Stars of the Week

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