Bears

The ‘04 lefty, Luke Janus, showed up and showed out for the Black Bears sweep over the Hat Tricks. He had a season-high weekend in goals and total points. On Friday night, he played a role in the three goals scored in the second period. He first assisted Trey Hinton’s goal, then ten minutes later assisted Isac Nielsen’s goal before finding the back of the net for himself 30 seconds later. 

On Saturday night, the 6’2 forward scored the first two goals for the Black Bears. He picked up his first power play goal and game-winning goal in this game. He ended the weekend with three goals, two assists, five total points and a +3 rating. 

“It’s nice to see Luke get rewarded for his determination, and strong play. He’s a very talented player, and can be a difference maker every single night for us,” said Maryland’s head coach, Clint Mylymok. “Congratulations to Luke on this well-deserved league award!”

2nd Star: Logan Renkowski, F, New Jersey Titans

3rd Star: Landon Brownlee, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Charlie Menard - Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Charlie Menard, G, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

There was an upset in the land of the midnight sun. Charlie Menard shutdown the Anchorage Wolverines on Friday night. The 17-year-old saved all 17 shots in his first shutout of the season. This shutout was also the first time that the Wolverines could not find the back of the net in a game all season. The next night, the hometown kid saved 13 out of 14 shots leading the Ice Dogs to a sweeping victory over the Wolverines. Thanks to the 6’0 goalie between the pipes, the Ice Dogs have continued their hot streak to four consecutive wins. He wrapped up the weekend with a 0.5 goals against average and a .966 save percentage. 

As one of the youngest players in the league, Menard leads his squad in wins (6), save percentage (.934), goals against average (1.74) and is the only Fairbanks goalie to have a shutout this season.

“We are excited for Charlie. It is well deserved. Being an ‘07 goalie in the league alone is tough, but he has transitioned very nicely and has done a phenomenal job so far. He brings an energy and personality into the locker room that is contagious, said the Ice Dogs’ head coach, Ryan Theros. “His success starts with that and continues with his work ethic on the ice! He competes and brings it everyday without question. We are really looking forward to his success. The guys love playing in front of him and our other goalie Mason McElroy. We look forward to both of them continuing to be consistent.”

2nd Star: Frank Murphy, G, Springfield Jr. Blues

3rd Star: Luke Baker, F, Wisconsin Windigo

South Star of the Week: Jackson Fuller - New Mexico Ice Wolves

South Division Star of the Week: Jackson Fuller, G, New Mexico Ice Wolves

Third-year Ice Wolf, Jackson Fuller was dominant in between the pipes against the Oklahoma Warriors. On Friday night’s win, he blocked 21 out of 23 shots. He then found a way to top his performance. On Saturday night, he produced his first shutout of the season. He saved all 23 shots by the Warriors. Thanks to his work in the net, he helped New Mexico continue their seven-game tear in the South division. Fuller finished his weekend with a goals against average at 1.0 and a save percentage of .955.

The 20-year-old leads his squad in wins (5), save percentage (.921), goals against average (1.985) and is the only Ice Wolf to have a shutout.

“We are happy for Jackson being recognized for his stellar play. It's not just him stopping the puck, he has really done a great job playing the puck and communicating with our D, said New Mexico’s head coach, Kevin Hartzell. “The experience gained playing in the NAHL is really showing and providing us a ‘rock’ back there from which the team is building.”

2nd Star: Nikola Goich, G, Shreveport Mudbugs

3rd Star: Elias Kumlin, F, Lone Star Brahmas

Central Star of the Week: Alex Laurenza - Austin Bruins

Central Division Star of the Week: Alex Laurenza, Forward, Austin Bruins

In Austin, it was the Laurenza extravaganza. The ‘05 lefty put on a show at home for the Bruins. On Friday night’s matchup against the Minnesota Mallards, he tallied two goals and two assists, picking up his third four-point night of the season. The 5’10 Woodbridge, Ontario native had an even more impressive Saturday night performance. He put together his second hat trick of the season. Laurenza finished the weekend with five goals, two assists, seven points, and a +4 rating.

The second-year Bruin is also on a nine-game heater. He has scored at least one point in the last nine games. Laurenza leads the NAHL in points per game (1.78), plus-minus rating (25), and game-winning goals (5), while he is tied for first in the NAHL in points (32). The 19-year-old forward additionally leads his squad in goals (15) and is second in assists (17).

“Alex has been great this season,” said Austin’s head coach, Steve Howard. “He continues to lead by example through his play.”

2nd Star: Ian Spencer, F, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Kai Weigel, G, Bismarck

East Star of the Week: Ryan Nolan - Northeast Generals

East Division Star of the Week: Ryan Nolan, Goaltender, Northeast Generals

Ryan Nolan was golden in between the pipes for the Northeast Generals. The ‘05 goalie helped the Generals sweep the Maine Nordiques. On Saturday night’s matchup, he saved 41 out of 43 shots. Nolan helped the Generals to win 6-2 over the Nordiques. The next day, on Sunday afternoon, the Nordiques kept the game close. However, that did not stop the 6’0 New Hampshire native. He blocked 51 out of 52 shots, allowing the Generals to win 2-1 over the number-one-ranked team in the East division, the Maine Nordiques.

Do not get it twisted with Nolan Rylan. He is not throwing heat; he is blocking it. The 19-year-old has played a crucial role on the Generals' roster. Out of the 10 wins the Generals have accumulated this season, nine of them came from Nolan as the netminder. Nolan ended his weekend with a 1.50 goals against average, a .968 save percentage, and a save percentage of 92 out of 95 shots. 

