NAHL Announces Individual Overall Awards

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 NAHL Awards. The selections were based on performances during the 2025-26 regular season, as voted upon by the league’s 34 Head Coaches, the NAHL’s Board of Governors, and the NAHL front office. 

Most Valuable Player & Forward of the Year: Harrison Smith, Maryland Black Bears

Earning not one, but two awards this postseason, Harrison Smith is your Most Valuable Player and Forward of the Year. The 5-foot-10 righty from Wellington, Florida, Smith produced a staggering 96 points in 49 games played for the Black Bears this season. The Sacred Heart commit led the league with 96 points and 72 assists. He registered 1.96 points per game and secured 34 points on the man advantage. Smith was a catalyst for the goal-scoring on the Black Bears, providing the primary setup on more than half of his assists during the regular season. There were only five games during the regular season that Smith did not show up on the scoresheet. In addition, the Sunshine State skater registered 32 multi-point games for Maryland in the regular season.

The ‘06 skater was named to a handful of awards this year. He was named on the All-NAHL Team, All-East Division Team, and was an East Division Star of the Week twice during the regular season.

Smith is a second-year veteran of the Black Bears. The 20-year-old nearly doubled his offensive production from his rookie season to this year. He featured 55 points in 55 games played last year and was recognized as one of the top rookies in the league. He was named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team for the 2024-25 season.

Head coach of the Black Bears, Clint Mylymok, explains why Smith has been such a valuable asset to the team.

"Harrison has been such a consistent performer all year long. He produces in big moments and truly thrives in those situations. He is extremely competitive, and his leadership has been impressive as well. Smitty has been a game-changer for Maryland the past two seasons, and we know he will do the same in the USHL as well as the NCAA. He has been great for Maryland, great for the NAHL, and will continue to flourish throughout his hockey career. We were extremely fortunate that he believed in the Maryland Black Bears organization and helped build this program up to an even higher level. His achievements are a testament to his abilities, competitive desire, and character. Congrats to Smitty on being the first Maryland Black Bear to be named NAHL MVP as well as the Top Forward. It is well deserved."

Defenseman of the Year: Nathan Williams, Austin Bruins

The 6-foot-1 captain of the Bruins, Nathan Williams, was a force from the blue line, leading all defensemen with 64 points on the year. Hailing from Racine, Wisconsin, Williams is a third-year veteran of Austin, playing over 170 games in the gold and black. This year, Williams tallied 10 goals while notching a league-leading 54 assists in the regular season. His work on the ice during the power play was huge because the 20-year-old secured 40 of his points while on the man advantage.

The captain played in all 59 regular-season games this year. In addition to his scoring ways, Williams led blueliners with his 1.08 points per game and his +39 rating on the year. He was a consistent offensive force for his team, showing up on the scoresheet in 43 contests this year. Additionally, Williams spotlighted 17 multi-point games during the regular season.

The Maryville commit has earned a plethora of awards this year. Williams was named to the All-NAHL team, to the All-Central Division Team, and was named as a Defenseman of the Month during January. His work on the ice also earned the third-year veteran a spot at the 2026 Top Prospects Tournament on the Central Division team.

Head coach of the Bruins, Steve Howard, shares why Williams has continued to elevate every year in the league.

“Willy has been here for three years, and he is the perfect example of development within our league. Each year, he took a bigger step. He’s grown into a top defenseman and a leader on and off the ice. He is our ‘Bruins Award’ recipient, and that means that he is the player who represents our organization the best for that season. Our culture is built on players like Nathan Williams.”

Goaltender of the Year: Jack Solomon, Austin Bruins

The 6-foot-2 netminder from the Show-Me State, Jack Solomon, dominated in net for the Austin Bruins all season long. The second-year veteran led goaltenders with his 1.85 goals-against average while ranking second in the league with his .934 save percentage during the regular season. His defensive dominance in net featured the 21-year-old notching 24 wins in 30 games played. Solomon featured a staggering six shutouts this season, with five of his shutouts happening in his last seven regular-season games.

His work in net was recognized during this award season. The Air Force commit was named to the All-NAHL First Team, to the All-Central Division Team, and was named the Central Division Star of the Week once during the regular season.

The ‘05 netminder featured just as impressive numbers during his 2024-25 campaign with the Bruins. He sported a 1.86 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in his first season with Austin.

Prior to playing in the League of Opportunity, the Air Force Commit played in the T1ER with the CarShield AAA program. 

Head coach of the Bruins, Steve Howard, went into detail on how Solomon rose to the challenges that were thrown his way.

“Solo has battled through some adversity this season, and he has become better for it. He’s kept his focus and had it fuel him throughout our season. Our staff is so happy for him on receiving this honor. It just validates that his hard work was noticed by many.”

Rookie of the Year: Logan Poulin, Forward, Northeast Generals

The King of Cape Cod, Logan Poulin, earns the title of Rookie of the Year thanks to an offensively dominant season on the ice for the Northeast Generals. The 5-foot-10 lefty led rookie skaters with 27 tallies and 1.11 points per game. In addition, the Massachusetts native featured 49 points in 44 games played with the Generals. His work on the ice spotlighted Poulin securing 14 multi-point contests in his first year of junior hockey. The recognition does not stop there, as the ‘06 skater has earned a plethora of awards this year. He was named to the All-Rookie Team, as the East Division Rookie of the Year, and earned the East Division Star of the Week honors twice during the regular season.

Poulin led his team in goal-scoring, with his +20 rating, and his six game-winning goals during the regular season. His offensive production was crucial in helping the Generals secure an opportunity for postseason contention.

Bryan Erikson, head coach and general manager of the Northeast Generals, shares how quickly Poulin adjusted to the game.

"Logan came to us from a small Division III high school on Cape Cod, Nauset High School. His coaches, Connor Brickley, Frank O'Connor, and Zach Wells, are all coaches within the Northeast Generals organization, so we knew he was in good hands and getting the best coaching possible. But we were not quite ready for how quickly he would adapt to the junior hockey game.  I think my concerns lasted about three minutes. He is just an amazing young man who works for everything. He has a gift with his shot and scoring ability. But it's the work behind it that is amazing.”

Erikson went on to explain what impressed him the most with the first-year forward.

“What stood out immediately was his desire to get better. He took to every aspect of coaching we threw at him. He got better in all three zones, became a guy that you want on the ice with a game on the line, winning or losing. Logan is truly a difference maker as a person and a player. Incredibly proud of the work he put in, and I think the results speak for themselves. He is only getting better. A Division I school is going to get a very elite person and player."

NAHL Coach of the Year: Clint Mylymok, Maryland Black Bears

Leading his team to an organization- and league-best regular-season record, Clint Mylymok takes home his first Coach of the Year honors. Mylymok has served as the bench boss for the Black Bears since their inception of the organization in 2018. Under his guidance, Maryland featured a dominating 49-6-3-1 regular season record, earning the regular season title. His work as a head coach extends to helping his athletes secure Division I commitments. 10 athletes from Maryland made their Division I commitment as Black Bears.

Mylymok dives into detail on what it means to earn this accolade.

“It's a special honor. I just think of all the coaches that have coached the games in this league and how good they are. Some guys have moved on and gone on to bigger and brighter things, and they have done a great job. It's a really good league. So, to be singled out, I like to say it's more so the process and byproduct of our organization and what we're allowed to do and how we're allowed to build.”