NAHL Announces Bauer Hockey Stars of the Week

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) announced today the Bauer Hockey Divisional Stars of the Week for the week ending November 16, 2025. Only players that are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the Divisional Player of the Week awards.

 

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

Third-year veteran of the Wings, Jibber Kuhl, played a critical role in helping Aberdeen secure three out of four points over the weekend. Starting on Friday night, the 6-foot-2 lefty spotlighted his second two-goal performance of the year. The Minnesota native tallied his first goal in the opening period at the 2:14 minute mark, responding to North Iowa’s early lead. As the contest progressed with both sides trading goals, the Wings were down 4-3 heading into the final nine minutes of the third period. Kuhl was able to tip in the game-tying goal, helping to keep his team in the game. As the matchup moved into extra minutes and an eventual shootout. The Wings would fall to North Iowa in shootout fashion; however, they would secure a point for divisional standing purposes. Heading into Saturday night, Aberdeen was hungry to respond to the previous night’s loss. The 20-year-old would be the first Wing to light the lamp in the contest, following North Iowa’s early goal in the opening frame. With Aberdeen trailing 2-1 heading into the final 20 minutes, the Wings got to work. Kuhl scored a little over seven minutes into the period, notching the game-winning goal for his team. Aberdeen would secure a 4-2 victory over North Iowa, and Kuhl played a vital role in doing so.

​The alternate captain sported a four-goal weekend while notching his first game-winning goal of the year. The 6-foot-2 forward features 17 points over 19 games played this year. Kuhl has also laced up for the Wings in 115 games.

Head coach of the Wings, Scott Langer, explains more about Kuhl’s work ethic.

​“Jibber's all work mentality is starting to pay dividends. He is a gifted player in all aspects of the game.”

2nd Star: Cooper Williams, F, Bismarck Bobcats

3rd Star: Matthew Martin, F, Aberdeen Wings

 

East Division Star of the Week: Nikita Oleksiienko, Goaltender, Johnstown Tomahawks

Hailing from Dnipro, Ukraine, Nikita Oleksiienko played a vital role in the Tomahawks’ sweep over the weekend against the Elmira Aviators.  The ‘08 netminder made his third start on Friday night for Johnstown. Oleksiienko allowed one early Elmira goal and never looked back. He turned away 27 out of 28 shots, helping to lift his team to a 2-1 overtime victory. The T1ER alumnus went into Saturday night not as the starting goaltender. Oleksiienko came off the bench to start the third period. Just like the night before, the 17-year-old allowed one early Elmira goal and never looked back. As the game was tied 3-3 in the third frame, Oleksiienko turned away seven shots on net, helping to force the game into overtime. In the extra minutes, Johnstown captain Nick Jarmain secured the game-winning goal for his team. Thanks to the young 6-foot-1 goaltender, Johnstown earned back-to-back wins against the Aviators. Oleksiienko spotlighted a 1.43 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage from the weekend.

Head coach of the Tomahawks, Adam Houli, dives into detail on Oleksiienko's raw ability.

“Nikita had a great weekend that helped us secure four points in an extremely tight division. He is a very strong goaltender who is very hard to beat. He has great fundamental skills and also has the ability to make saves that change the outcome of games and create momentum shifts. He is going to get stronger and stronger as the year goes on.”

2nd Star: Brayton Frick, F, Philadelphia Rebels

3rd Star: Corson Maguire, F, Rochester Jr. Americans

 

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Luc Bydal, Forward, Anchorage Wolverines

Leading the way in goal-scoring in the league and for the Wolverines, Luc Bydal spotlights another offensively dominant weekend. The 6-foot-2 lefty played a role in every goal on Friday night against the Wisconsin Windigo. He first helped Chase Trompeter’s goal with a set-up between him and his little brother, Rylan Bydal. 20 seconds later, the North Dakota native went on to tally a goal himself to give Anchorage the 2-0 lead. Following that lead, Wisconsin was able to score three goals between the first and second period to give them the lead heading into the final minutes of the second frame. The 20-year-old went on to score the game-tying goal with a SportsCenter-worthy between-the-legs goal. As the matchup moved into the third frame, both teams traded chances; however, it forced the game to move into extra minutes and an eventual shootout. Luc Bydal scored in the shootout; however, the Wolverines would fall to the Windigo in a 4-3 shootout fashion.

Moving into Saturday night, the Wolverines were looking to rage, and they did just that. Anchorage initially played from behind, and after that short-lived lead by Wisconsin in the opening period, it was all the Wolverines. Bydal notched an assist on his little brother’s goal at the 2:35-minute mark in the first frame. Moving into the second period, the North Dakota native tallied his 17th goal of the year, this one on the power play. With the help of Bydal on the ice, Anchorage would win 4-1.

Luc Bydal is in his second season playing in the North American Hockey League. His offensive prowess puts him at the top of the leaderboards. Right now, he leads skaters with 17 goals on the year. He ranks first on his roster with 29 points on the season. Over the weekend, the 6-foot-2 lefty tallied three goals, made two assists, and featured a +3 rating.

Head coach of the Wolverines, Mike Aikens, shares more on how great of a weekend Bydal featured.

“Luc had another great weekend, having scored five points. He is a hockey player and he is a rink rat who loves to compete and he loves to score goals. Luc leads the league with 17 goals, but he is also becoming a more responsible player on the defensive end of the rink.”

2nd Star: Max Kogler, G, Chippewa Steel

3rd Star: Amir Valiullin, G, Springfield Jr. Blues

 

South Division Star of the Week: Leo Isaksson, Forward, Lone Star Brahmas

Hailing from the hockey-rich nation of Sweden, Leo Isaksson featured a standout five-point performance over the weekend. Friday night showcased Isaksson showing on the scoresheet once, thanks to a primary assist on Vincenzo Capano’s game-winning goal. Moving into Saturday night, that is when all eyes were on the 20-year-old. The 6-foot forward tallied Lone Star’s first goal of the contest in the opening frame. Following his lone goal, Isaksson got to work and notched three assists. He produced two assists in the second frame, one on the penalty kill. The ‘05 skater would go on to secure his final assist on Gustav Lexell’s power-play goal in the final period. He played a role in four out of five goals scored on Saturday night against the Corpus Christi IceRays.

Isaksson skated away with a five-point weekend and played a vital role in helping his team sweep the Corpus Christi IceRays. The ‘05 Swede ranks first on his roster in about every category. He leads in goals (7), assists (17), and total points (24). He additionally spotlights 1.41 points per game.

Head coach of the Brahmas, Dan Wildfong, went into detail on Isaksson’s contributions to the team.

“Leo has been a top player since joining Lone Star. He keeps getting better offensively and defensively. His 200-foot game continues to grow. We are excited to see him continue his pursuit of a Division I commitment.” 

2nd Star: Nayan Pai, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves

3rd Star: Daniel Rassega, F, Amarillo Wranglers