NA3HL announces 2014-15 season awards

March 20, 2015

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced its award winners for the 2014-15 season, which include: Most Valuable Player, Forward of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, General Manager of the Year and Organization of the Year, along with its All-NA3HL 1st, 2nd, 3rd and All-Rookie Teams, Community Service and Academic Award winners as voted by the league’s coaches and general managers, based upon performance during the 2014-15 regular season.

 

In addition this season, the league has expanded their awards to include recognition amongst each division with All-Divisional Teams, as well as, divisional awards for MVP, Forward of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Community Service and Academic Award winners.

 

The 20-year-old native of Havre, Montana made his final junior season a memorable one as he handily won the most votes for the player that was most valuable to his team this season. Miller led the Bighorn offense with 68 points this season, which included 25 goals and 43 assists. He had 20 more points than his next closest teammate. His 68 points were 2nd in the NA3HL this season, as were his 43 assists. Miller played in the 2015 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament for the Frontier Division squad. Earlier this month, Miller announced his plans to play NCAA hockey at Northland College beginning next season.

 

Henderson, 20, was dominant in the league this season, as he led the NA3HL in points (85), assists (52) and was tied for 2nd in goals with 31. His 85 points were 15 more points than the next closest competitor. The Libertyville, Illinois native was named NA3HL Forward of the Month in November and he also led the Whalers in playoff scoring this season with seven points in five games. Henderson also recorded two points in two games while playing for the Central Division team at the 2015 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament.

 

19-year-old defenseman Joe Kleven had a tremendous season for the West Division Champion Bulls. The native of Prior Lake, Minnesota led all Bulls defensemen in scoring with 38 points in 44 games played. His 33 assists ranked tied for 2nd among all NA3HL defensemen and his 38 points ranked 4th. The 6’3/225 lbs. Kleven also recorded three points in two games playing for the West Division team at the 2015 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament. Through five playoff games prior to the Silver Cup this season, Kleven had two goals. 

 

Vorva, a 19-year-old rookie from Kalamazoo, Michigan, had a tremendous first season of junior hockey. Vorva backstopped West Michigan’s turnaround as a team, posting a 17-6-0 record this year with three shutouts. He led all NA3HL goaltenders with a 94.1% save percentage this season and was 6th in goals against average with a 2.04 mark. In his 25 appearances during the regular season, Vorva allowed four goals or less in all but one. He also played in three games in the NAHL this season for the Michigan Warriors and also played for the Central Division team at the 2015 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament.

 

Last season was spent almost entirely playing Midget 18U hockey for the Tier II Northwest Chargers in suburban Chicago. This season, Henderson led the NA3HL in scoring with 85 points in his first full season of junior hockey. He also led the league in assists with 52 and was tied for 2nd in goals with 31.

 

The rebranding and renaming of the Battle Creek Revolution to the West Michigan Wolves over the last spring was just the first step in the organization’s new direction. The other key component was the hiring of head coach Marc Fakler, who ended up putting together one of the greatest turnarounds in league history.  Fakler directed the Wolves to 31 wins and the Central Division regular season title.  All this came after the team had won a total of eight games the past four seasons. The former NAHL bench boss also produced two of the top 10 scorers on the league, as well as, the NA3HL Goalie of the Year this season. West Michigan also had players get called up to the NAHL this season.

 

As a new expansion team in the NA3HL this season, Dumont built the first-year Jr. Predators from the ground up. The team went on to post the best record in the NA3HL during the regular season at 42-4-1 and win the NA3HL regular season title. The Jr. Predators also went the entire season without losing a game in regulation on the road, going 23-0-1. The Jr. Predators also had three members of the NA3HL All-South Division Team. Dumont also was able to build up a group of over a dozen sponsors of the team in their first season. 

 

The Jr. Predators, who were in their first year as an expansion team, won the NA3HL regular season title with a 42-4-1 record. They also won the South Division regular season and playoff titles. They had two players on the NA3HL All-Rookie Teams and two players of the All-NA3HL 3rd Team. They were also the only team in the league to not allow a shorthanded goal this season. They had the league’s best defense and the 2nd ranked offense.

