NAHL Announces Monthly Player Awards for September
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its Bauer Hockey player awards for September. The Forward of the Month is Siamion Marshchanok from the Austin Bruins. The Defenseman of the Month is Ryan Coots from the Lone Star Brahmas. The Goaltender of the Month is Lukas Fürsten from the Maine Nordiques.
Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Siamion Marshchanok, Austin Bruins
Hailing from Minsk, Belarus, Siamion Marshchanok has put on a scoring clinic in his short time in the NAHL. The 5’9 righty has notched a league-leading eight goals in five games with the Austin Bruins. His offensive prowess puts him at the top of scoring leaders at 2.4 points per game. Marshchanok is extremely effective on the man advantage and has notched five of his goals on the power play. His scoring ways are also effective when the Bruins are shorthanded. He has notched two of his goals on the season while on the penalty kill. The ‘05 forward features 12 points on the season and spotlights a +3 rating. Four of his five games played have seen Marshchanok tally two goals in each contest.
Marshchanok shares more on what it means to earn this honor.
“It means I am on the right path to reach my team’s and my own goals this season. The team system made me successful by allowing me to be on the right time and in the right spot on the ice. Also, I owe a lot of my success to my teammates. They played a role in helping the plays work smoothly.”
His best game of the season comes from out-of-division play at the NAHL Showcase. He featured a five-point performance, notching two goals and producing three assists against the Maine Nordiques. The Belarus native plays alongside his twin brother, Matsvei Marshchanok, and the twins are dominant forces on the scoresheet.
Head Coach of the Austin Bruins, Steve Howard, dives into detail on what he has seen from Marshchanok so far this season.
“Siamion has been outstanding this month, showing up consistently on the scoresheet. His creativity and speed have been a huge part of his success on the ice. We are proud that his performance has earned him the honor of being named Forward of the Month.”
Runner-Up: Emerson Marshall, Johnstown Tomahawks
Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Ryan Coots, Lone Star Brahmas
The 6’2 blueliner from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Ryan Coots, showed off his ability on the ice in his first season in the NAHL. Coots featured two goals and five assists in his first seven games in the NAHL. The ‘05 righty has shown up on the scoresheet in six of seven games for the Lone Star Brahmas. One of his goals was scored on the power play against the Anchorage Wolverines while at the NAHL Showcase. His best contest was in game one against the Corpus Christi IceRays, where he notched two assists for the Brahmas.
Coots shares what it means to be named to this honor.
“Being Defenseman of the Month means everything to me. I owe this to my teammates, who've welcomed me into the organization with open arms since day one, and I couldn't have done anything without them. This award truly reflects the hard work that we've put in as a team. I'm also thankful for the opportunities that God has given me this year and the strength to face challenges along the way.”
Head Coach of the Lone Star Brahmas, Dan Wildfong, dove into detail on what it means to see Coots perform well.
"Coots has been really steady defensively and has created a lot of offensive opportunities for himself. We are excited for him and hope to see him get some good looks from Division I programs."
Runner-Up: William Esterbrooks, St. Cloud Norsemen
Bauer Hockey Goaltender of the Month: Lukas Fürsten, Maine Nordiques
The 19-year-old netminder from Slovakia, Lukas Fürsten, showed off his prowess in the blue paint in the month of September. The 5’10 goaltender hit the ice in five contests for the Nordiques, spotlighting a 1.49 goals against average. His ability to prevent goals ranks him near the top of goaltenders in the league. He additionally features a .944 save percentage, stopping a total of 117 out of 124 shots in the first month of the season. What makes the netminder stand out among the rest in the league is his back-to-back shutout performances. He first shutout the New Jersey Titans in a 19-save performance and then went on to shutout the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on the first day of the Showcase in a 25-save fashion.
The goaltender went into detail on what it means to be back playing in the NAHL.
“I am happy to be back in the North American Hockey League, especially with the great group of guys we have. Looking forward to what the season holds.”
Fürsten is no stranger to the NAHL. He previously played in the League of Opportunity with the Danbury Hat Tricks and Philadelphia Rebels in the 2023-24 season.
Head Coach of the Maine Nordiques, Nick Skerlick, explains more about the excitement and anticipation of getting Fürsten on the roster.
"Lukas has been a guy we have wanted for 24 months. To see him in Maine is a long time coming. His constant compete day in and day out, as well as how he is as a teammate, is second to none.”
Runner-Up: Kaenan Smith, Janesville Jets