“Ryan has had a tremendous season. He has just gotten better and better each week. He is a great kid who works extremely hard. Our goalie coach Ian Milosz and Ryan have worked on control and you can see it in how he plays,” said Northeast’s head coach, Bryan Erikson. “He “made some incredible saves this weekend. On Sunday he willed us to victory in a game we didn’t deserve to win. However, that is what good goalies do, steal a game every once in a while. Very proud of Ryan for stepping up this weekend and helping us get a much-needed two wins.”

2nd Star: Jack Hillier, F, New Jersey Titans

3rd Star: Adam Ondris, F, Johnstown Tomahawks

Midwest Star of the Week: Braydon Beahm - Wisconsin Windigo

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Braydon Beahm, Forward, Wisconsin Windigo

A beam of light on the Wisconsin Windigo comes from the 6’4 lefty, Braydon Beahm. Beahm had an offensively productive weekend. On Friday night, he picked up his first career hat trick against the Minnesota Wilderness. He scored half of the goals for the Windigo. However, the following night, the ‘04 forward found a way to top that performance. He came in clutch on Saturday night and tallied five of the six goals for the Windigo. The Clarkson University commit finished the weekend with eight goals and a +8 rating.

His beam of light shines bright in the NAHL. He leads the NAHL in goals (20), while is third overall for points (30), and points per game (1.50).

"As a staff and organization, we are extremely happy for Braydon. I think it's easy to look at the game report, from an outsider's perspective, and think what an incredible weekend. However, this past weekend's production is an accumulation of days, weeks, and months of preparation by Braydon, his two linemates: Elliot Gulley and Ronnie Hill, and our team as a whole,” said Wisconsin’s head coach, John Mitchell. “I am a firm believer that awards such as these are an attribute to the success of the team. Our staff has been pleased with the start of the season, and hopes for continued development from our athletes as the season progresses.”

2nd Star: Elliot Gulley, F, Wisconsin Windigo

3rd Star: William Lubimov, G, Anchorage Wolverines

South Star of the Week: Nikola Goich - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Nikola Goich, Goaltender, Shreveport Mudbugs

Shreveport Mudbug veteran, Nikola Goich, put together his first shutout win of the season in Friday night’s overtime win against the Odessa Jackalopes. The 6’5 goalie saved all 36 shots that were sent his way. The next night, the ‘04 Illinois native came in the last period and limited the Jackalopes to one goal in the final period. Thanks to his teammates, the Mudbugs were able to put together another overtime win against the Jackalopes. He ends the weekend with a .70 goals against average and a .977 save percentage.  

“Niko’s effort and performance this past weekend was outstanding. He played confident and poised and gave us a chance to win, said Shreveport’s head coach, Jason Campbell. “Niko led by example all game and during the shootout. In the end it was a huge team win with a huge performance by Niko.”

2nd Star: Elias Kumlin, F, Lone Star Brahmas

3rd Star: Ryan Comishock, F, Lone Star Brahmas

Central Star of the Week: Tomas Anderson - Bismarck Bobcats

Central Division Star of the Week: Tomas Anderson, Goalie, Bismarck Bobcats

For the third and fourth time this season, Bismarck goalie, Tomas Anderson has produced shutout performances. The 6’1 lefty has been nothing less than extraordinary between the pipes. He leads the NAHL for goals against average (1.067), save percentage (.956), shutouts (4), and is tied for first in wins (11).

This past weekend against the Minnesota Mallards, he saved all 35 shots sent his way. This dominance between the goalposts is nothing new to the player from Minnesota. In his last six games, he has produced four shutouts.

“Tomas had another great weekend for us and made some timely saves in helping us get a couple of wins. He has continued to stay even-keeled for us which has given our group the confidence to play an aggressive style in front of him,” said Bismarck head coach, Garrett Roth. “His continued development has helped propel our group to having a nice start to the season.”

2nd Star: Luc Malkhassian, F, Austin Bruins

3rd Star: SangYeob Kim, F, North Iowa Bulls

East Star of the Week: Calle Karlsson - Rochester Jr. Americans

East Division Star of the Week: Calle Karlsson, Forward, Rochester Jr. Americans

This is no deja vu, Calle Karlsson, found a way to up his performance from last week, and stay as the East Division Star of the Week. He recorded a season-high five total points for the series against Maryland and scored the game-winning goal on Saturday night for Jr. Americans. Every goal except one was scored or assisted by the ‘04 forward over the weekend.

Karlsson made history earlier this year as the first-ever overseas player to be tendered by the Jr. Americans. The Swede ended the weekend with two goals, three assists, five total points, and a +3 rating on the weekend. Karlsson now leads his squad in goals (10), and points (22), while he is tied for first in assists (12).

“Calle had another impressive weekend performance against a tough Maryland team. He is showing consistency and effort in every game, making him a valuable player in all situations,” said the Rochester head coach, Francois Methot. “His potential is unlimited and he should be a top consideration for all college programs.”

2nd Star: Usko Laaksonen, F, Maine Nordiques 

3rd Star: Ruslan Jamaldinov, F, Philadelphia Rebels

Midwest Star of the Week: Payton Struck - Minnesota Wilderness

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Payton Struck, Forward, Minnesota Wilderness

A name you can be starstruck by is Minnesota rookie, Payton Struck. The 6’2 forward played an integral role in Minnesota’s win on Friday night against the Anchorage Wolverines. On Friday night, he tallied a goal and an assist over the number two-ranked Wolverines. In all three games, Struck produced two total points in each. However, the ‘05 righty has been on a heater for the past five games, picking up at least a point in each. 