 

Tulik, a 17-year-old defenseman from Phoenix, Arizona, currently takes all AP and Honors classes in Calculus, Literature, Government, Economics and Sports/Entertainment Marketing. He maintains a weighted GPA of 4.89. He has also received the AP Scholar award 2013-14 and the Chandler High School High Honors Award for 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15. Tulik also works full time at the local McDonalds and is a very valued employee. 

 

A 20-year-old forward from Winnipeg, Aaron Ryback was heavily involved in the community this season.  He worked with the United Way with the Food Drive held in town once a month.  He was responsible for unloading semi trucks and loading vehicles of families in need of food.  He also worked with the Special Olympics during local bowling and swim meets.  Aaron was also a volunteer coach for the Special Olympic hockey team in Alexandria, the Alexandria Muskies.  Aaron was responsible for practices and also traveled to road games with the team.  Aaron was also the leader of a group of individuals that was responsible for shoveling and removing snow from local businesses, as well as, elderly couples homes and people that were not able to remove snow from their own sidewalks and driveways.  Aaron also was involved in the local elementary schools reading to children, having lunch with children and playing on the playground with the children.  Aaron was also involved in the local hockey association helping out on the ice with the mites for practice and also officiating their games.

 

Forward: Peter Henderson, Wisconsin Whalers

Forward: Brandt Miller, Helena Bighorns

Forward: Ryan Martin, Wisconsin Whalers

Defense: Joe Kleven, North Iowa Bulls

Defense: Nick Trefry, Helena Bighorns

Goalie: Hunter Vorva, West Michigan Wolves

 

Forward: Johnny Panvica, North Iowa Bulls

Forward: Cody Black, Pittsburgh Vengeance

Forward: Brandon Desrosiers, Southern Tier Xpress

Defense: Nick Nitta, Texas Jr. Brahmas

Defense: Michael Straub, Pittsburgh Vengeance

Goalie: Alec Rounds, Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks

 

Forward: Lucas Lomax, Great Falls Americans

Forward: Trent Kulczyk, Nashville Jr. Predators 

Forward: David Kenney, Granite City Lumberjacks

Defense: Corey Siwula, West Michigan Wolves

Defense: David Chavis, Metro Jets

Goalie: Justin Ball, Nashville Jr. Predators

 

Forward: Peter Henderson, Wisconsin Whalers

Forward: Johnny Panvica, North Iowa Bulls

Forward: Trent Kulczyk, Nashville Jr. Predators

Defense: Corey Siwula, West Michigan Wolves

Defense: Noah Gilreath, Point Mallard Ducks

Goalie: Hunter Vorva, West Michigan Wolves

 

Forward: Joe Burgmeier, North Iowa Bulls

Forward: Dakota Ulmer, West Michigan Wolves

Forward: Brett Gravelle, North Iowa Bulls

Defense: Justin Provencher, Point Mallard Ducks

Defense: Frank Muscarella, Sugar Land Imperials 

Goalie: Justin Ball, Nashville Jr. Predators

 

2014-15 Central Division Most Valuable Player: Ryan Martin, Wisconsin Whalers

2014-15 Central Division Forward of the Year: Peter Henderson, Wisconsin Whalers

2014-15 Central Division Defenseman of the Year: Corey Siwula, West Michigan Wolves

2014-15 Central Division Goaltender of the Year: Hunter Vorva, West Michigan Wolves

2014-15 Central Division Rookie of the Year: Peter Henderson, Wisconsin Whalers

2014-15 Central Division Academic Achievement Award: Joe Power Wayvon, Peoria Mustangs

2014-15 Central Division Community Service Award: Blake Olinyk, La Crosse Freeze

 

Forward: Peter Henderson, Wisconsin Whalers

Forward: Michael Tratar, West Michigan Wolves

Forward: Ryan Martin, Wisconsin Whalers

Defenseman: Corey Siwula, West Michigan Wolves

Defenseman: Jared Bromberg, La Crosse Freeze

Goaltender: Hunter Vorva, West Michigan Wolves

 

