NA3HL announces 2016 Top Prospects rosters
January 26, 2016
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced the rosters for next month’s NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament, presented by Easton, which will be held from February 15-17 at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
For more information on the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament, please visit: www.na3hl.com/tpt
160 total players from the NA3HL will be spread amongst eight teams (six divisional, two 18U Select teams), who will play in three games each during the event. The number of players each NA3HL team is sending to the tournament, in which six teams from the six NA3HL divisions: Central, East, Frontier, Midwest, South and West was based on each team’s winning percentage within their group as of January 19, 2016. Each team consists of a 20-man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies) as chosen by the NA3HL Competition Committee and the NAHL’s Central Scouting Department and as nominated by the league's 34 head coaches. All junior eligible NA3HL players are eligible to participate in the Top Prospects Tournament.
Two separate NA3HL 18U Selects teams will compete as the seventh and eighth teams in the event. The rosters are comprised some of the best young players in the NA3HL. The final rosters were selected by the League Office in consultation with the NA3HL Competition Committee and the NAHL’s Central Scouting Department.
2016 NA3HL Top Prospects schedule (all times eastern, subject to change):
Monday, February 15th
9:30am: East vs. West
12:30pm: Central vs. Midwest
3:30pm: 18U Selects Black vs. South
6:30pm: 18U Selects Red vs. Frontier
Tuesday, February 16th
9:30am: 18U Selects Black vs. Midwest
12:30pm: West vs. Frontier
3:30pm: 18U Selects Red vs. South
6:30pm: East vs. Central
Wednesday, February 17th
9:30am: Frontier vs. South
10:30am: West vs. Central
12:30pm: 18U Selects Red vs. 18U Selects Black
1:30pm: Midwest vs. East
The head coach of the Central Division team will be Todd Sanden from the North Iowa Bulls and the assistant coach will be Ryan Egan from the La Crosse Freeze. The head coach of the East Division team will be Justin Quenneville from the Metro Jets and the assistant coach will be Kenny Miller from the Toledo Cherokee. The head coach of the Frontier Division team will be Jeff Heimel from the Great Falls Americans and the assistant coach will be Ryan Theros from the Yellowstone Quake. The head coach of the Midwest Division team will be Chris Flaugher from the St. Louis Jr. Blues and the assistant coach will be Tyler Rennette from the Peoria Mustangs. The head coach of the South Division team will be Al Rooney from the Texas Jr. Brahmas and the assistant coach will be Anthony Bohn from the Atlanta Capitals. The head coach of the West Division team will be Brad Willner from the Granite City Lumberjacks and the assistant coach will be Jay Witta from the Twin City Steel.
The NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament is played in conjunction with the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Top Prospects Tournament, along with the North American Prospects Hockey League's (NAPHL) Championship. The event has quickly become one of the most highly-scouted events of its kind, with hundreds of junior, NCAA and NHL expected in attendance this season. Combined with the NAHL Top Prospect Tournament and the NAPHL Championship, it will make for an exciting week of hockey and provides a great opportunity for every scout and coach to get a close look the talent in the three leagues.