He ended the weekend with one goal, five assists, six total points, and a +2 rating.

“It’s not surprising that Payton had the weekend he had considering the work he puts into it. The points he is getting are from his willingness to do all of the little things in a 200-foot game”  said the Wilderness head coach, Zach Stepan. “He is a reliable player while having the hockey IQ and playmaking ability to back it up. Everything he got over the weekend was because he's buying into playing the game the right way. We are very proud of him.”

2nd Star: Brock Devlin, D, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Gavin Middendorf, F, Chippewa Steel

South Star of the Week: Salvatore Cerrato - Amarillo Wranglers

South Division Star of the Week: Salvatore Cerrato, Defenseman, Amarillo Wranglers

Wranglin’ his way to the top of the South is 20-year-old defenseman Salvatore Cerrato. In Thursday night’s game against the Odessa Jackalopes, the ‘04 righty went pedal to the metal in earning points. He hit his single-game career-high at two assists and four total points while tying his single-game career-high with two goals. 

This past weekend was an important series against the Jackalopes because both teams are in the race for the Austin Hose Hoser Cup title. The St. Louis native wrapped up his weekend with two goals, three assists, five total points, and a +1 rating on the weekend.

“Sal is a great person. I know his teammates will be happy to see him receive this weekly honor. He possesses a great offensive skill set, which is proving every game to be a threat,” said Wranglers head coach, Taylor Harnett. “He prepares hard every day and deserves all the recognition that comes his way!”

2nd Star: Travis Bryson, F, Oklahoma Warriors

3rd Star: Nikita Volsky, G, Corpus Christi IceRays

Central Star of the Week: Luke Backel - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Luke Backel, Forward, Aberdeen Wings

Third-year Wings veteran, Luke Backel, had a career-high night in assists and total points over the weekend. Backel was instrumental in the team's success in Friday night’s game versus the Minnesota Mallards. The Wings captain helped to produce Aberdeen’s largest margin of victory this season with his one goal, four assists, and five total points. He finished the weekend with two goals, four assists, six total points, and a +3 rating for the weekend. 

Backel is tied first on his squad with total points (17) and assists (10) while is second in goals (7). 

“Luke has been an intricate part of our start to the season,” said the Aberdeen head coach, Scott Langer. “Luke is a leader on and off the ice. He brings his game every night.”

2nd Star: Owen Pitters, F, Aberdeen Wings

3rd Star: Lukas Swedin, G, Minot Minotauros

East Star of the Week: Calle Karlsson - Rochester Jr. Americans

East Division Star of the Week: Calle Karlsson, Forward, Rochester Jr. Americans

Rochester rookie, Calle Karlsson, made a statement in Saturday night's game against the Philadelphia Rebels. The ‘04 forward must have three as his lucky number. He scored a season-high three goals and three total points for the Jr Americans with a season-high weekend rating of +3. Two of those goals from Saturday night's game came from the first 11 minutes of play by the rookie with his teammates following up with two more goals in the first period. 

Karlsson is tied first on his squad in goals (8) and is second for total points (17).

"The addition of Calle has made a significant impact on our team! His ability to bring energy and love for the game along with his offensive contributions have been crucial, especially during the recent wins against a strong Rebels team," stated the Rochester head coach, Francois Methot. "He is adapting well to the North American style of play and embracing a more complete game. This kind of process can really elevate the team’s overall performance."

2nd Star: Charles Panchisin, F, Philadelphia Rebels

3rd Star: Markas Samenas, F, Maryland Black Bears

Midwest Star of the Week: Ferry Netusil - Minnesota Wilderness

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Ferry Netusil, Forward, Minnesota Wilderness

No stranger to being a Star of the Week, Ferry Netusil has made a splash this season on the Wilderness. In Friday night’s game against the Kenai Brown Bears, the 5’10 righty scored two goals in the first four minutes of play. Netusil is dominant on the ice and leads the NAHL in goals (14), and power-play goals (9) while leading his squad in total points (20). He finished the weekend with three goals, one assist, and four total points.

“Ferry had a big weekend for us and helped us get going straight from the get-go on this Alaska trip. He has been an important piece to this hockey team and continues to help us win games,” said the Wilderness head coach, Zach Stepan. “He brings a lot more to the table than just scoring. We love the scoring, but he does a lot of other things right as well that make him a well-rounded player.”

2nd Star: Roberto Leonardo Henriquez, G, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Elliot Gulley, F, Wisconsin Windigo

South Star of the Week: Kyan Haldenby - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Kyan Haldenby, Forward, Shreveport Mudbugs

After having a weekend off with the Mudbugs, Kyan Haldenby returned to the ice with an offensive edge and produced a season-high night in their rematch against the Amarillo Wranglers. The ‘04 forward is in his second season with the Mudbugs. In Friday night’s game at the Budweiser Bull Pen, Haldenby put two pucks to the back of the net, had three assists, and rounded out the night with five total points. Thanks to his performance, he produced a season-high in goals, assists, and total points for one game. 

Haldenby leads Shreveport in assists (14), total points (19), and takes home second for goals (5).

“Consistency kills and that’s exactly what Kyan has brought to the table this season. Earlier in the season, he was getting good chances but the puck wasn’t going in. Props to Kyan for sticking with it and staying consistent, said the Shreveport head coach, Jason Campbell. “Fortunately for him and the Mudbugs, the puck has been finding the back of the net for him and his linemates lately.”