2014-15 East Division Most Valuable Player: Cody Black, Pittsburgh Vengeance

2014-15 East Division Forward of the Year: Cody Black, Pittsburgh Vengeance

2014-15 East Division Defenseman of the Year: Michael Straub, Pittsburgh Vengeance

2014-15 East Division Goaltender of the Year: Alec Rounds, Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks

2014-15 East Division Rookie of the Year: Cody Estrel, Toledo Cherokee

2014-15 East Division Academic Achievement Award: Tristin Snyder, Toledo Cherokee

2014-15 East Division Community Service Award: Luke Grossman, Southern Tier Xpress

 

Forward: Cody Black, Pittsburgh Vengeance

Forward: Brandon Desrosiers, Southern Tier Xpress

Forward: Pearce Vance, Metro Jets

Defenseman: Michael Straub, Pittsburgh Vengeance

Defenseman: David Chavis, Metro Jets

Goaltender: Alec Rounds, Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks

 

2014-15 Frontier Division Most Valuable Player: Brandt Miller, Helena Bighorns

2014-15 Frontier Division Forward of the Year: Brandt Miller, Helena Bighorns

2014-15 Frontier Division Defenseman of the Year: Nick Trefry, Helena Bighorns

2014-15 Frontier Division Goaltender of the Year: Grant Martens, Helena Bighorns

2014-15 Frontier Division Rookie of the Year: Grant Martens, Helena Bighorns

2014-15 Frontier Division Academic Achievement Award: Mitch Tulk, Glacier Nationals

2014-15 Frontier Division Community Service Award: Steven Nisbet, Bozeman Icedogs

 

Forward: Lucas Lomax, Great Falls Americans

Forward: Brandt Miller, Helena Bighorns

Forward: Mitchell McEwan, Gillette Wild

Defenseman: Nick Trefry, Helena Bighorns

Defenseman: Lucas Stover, Great Falls Americans

Goaltender: Grant Martens, Helena Bighorns

 

2014-15 South Division Most Valuable Player: Trent Kulczyk, Nashville Jr. Predators

2014-15 South Division Forward of the Year: Trent Kulczyk, Nashville Jr. Predators

2014-15 South Division Defenseman of the Year: Nick Nitta, Texas Jr. Brahmas

2014-15 South Division Goaltender of the Year: Justin Ball, Nashville Jr. Predators

2014-15 South Division Rookie of the Year: Trent Kulczyk, Nashville Jr. Predators

2014-15 South Division Academic Achievement Award: Jacob Elrod, Nashville Jr. Predators

2014-15 South Division Community Service Award: Noah Gilreath, Point Mallard Ducks

 

Forward: Trent Kulczyk, Nashville Jr. Predators

Forward: Mykyta Sheptytsky, Texas Jr. Brahmas

Forward: Jacob Lainesse, Nashville Jr. Predators

Defenseman: Nick Nitta, Texas Jr. Brahmas

Defenseman: Noah Gilreath, Point Mallard Ducks

Goaltender: Justin Ball, Nashville Jr. Predators

 

2014-15 West Division Most Valuable Player: Joe Kleven, North Iowa Bulls

2014-15 West Division Forward of the Year: Johnny Panvica, North Iowa Bulls

2014-15 West Division Defenseman of the Year: Joe Kleven, North Iowa Bulls

2014-15 West Division Goaltender of the Year: Jesse Garcia, Granite City Lumberjacks

2014-15 West Division Rookie of the Year: Johnny Panvica, North Iowa Bulls

2014-15 West Division Academic Achievement Award: Travis Kothenbeutel, Granite City Lumberjacks

2014-15 West Division Community Service Award: Aaron Ryback, Alexandria Blizzard

 

Forward: Johnny Panvica, North Iowa Bulls

Forward: David Kenney, Granite City Lumberjacks

Forward: Bo Gronseth, Alexandria Blizzard

Defenseman: Joe Kleven, North Iowa Bulls

Defenseman: Mathias Ahman, Twin City Steel

Goaltender: Jesse Garcia, Granite City Lumberjacks