NA3HL announces Bauer Divisional Stars of the Week
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending December 31, 2017. The divisional stars of the week is an award given each week of the regular season to the top performing players in each of the eight divisions of the NA3HL as nominated by their head coaches.
Central Division Star of the Week: Shane Bernhardson, Defenseman, North Iowa Bulls
Bernhardson, a native of Apple Valley, Minnesota, ended 2017 with a bang as he notched the best weekend of his junior hockey career. On Saturday night against Rochester, the defenseman scored a natural hat trick in a span of four minutes and 58 seconds. He also registered two assists to go with his hat trick. Then on New Year’s Eve, Bernhardson scored another pair of goals and tacked on two assists to finish the weekend with nine points. The captain of the Bulls leads all North Iowa defenseman with 30 points over 27 games this season.
2nd Star: Brendan Studioso, F, North Iowa Bulls
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None
Coastal Division Star of the Week: None (no games)
East Division Star of the Week: None (no games)
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Cole Stewart, Forward, Yellowstone Quake
The points leader of the NA3HL continued his stellar play as the Yellowstone Quake got back to their winning ways over the weekend. The veteran forward led the charge with two goals and an assist in the Quake’s Saturday night win against the Gillette Wild. The following night, Stewart duplicated his effort, scoring twice again while adding an assist. Stewart held a plus-4 rating over the two game period and now leads the NA3HL with 60 points in just 24 games played.
2nd Star: Payton McSharry, F, Great Falls Americans
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None
Midwest Division Star of the Week: Jack Radley, Forward, Peoria Mustangs
Jack Radley could be found all over the scoresheet in Peoria’s weekend sweep of the Wausau RiverWolves. Friday night, the San Diego, California native netted his first hat trick of the season in a 6-2 victory. He came back the next night and visited the red light district two more times to give him a five goal weekend. Two of Radley’s goals came on the power play and his third goal from Friday proved to be the game winner. Radley currently leads the Mustangs with 34 points.
2nd Star: Jack Healy, F, Peoria Mustangs
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None
Northeast Division Star of the Week: None (no games)
South Division Star of the Week: None (no games)
West Division Star of the Week: Brendan Payne, Forward, Alexandria Blizzard
The Alexandria Blizzard have won 10 straight games and no one is hotter than Brendan Payne. He is currently on a seven game points streak after another big weekend. Saturday against Willmar, Payne netted a goal and an assist in the Blizzard’s 5-3 win. The 20-year old scored twice on New Year’s Eve and added two assists to finish the weekend with six points. He also had a plus-5 rating in the two games. For the season, Payne has 16 goals and 18 assists in 25 games played.
2nd Star: Brandon Bissett, F, Granite City Lumberjacks
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Logan Neu, F, Granite City Lumberjacks