2nd Star: Aiden Puley, F, Shreveport Mudbugs

3rd Star: Jack Erickson, G, Colorado Grit

Central Star of the Week: Beck Liden - St. Cloud Norsemen

Central Division Star of the Week: Beck Liden, Goalie, St. Cloud Norsemen

For the third time this season, Beck Liden produced a shutout performance for the Norsemen. The 5’11 goaltender was electric this past weekend against the Aberdeen Wings. Between the pipes, he saved 44 out of 46 shots, had a .956 save percentage, and 1.00 goals against average. He played an integral role for St. Cloud to sweep Aberdeen. The squad pushed past the Wings in the Central Division standings and took over the number two spot. 

Linden currently leads his squad in wins (8), save percentage (.923), shutouts (3), and goals against average (1.939).

“Beck was outstanding all weekend. His calm demeanor has a steady influence on our team’s play,” said head coach Joe Exter. “His presence combined with key saves at critical times helped lead our team to a successful weekend.” 

2nd Star: Alex Laurenza, F, Austin Bruins

3rd Star: Tomas Anderson, G, Bismarck Bobcats

East Star of the Week: Alex Papaspyropoulos - New Jersey Titans

East Division Star of the Week: Alex Papaspyropoulos, Forward, New Jersey Titans

Titans rookie, Alex Papaspyropoulos, had a season-high performance this past weekend against the Johnstown Tomahawks. After losing by one the night before, Papaspyropoulos went on an offensive tear for the Titans on Saturday night. Thanks to his season-high performance, he tallied two goals, four assists, and six total points. Two of his assists came on the tying goal and the game’s winning overtime goal. The 6’1 forward was integral to the Titans' success. He played a part in every goal except one on Saturday’s, 7-6, overtime win. Alex Papaspyropoulos had seven points over two games on the weekend.

“Alex has taken his game to another level over the last four weeks by playing free and loose. He has been able to do this while taking care of the details and playing the right way,” said head coach George Haviland. “It was good to see him get rewarded Saturday night for how focused he has been with his relentless pressure and pursuit of the pucks all over the ice. It has allowed him to have more opportunities offensively with the puck on his stick, where he is very skilled offensively.”

2nd Star: Ryan Nolan, G, Northeast Generals

3rd Star: JC Humphreys, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Junsu Kwak - Springfield Jr. Blues

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Junsu Kwak, Forward, Springfield Jr. Blues

The South Korean forward, Junsu Kwak, picked up his offensive game against the Janesville Jets over the weekend. He scored two goals, had three assists, and five total points on the weekend. However, four of those points came from Saturday night’s game. The ‘06 skater put together a season-high performance on Saturday with two goals and two assists. He played a role in every goal that was scored by the Jr. Blues. Thanks to his help, the Springfield Jr. Blues have propelled from the number five spot to the number three spot on the Midwest Division standings. 

“Junsu has stepped in and continues to get better every game,” said head coach Todd Pococke. “His offensive game has been great, but he competes hard and plays well without the puck. We are very pleased with him both on and off the ice. We are excited to see what he continues to do.”

2nd Star: Niklas Erickson, G, Minnesota Wilderness

3rd Star: Danny Bagnole, F, Anchorage Wolverines

South Star of the Week: Grayson Gerhard - Amarillo Wranglers

South Division Star of the Week: Grayson Gerhard, Forward, Amarillo Wranglers

Wranglers second-year veteran, Grayson Gerhard, has been a consistent and reliable skater for Amarillo this season. Gerhard is currently on a five-game streak of picking up a point for the Wranglers. In the three games over the weekend, he scored a goal in every game, made two assists, and had a +5 rating for the weekend.

“Grayson has been an integral part in our scoring, up until now,” said head coach Taylor Harnett. “He has put a lot of work into playing well away from the puck. This has helped his team succeed and led to more offensive opportunities for him. As the season moves forward, I think we will see a lot more out of Grayson!”

2nd Star: William Johnson, F, Colorado Grit

3rd Star: William Svard-Karphed, G, Odessa Jackalopes

Central Star of the Week: Damon Cunningham - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Damon Cunningham, Goalie, Aberdeen Wings

For the second time this season,Damon Cunningham has had a shutout performance. The Aberdeen goalie has stayed undefeated through his seven games played. On Friday night, he allowed three goals on 40 shots sent his way, while on Saturday night, he had a 43-save game against the Minnesota Mallards. With the help of his performance over the weekend, he finished with a goals against average of 1.50 and a .964 save percentage.

“Damon has been the backbone of this team and a reason behind our season’s start,” said the Aberdeen head coach, Scott Langer. “He puts in the work, which allows him to give us a chance every night.”

2nd Star: Ian Spencer, F, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Brady Estabrook, F, Aberdeen Wings

East Star of the Week: Ethan Wongus - Maine Nordiques

East Division Star of the Week: Ethan Wongus, Forward, Maine Nordiques

In a battle for the top of the East Division standings, Maine forward, Ethan Wongus helped to lead the Nordiques to a sweep over the Maryland Black Bears. On Friday night against Maryland, Ethan assisted in every goal, except one, his own goal. Thanks to his performance, he had a season-high night with three assists and four total points. Right now, he leads the Nordiques in total points at 19, and puts him second overall in total points for the NAHL.

“Ethan, much like all of our Nordiques, has bought into team success. A maturity season for him has allowed him to find offense in all three periods. Every night he continues to prove why he has Division I hockey ahead of him,” said the Maine head coach, Nick Skerlick. “To go down and score five points is very good, but to do that against a team that hasn’t surrendered five goals in a single weekend is special.” 

