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 February 18, 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: Matthew Francois, Forward, La Crosse Freeze

Francois, 18, is on quite the tear as of late as he has points in each of his last eight games. This past weekend he had his best performance of the season as he notched a hat trick and three assists against the Rochester Ice Hawks. He finished the weekend with seven points in the two game weekend sweep. For the year, Francois has scored 54 points in 38 games played. He finished the weekend with a plus-5 rating.

2^nd Star: Matt Irwin, F, Wausau RiverWolves

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Colin Cain, G, North Iowa Bulls – Brady Lindauer, F, La Crosse Freeze – Dan Sandvig, F, North Iowa Bulls

 

Coastal Division Star of the Week: Ryan Cortez, Goalie, Long Beach Sharks

Ryan Cortez was a very busy goaltender this past weekend as he saw a total of 120 shots fired his way. He was able to stop 112 of them to give him a save percentage of .933. He made an incredible 60 saves in Friday night’s loss to the New England Stars. Most goalies would need a night off after making that many saves, but not Cortez. He was right back in between the pipes the following day and he stopped 52 more pucks, keeping his team in the game.

2^nd Star: Ian Gatley, F, New England Stars

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None

 

East Division Star of the Week: Tristan Mock, Forward, Southern Tier Xpress

It was a big weekend for the Southern Tier Xpress as they knocked off the top two teams in their division to keep their playoff hopes alive. Tristan Mock played a key role in Southern Tier’s upset of Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. Mock scored his first hat trick of the season, including the game winner, in Southern Tier’s 4-3 win over the Vengeance. He extended his point streak to four in the process and was a plus-2.

2^nd Star: Matt Schaumburger, F, Metro Jets

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): EJ Gilbert, F, Toledo Cherokee – Michael Hubbard, G, Wooster Oilers – Connor Inger, F, Metro Jets – Matthew Kesto, F, Wooster Oilers – Michael Lamison, F, Southern Tier Xpress – Tristan Snyder, F, Toledo Cherokee

 

Frontier Division Star of the Week: Drew Scites, Goalie, Great Falls Americans

The Great Falls Americans Drew Scites has been spectacular this season and it continued this weekend against the Missoula Jr. Bruins. Scites posted another two wins and grabbed his fourth shutout of the year and second since joining the Americans. This season, Scites ranks second among qualified goaltenders in goals against average as he is allowing just 1.44 goals per game. His save percentage also ranks in the top four as it currently sits at .940, just a few hundredths away from the top spot in the entire NA3HL.

2^nd Star: Beckett Patten, F, Bozeman Icedogs

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Ben Rinckey, F, Great Falls Americans

 

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Jack Healy, Forward, Peoria Mustangs

The Peoria Mustangs are gearing up for what they hope will be a long playoff run. Part of ensuring a deep postseason journey is having your best players playing at the their highest level. Jack Healy was doing just that this past weekend as the native of Springfield, Illinois had himself a six point weekend in a sweep of the Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts. In Friday’s win, Healy was giving out assists as he ended the night with four apples. He also finished with a plus-3 rating that night. On Saturday, Healy found the back of the net for his 13th goal of the season and also added another assist. He now has 42 points in 35 games this season.

2^nd Star: Dante Jones, F, St. Louis Jr. Blues

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None

 

Northeast Division Star of the Week: Eric Vanderhoff, Forward, Skylands Kings

The Skylands Kings forward had a weekend to remember, specifically a game he will never forget. The product of Vernon, New Jersey scored 10 goals in three games over the weekend. Seven of those 10 goals came on Friday night against the Roc City Royals. He would follow that amazing effort up with three more goals over the next two days in a win against the Royals and a loss against Niagara Falls. Vanderhoff’s 11 point weekend rocketed him to third in the NA3HL points race with 85 on the season. He is also now tied for the most goals this year at 43.

2^nd Star: Craig Carrigan, F, Skylands Kings

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Kris Augustine, G, Niagara Falls PowerHawks – Dominik Bogdziul, F, Binghamton Junior Senators – Steven Kozikoski, G, Oswego Stampede – Andrew Logar, F, Niagara Falls PowerHawks

 

South Division Star of the Week: Regnars Udris, Defense, Point Mallard Ducks

The Point Mallard Ducks recently locked up a playoff spot in the Fraser Cup playoffs and their best player this past weekend was defenseman Regnars Udris. He gave out four assists in a win last Monday against Evansville and was a plus-5. On Friday night, Udris notched an assist against the Mid Cities Jr. Stars but then on Saturday, he exploded for five points. He lent a helping hand four times once again but also found the back of the net for his 15th goal of the year.

2^nd Star: Mitch Dolese, D, Louisiana Drillers

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Fletcher Chun, F, Point Mallard Ducks – Griffin Varricchio, G, Louisiana Drillers

 

West Division Star of the Week: Josiah Roen, Forward, Alexandria Blizzard

The Alexandria Blizzard are in a dogfight for positioning in the West Division and big weekend sweep put them into a tie for second place with the Granite City Lumberjacks and just three points back of the New Ulm Steel for first place. Josiah Roen is doing everything in his power to get his team to the top of that division. He scored a pair of goals including the game winner in a 5-4 win against New Ulm. He scored another two goals and added an assist in a win over the Willmar Warhawks on Sunday. The Hugo, Minnesota native finished the weekend with five points and a plus-7 rating.

2^nd Star: Matt Moran, F, Granite City Lumberjacks

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Grant Troumbly, F, Granite City Lumberjacks