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 January 7, 2018. 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: Tyler Bump, Forward, North Iowa Bulls
In a showdown between two of the hottest teams in the league, Tyler Bump was the best player on the ice. In his team’s 4-3 shootout loss on Friday night, Bump scored two goals. The following night, the Prior Lake, Minnesota native netted a hat trick and added two assists in North Iowa’s 8-1 win on Saturday. "Tyler is a gifted player who competes every night. With his line starting, he scored on the first shot of the game on Saturday giving us positive momentum to start the game. He is a leader not only in production but also in character and effort,” said North Iowa head coach Todd Sanden.
2nd Star: Brendan Earls, G, Wisconsin Whalers
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Toon De Schepper, D, La Crosse Freeze – Cameron Fagerlee, F, North Iowa Bulls – Matthew Francois, F, La Crosse Freeze – Luke Murphy, G, Rochester Ice Hawks – Drew Steines, F, Wisconsin Whalers
Coastal Division Star of the Week: Austin Braley, Forward, Northeast Generals
The Northeast Generals have won seven of their last 10 and now find themselves in a tie for first place in the Coastal Division. Austin Braley’s six point weekend helped the Generals ascend to the top of the division. On Saturday against the Nordiques, Braley tallied a pair of assists in his team’s 3-2 win. He followed up that performance with two goals and two assists in a big win over the Maine Wild on Sunday. The forward from Bourne, Massachusetts had a plus-5 rating.
2nd Star: Leevi Kervinen, F, Cape Cod Islanders
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Fedor Lopaev, F, Northeast Generals
East Division Star of the Week: Griffin Sawyer, Forward, Metro Jets
The Metro Jets earned a weekend sweep of the Toledo Cherokee to start play in 2018 and Griffin Sawyer was a major factor during the two games. Friday, Sawyer potted a pair of goals, both coming on the power play, while assisting on another goal. The following night, the Trenton, Michigan native lent a helping hand on two Metro goals in their 5-1 victory.
2nd Star: Joel De Simone, G, Pittsburgh Vengeance
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Daniel Critzer, F, Wooster Oilers – Jacob Friedman, F, Pittsburgh Vengeance – Justyn Gillis, G, Wooster Oilers – Connor Inger, F, Metro Jets
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Brooks Mitzel, Forward, Gillette Wild
Brooks Mitzel was an unstoppable force for the Gillette Wild this past weekend as they swept the Great Falls Americans. Mitzel put the team on his back Friday night as he scored four goals in his team’s 5-3 win over the Americans. The four goals are a single-game high for him this season. The forward from Rapid City, South Dakota gave out two apples on Saturday night to finish the weekend with six points and a plus-4 rating.
2nd Star: Kaden Lindberg, F, Helena Bighorns
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Riley Buller, F, Yellowstone Quake – Mikhail Gavrilenko, F, Helena Bighorns – Jack Oberg, F, Gillette Wild – Tanner Rath, F, Great Falls Americans – Nolan Willoughby, F, Yellowstone Quake
Midwest Division Star of the Week: Jake Cox, Forward, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Another big weekend from St. Louis forward Jake Cox brings him closer to history. With a four goal weekend in the Blues’ sweep of the Peoria Mustangs, Cox now has 210 career points in the NA3HL. That vaults him into a tie for second place all time. Cox is also closing in on the NA3HL career goals mark, he needs just six goals to become the NA3HL all time leading scorer.
2nd Star: Blake Bjella, G, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None
Northeast Division Star of the Week: Dominik Bogdziul, Forward, Binghamton Junior Senators
It was a reunion of sorts for Dominik Bogdziul this past weekend as he played his first games of the season for the Binghamton Junior Senators. Bogdziul scored 119 points last year for Binghamton in 42 games. He’s right back to his scoring ways as he found the scoresheet in both games against the Niagara Falls PowerHawks. He had three assists in a 7-0 victory for the Junior Senators on Saturday. Then on Sunday, he found the back of the net for the first time this season and added two assists in a 5-2 win. The newest weapon for Binghamton was also a plus-6 last weekend.
2nd Star: Craig Garrigan, F, Skylands Kings
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brady Anderson, G, Binghamton Junior Senators – Eric Vanderhoff, F, Skylands Kings
South Division Star of the Week: Ashton Norris, Forward, Texas Brahmas
Ashton Norris of the Texas Brahmas sure was clutch this past weekend. He scored the game winning goal in each of his two games this weekend as the Brahmas swept the Louisiana Drillers. Norris finished the weekend with a plus-3 rating. The native of Arlington, Texas now has eight goals and five assists on the season to give him 13 points in 25 games played.
2nd Star: Connor Simpson, F, Mid Cities Jr. Stars
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Kyle Cote, F, Texas Brahmas – Brandon Speights, F, Mid Cities Jr. Stars
West Division Star of the Week: Alex Nagel, Forward, New Ulm Steel
Alex Nagel may have only played one game this week but he delivered an effort that not only helped his team to a comeback victory but also propelled them to first place in the West Division standings. Nagel was named the first star of the game as the Steel beat Granite City 5-3. The forward from Antigo, Wisconsin scored two goals including the game winning goal in the Steel’s only game last week. He added an assist as well to finish with three points and and also had a plus-3 rating.
2nd Star: Chase Di Bari, F, Granite City Lumberjacks
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jared Fladebo, F, Breezy Point North Stars – Alex Flicek, F, Breezy Point North Stars – Owen Sikich, F, Granite City Lumberjacks