2nd Star: Zack Ferris, G, Johnstown Tomahawks

3rd Star: Caesar Bjork, F, Philadelphia Rebels

Midwest Star of the Week: Kyle Rohrer - Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Kyle Rohrer, Forward, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Ice Dogs veteran, Kyle Rohrer, picked up his offensive game this past weekend and tallied his first three goals on the season. On Friday night, the Ice Dogs quickly fell behind Anchorage by two in the first three minutes. However, the Ice Dogs immediately responded by putting five goals on the board, two of them coming from Kyle Rohrer. He additionally logged two assists to help Fairbanks win 7-4. During Saturday’s game, Kyle scored the lone goal for the Ice Dogs in the first period. The Ice Dogs lost 7-1 to Anchorage. However, thanks to his performance over the weekend, he leads the Ice Dogs in assists at 11 and is tied for first in total points at 14. 

“Kyle’s consistency has been key to his success and his development. His daily habits are a big part of that consistency throughout,” said the Fairbanks head coach, Ryan Theros. “Kyle brings a great attitude daily and as a leader on the team, he continues to push himself every day in practice. He has been a great voice for the younger players early in the season here.”

2nd Star: Elliot Gulley, F, Wisconsin Windigo

3rd Star: Brock Delvin, D, Anchorage Wolverines

South Star of the Week: Kyan Haldenby - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Kyan Haldenby, Forward, Shreveport Mudbugs

Toronto native, Kyan Haldenby, had a season-high weekend as a Mudbug. On Friday night, the 6’1 forward picked up his second goal of the season and two assists against the Amarillo Wranglers. Then the following night, he scored a goal and produced an assist helping to reach his season-high of five total points for a weekend series. He leads the Mudbugs with nine assists and is tied for first in total points at 12. 

“Kyan has been great for us all year and he’s definitely been on a bit of a tear in his last five games,” said the Shreveport head coach, Jason Campbell. “His line has been creating a lot of chances, they’ve just been finishing on a more consistent basis lately. His efforts have been a big part of our team’s improved play as of late.”

2nd Star: Vladimir Saibel, F, Lone Star Brahmas

3rd Star: Gleb Akimov, F, Shreveport Mudbugs

Central Star of the Week: Zane Spaniol - Minnesota Mallards

Central Division Star of the Week: Zane Spaniol, Goalie, Minnesota Mallards

Ham Lake, Minnesota native Zane Spaniol debuted this weekend in the NAHL for the Mallards and he made the most of it, picking up a pair of wins for Minnesota in their weekend sweep over the Watertown Shamrocks. The 6’3 netminder made his league debut on Friday, allowing three goals on 28 shots faced in a game that went to a shootout. In the shootout, Spaniol allowed just one goal on six attempts to provide the Mallards the extra point. He one-upped his Friday performance the following night, recording a 37 save shutout in Minnesota’s 2-0 victory. On the weekend, Spaniol finished with a 1.44 goals against average and .954 save percentage. 

“Zane puts in the work everyday, he’s dedicated to his craft and competes hard on and off the ice in the right ways,” said Mallards head coach Terry Watt. “It’s great to see him get reward for all his hard work, and it’s even better to see because he is a such a great young man and all his teammates love him.”

2nd Star: Tomas Anderson, F, Bismarck Bobcats

3rd Star: Keanu Krenn, F, Bismarck Bobcats

East Star of the Week: Jack Hillier - New Jersey Titans

East Division Star of the Week: Jack Hillier, Forward, New Jersey Titans

Titans veteran Jack Hillier stepped up his offensive game over the course of New Jersey’s three games this past week, helping them defeat the Hat Tricks on Tuesday and sweep the Rebels this weekend. On Tuesday, Hillier and the Titans fell down two goals in the 1st and Jack sparked the comeback with his first goal of the week late in the 1st. He went on to tally another goal and an assist in the comeback victory. On Friday and Saturday he continued the attack, logging a pair of goals and two assists in a home-and-home series against Philadelphia. Along with his seven points, Hillier maintained a +4 rating throughout the week. 

“Jack has been outstanding over the last 3 games. He’s been a huge part of our success over the lady 3 games,” said Titans head coach George Haviland. “He’s done a great job of embracing of the way our new staff wants Jack to play. Our staff is extremely thrilled that he received this weekly honor and we want him to continue to play free and use his talents to help the team climb back in. Great job Jack!” 

2nd Star: Gates Omicioli, F, Danbury Hat Tricks

3rd Star: Hugo Branthsson, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

Midwest Star of the Week: Ferry Netusil - Minnesota Wilderness

Minnesota forward Ferry Netusil has had a strong start to his rookie season, totalling 13 points in 11 games. Netusil and the Wilderness fell in Friday night’s matchup against the Jr. Blues but both came back for revenge in Saturday’s bout. After falling down to 2-0 early in the 2nd period, Ferry made it his own mission to bring the Wilderness back, recording a natural hat trick in less than three minutes to take the lead. He also added an assist midway through the 3rd period to extend the lead and help seal the weekend split. 

“There is no doubt Ferry is a talented player and can help our team win in many ways when he commits to doing the right things,” said Wilderness head coach Evan Alexius. “More importantly he shows up to the rink with an infectious smile and is loved by his teammates for his fun attitude! We look forward to watching him continue his positive growth.”

2nd Star: Lucas Szyszka, G, Wisconsin Windigo

3rd Star: Christian Venticinque, F, Janesville Jets

South Star of the Week: Aden Gariepy - Shreveport Mudbugs

South Division Star of the Week: Aden Gariepy, Goalie, Shreveport Mudbugs

NAPHL Alumni netminder Aden Gariepy has made a strong impression to the South Division through the first few weeks of his rookie season, shown clearly this weekend in a matchup against the New Mexico Ice Wolves. The Munising, Michigan backstopped the Mudbugs to a weekend sweep of New Mexico, facing 22 shots on Friday and 15 shots on Saturday. This season, Gariepy has accumulated a 1.35 goals against average and .942 save percentage. 

“Aden came through for us in a big way this past weekend,” said Shreveport head coach Jason Campbell. “His determination and focus have  been a driving force behind his recent success and we’re incredibly proud of his achievement. Aden’s commitment to developing his game every day since arriving in Shreveport has clearly paid off.  We are excited to see where all his efforts and talent will take him and our team next.”

2nd Star: Jacob Solano, F, El Paso Rhinos

3rd Star: Kyan Haldenby, F, Shreveport Mudbugs

Central Star of the Week: Damon Cunningham - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Damon Cunningham, Goalie, Aberdeen Wings

Sturgeon County, Alberta native Damon Cunningham couldn’t have asked for a better start to his NAHL career so far this season. The 04’ netminder has gone undefeated in his first four starts, with two of those wins coming this weekend in Aberdeen’s sweep of the Watertown Shamrocks. Friday night, Cunningham played all 60 minutes, allowing just two goals on 34 Watertown shots sent his way. He one-upped himself the following evening matchup, not allowing a goal on 27 shots to earn his first career shutout as a Wing. On the weekend, Damon finished 2-0 with a goals against average of 1.00 and a .967 save percentage.

“Damon has come in and been on a mission,” said Aberdeen head coach Scott Langer. “He has great details to his game and a work ethic to go with it. Damon gives us a chance to win when he is in the net.”

2nd Star: Jesse Juhola, F, Minot Minotauros

3rd Star: Leonid Bulgakov, F, Aberdeen Wings

East Star of the Week: Shane Kozlina - Maine Nordiques

East Division Star of the Week: Shane Kozlina, Forward, Maine Nordiques

Early into his second full season wearing a Nordiques sweater, Maine forward Shane Kozlina has been showing all signs of his offensive dominanace in the East Division. In a pair of matchups against the Johnstown Tomahawks this weekend, the Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania native tallied a trio of goals and a pair of assists. On Friday, Kozlina recorded a hat trick including a crucial eventual game winning goal late in the third period. 

“Speaking to Shane after an average TEAM showcase performance, we asked him to embrace his “poster boy” season,” said Maine head coach Nick Skerlick. “Be the spark and don’t wait for a teammate to get us going.  Nutrition, off ice, and rest are a premium right now in order to be the best player/person he can be as I do believe he can top the division in scoring this season. Next season he will be an underclassmen waiting to earn a coach’s trust. With his continued preparation yielding incredible effort, such as this past weekend, Shane will have a special special season before heading to school.”  

2nd Star: Niko Tournas, F, Danbury Hat Tricks

3rd Star: Tyler Stern, F, Maryland Black Bears

Midwest Star of the Week: Mitchell McCusker - Kenai River Brown Bears

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Mitchell McCusker, Goalie, Kenai River Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears have had a very strong start to the 24-25’ campaign, leading the Midwest Division in points; a piece of that success can be attributed to having rookie netminder Mitchell McCusker between the pipes. McCusker opened up the three game series allowing a pair of goals on 25 shots faced. The Alpharetta, Georgia native followed up his Friday night performance with an even stronger one on Saturday, allowing just one goal on 34 shots faced in a 2-1 shootout victory. On top of those 33 saves, Mitchell shut down all three Janesville skaters in the shootout. He finished the weekend with a 1.42 goals against average and .949 save percentage.

“Mitchell played a crucial role in our team’s success this past weekend,” said Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw. “In each game, he was a difference maker with timely saves, routine saves, and some big ones when we needed them. He has been such a vital piece to our team to start the season, and we look forward to him continuing to work on his craft as the season moves forward.”

2nd Star: Toby Carlson, F, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Niko Laus, F, Springfield Jr. Blues

South Star of the Week: Stepan Kuznetsov - Corpus Christi IceRays

South Division Star of the Week: Stepan Kuznetsov, Forward, Corpus Christi IceRays

The Corpus Christi IceRays continue to stay hot in the South Division and so does their veteran forward Stepan Kuznetsov. The Biloxi, Mississippi native leads the IceRays in points and currently sits second accross the entire NAHL in scoring with 14 points. This weekend in a three-game series against the New Mexico Ice Wolves, Kuznetsov tallied a pair of pair of points each night. His strongest performance came on Saturday, logging the game tying goal late in regulation before scoring the shootout winner past netminder Jackson Fuller. 

“We are so happy for Kuzy, he’s worked so hard this off season,” said Corpus Christi head coach Sylvain Cloutier. “He’s finally getting rewarded for all his hard work.”

2nd Star: Jack Spicer, G, Lone Star Brahmas

3rd Star: Nikita Volsky, G, Corpus Christi IceRays

Central Star of the Week: Carter Lundie - St. Cloud Norsemen

Central Division Star of the Week: Carter Lundie, Forward, St. Cloud Norsemen 

There’s no doubt that NAHL rookie forward Carter Lundie has been an integral piece of St. Cloud’s early success this season, shown vividly this week in Blaine at the Showcase. On Wednesday against the Jr. Americans, Carter found the back of the net twice for his squad, including a crucial game-tying goal with 66 seconds left to send the game to overtime. The British Columbia native followed up that performance with another strong one against the Nordiques on Thursday, assisting on all three St. Cloud goals in the 3-2 victory. Lundie wrapped up the Showcase on Saturday with another multi-point performance, potting a pair of goals in the Norsemen’s 4-3 loss to the reigning Robertson Cup champions Lone Star Brahmas. 

“Carter had a strong showcase,” said St. Cloud head coach Joe Exter. “He demonstrated his ability to score and produce in all three games. Most importantly, he showed he has the determination needed to step up at key times and deliver for the team.”

2nd Star: Jack Solomon, G, Austin Bruins

3rd Star: Travis Lefere, F, Watertown Shamrocks

East Star of the Week: Benjamin Campeau - Northeast Generals

East Division Star of the Week: Benjamin Campeau, Forward, Northeast Generals

Northeast Generals captain Benjamin Campeau got his season off to a strong start, heading into the Showcase with four points under his belt in the same amount of games. The Kingston, Ontario native turned on another gear once arriving in Minnesota, beginning against the Wilderness on Wednesday. In a 4-3 victory over Minnesota, Campeau tallied a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Benjamin added another goal to his tally on Thursday against Aberdeen, and on Friday, he recorded three points (two goals, one assist) against the Odessa Jackalopes in a dominant 5-1 victory. 

“Ben has had an amazing start to the year both on and off the ice. As a captain, he has a lot of responsibility in getting the boys ready and focused and he’s done a tremendous job,” said Northeast head coach Bryan Erikson. “He has improved every part of his game and when the lights were the brightest in Blaine, he played some of his best hockey. All the coaches at all college levels got to see what I see every day. A player who is responsible 200 feet, is great on the details, and shines in big moments. His stats were great but his focus and energy are what helps separate Ben from the pack. Great player doing great things with more to come. We are very proud of Ben!”  

2nd Star: Mason Stenger, D, Maryland Black Bears

3rd Star: Ryan Nolan, G, Northeast Generals

Midwest Star of the Week: Ian Norkevicus - Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Ian Norkevicus, Defenseman, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Second-year defenseman and Pennsylvania native Ian Norkevicus was elite on the blueline throughout the showcase for the Ice Dogs, helping them sweep their trio of games at the Super Rink. Ian found his scoring touch early, rattling off a pair of goals on Wednesday against the New Jersey Titans, including the eventual game-winner midway through the second period. He one-upped his Wednesday performance on Saturday against the undefeated Amarillo Wranglers. The Ice Dogs found themselves down 2-1 heading into the third period, and Norkevicus made it his mission to turn the tides. Ian picked up an assist on Luca Ricciardi’s game-tying goal and, 14 seconds later, found the back of the net to give the Ice Dogs the lead. He later added his second of the game and fourth of the season to seal the victory. 

"Ian’s work ethic and attention to detail is top notch. He has enjoyed a great start in his second season with us both on the ice and in the locker room as a leader," said Fairbanks head coach Ryan Theros. "Looking forward to his success throughout because of his team-first attitude!!

2nd Star: Cole Christian, F, Anchorage Wolverines

3rd Star: Nate Murray, D, Minnesota Wilderness

South Star of the Week: Nikita Volsky - Corpus Christi IceRays

South Division Star of the Week: Nikita Volsky, Goalie, Corpus Christi IceRays

Once again in the South Division, a stellar goaltending performance from a netminder in Texas earned him a Star of the Week honor. Belarussian native Nikita Volsky headed into the showcase 3-1 and was determined to continue adding wins to his record. On Thursday against Danbury, Volsky was lights out between the pipes, stopping all but one of 36 shots the Jr. Hat Tricks sent his way. Nikita and the IceRays returned the following evening to face the Springfield. Jr Blues, where he kept out all 27 shots to earn his first career shutout in the NAHL in Corpus Christi’s 3-0 victory. Between the two games he appeared in, Nikita held a 0.50 goals against average and an impressive .984 save percentage.

“So happy for Nikita; he’s been a brick wall for us,” said Corpus Christi head coach Sylvain Cloutier. “He’s one of the reasons we had the start we had.”

2nd Star: Salvatore Cerrato, D, Amarillo Wranglers

3rd Star: Pierson Sobush, F, Corpus Christi IceRays

Central Star of the Week: Alex Laurenza - Aberdeen Wings

Central Division Star of the Week: Alex Laurenza, Forward, Austin Bruins

Second-year forward and Union College commit Alex Laurenza only played in one game this weekend but he made it count. The Woodbridge, Ontario native got on the points sheet in the opening frame on Saturday against the North Iowa Bulls, tallying an assist on EJ Paddington’s score. In the 2nd period, Laurenza tallied his first goal of the season to extend Austin’s lead to 3-0. He went on to tally another goal and assist in the 3rd period en route to a dominant 5-1 Bruins victory. “Alex, was outstanding on Saturday. He’s been a big part of our leadership group,” said Austin head coach Steve Howard. “He’s done a great job of establishing our culture with all the new players that we have. Our staff is extremely thrilled that he received this weekly honor and we want him to continue that same effort at the NAHL Showcase this week.”

2nd Star: Peyton Mithmuangneua, F, St. Cloud Norsemen

3rd Star: Grant Kohnen, F, Minnesota Mallards

East Star of the Week: Ruslan Jamaldinov - Philadelphia Rebels

East Division Star of the Week: Ruslan Jamaldinov, Forward, Philadelphia Rebels

Philadelphia Rebels forward Ruslan Jamaldinov has gotten off to a hot start in his rookie season in the NAHL. The Sweden native found the back of the net Friday night against the Johnstown Tomahawks in the 2nd period, bringing his goal total to three on the year. The puck was hot off Ruslan’s stick on Saturday, dishing a pair of assists and finding the back of the net once again. “RJ has been a great addition to our forward group this season,” said head coach Justin Hale. “He is a smooth skater with great offensive instincts. I was very happy to see him find the scoresheet and help our team to a solid weekend.” 

2nd Star: Andrew Gibbons, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

3rd Star: Laurent Trépanier, F, Maine Nordiques

Midwest Star of the Week: Jacob Ligi - Chippewa Steel

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Jacob Ligi, Forward, Chippewa Steel

Returning Chippewa forward Jacob Ligi put on an impressive offensive performance for the Steel throughout the weekend. The South Lyon, Michigan native got Chippewa’s offense rolling early against the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday night, tallying the opening goal and dishing two assists in the first period. Ligi added another goal and assist in the final frame to finish the night with five points. The Wilderness visited the Steel on Saturday and Ligi didn’t slow down, recording a goal and two assists in Chippewa’s 9-5 rout. “Jacob has really come into his own as a player and a leader for us,” said Chippewa head coach Chris Ratzloff. “Halfway through last season he took a big step and we were able to play him in any role. This year he’s off to a great start, taking another step where he continues to make his teammates better through his play. We are excited to see his continued success on and off the ice.”

2nd Star: Brent Gulenchyn, F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

3rd Star: Jackson Lackas, F, Chippewa Steel

South Star of the Week: Charlie Zolin - Amarillo Wranglers

South Division Star of the Week: Charlie Zolin, Goalie, Amarillo Wranglers 

The second weekend of hockey in the South is complete and once again, the Division Weekly honor is awarded to Amarillo Wranglers netminder Charlie Zolin. After a dominant weekend the prior week, the 04’ netminder kept up the pace against the Colorado Grit on the road. On Friday night, Charlie stopped 32 of 34 shots in the Wranglers’ 5-2 victory. He followed that up Saturday with an elite game between the pipes, saving all but one of 36 shots faced in the overtime win. Throughout the weekend, Zolin held a 1.50 GAA and .957 save %. “Charlie doesn’t give up on pucks,” said Amarillo head coach Taylor Harnett. “His compete for excellence has given us the confidence and ability as a team to have positive achievements. He has great preparation skills, which in part, has led him to have success as of late.”

2nd Star: Bryce Johnson, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves

3rd Star: Nikita Volsky, G, Corpus Christi IceRays

East Star of the Week: Gates Omicioli - Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks

East Division Star of the Week: Gates Omicioli, Forward, Danbury Hat Tricks

Danbury forward Gates Omicioli was firing on all cylinders during the Hat Tricks’ 8-2 rout of the Elmira Aviators on Saturday. After falling to the Aviators 6-1 the evening prior, Omicioli and the Hat Tricks came out flying to start Saturday’s game. Gates scored the first goal of the game for Danbury late in the first period and added another goal to make the game 4-0 in the middle frame. In the third, Omicioli completed the hat trick and dished an assist on Sam Esposito’s goal. “Gates is a polarizing force that made an impressionable impact in his first weekend,” said Danbury head coach Lenny Caglianone. “To see a first year player come in and perform with the maturity and consistency throughout the weekend is remarkable. The ability to transition and score on the rush as well as being a physical identity makes him he a prototypical D1 prospect.” 

2nd Star: Jake Gutwirth, F, Northeast Generals

3rd Star: Charles Panchisin, F, Philadelphia Rebels

Midwest Star of the Week: Greye Rampton - Kenai River Brown Bears

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Greye Rampton, Forward, Kenai River Brown Bears 

Kenai River forward Greye Rampton was an offensive force throughout the opening weekend, tallying four points to help the Brown Bears sweep the Janesville Jets on the road. On Friday, Rampton tallied his first career NAHL goal just minutes into the first period, which would be the decisive one in the 3-0 shutout. The following night, Rampton scored a pair of goals in the final frame, including the eventual game-winner in Kenai’s comeback victory. “We are expecting big things from Greye this year and he has started off on the right foot,” said Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw. “His production offensively was great over our first road series of the year. Greye is a very responsible player at both ends of the rink and he didn’t compromise anything for his offensive output this past weekend. Our staff is excited to be a part of his development and we are looking forward to helping him earn a scholarship to an NCAA Division I school.”

2nd Star: Zachary Cline, F, Wisconsin Windigo

3rd Star: Thomas Corneillie, D, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

South Star of the Week: Charlie Zolin - Amarillo Wranglers

South Division Star of the Week: Charlie Zolin, Goalie, Amarillo Wranglers 

Amarillo Wranglers netminder Charlie Zolin made quite the first impression in net for the Wranglers this weekend, collecting a pair of wins on the road to begin his NAHL rookie campaign. The Greenwich, Connecticut native was nearly perfect between the pipes on Friday night, stopping all but one of 31 shots in Amarillo’s 2-1 shootout win. In the shootout, Zolin kept out three of four Oklahoma attempts. On Saturday, Zolin kept up the momentum, stopping 22 of 24 shots faced in the Wranglers’ 3-2 victory to secure the sweep. He finished the weekend with a 1.44 goals against average and .946 save percentage. “Charlie was determined to battle for the start opening night these past few weeks leading up and did just that,” said Amarillo assistant coach Connor White. “After an outstanding performance to start off the weekend Friday night. We came to the conclusion to give him the net again Game 2 in OKC. And Charlie did not disappoint. You need your goalies to give you a chance to win each night and Zolin provided, while coming up with some timely saves allowing us to accomplish the weekend sweep.”

2nd Star: Rasmus Nousiainen, F, El Paso Rhinos

3rd Star: Jack Erickson, G, Colorado Grit