NA3HL announces Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending February 21, 2021. The divisional stars of the week are awards given each week of the regular season to the top-performing players in each of the five divisions of the NA3HL as nominated by their head coaches.
Central Division Star of the Week: Jacob Best, F, Oregon Tradesmen
Best bounced back from consecutive pointless outings with 2g-3a—5pts in a home-and-home against Wausau last week, leading his team to a pair of wins. After recording a goal and an assist in Friday’s win on home ice, Best stepped up with another goal and two more helpers in a big road victory, pushing his season totals to 6g-19a—25pts in 28 games for the Tradesmen. The 2000-born native of Saginaw, MI has points in five of his last eight outings, posting 3g-7a—10pts in that span.
2nd Star: Hunter Wilmes, F, Rochester Grizzlies
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Pavel Bakhtin, F, Wausau RiverWolves — Andrew Doran, G, Peoria Mustangs — Joey Fodstad, F, Rochester Grizzlies — Danny Fraga, G, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Charlie Killian, D, Peoria Mustangs — Sam VanderHoeven, F, Oregon Tradesmen — Trey Walton, D, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Richard Zupan, F, Wausau RiverWolves
East Division Star of the Week: Grant Goodson, G, Mass Titans
Goodson was nearly perfect in three games between the pipes for the Titans last week, picking up three wins and allowing just a single goal in each contest. The 6-foot-0, 140-pound native of St. Louis, MO totaled 72 saves on 75 shots in three straight victories over Bay State, denying 31, 16 and 25 shots in each respective matchup and recording his first single-game save percentages above .900 this year. Goodson solidified his statistics after an inconsistent start to the year, moving to 4-1-0 with a .923 save percentage and 2.40 GAA.
2nd Star: Jake Weikel, F, New England Sharks
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Eyan Gonzalvez-Helm, D, Mass Titans
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Pablo Frank, F, Missoula Jr. Bruins
Frank has established himself as one of Missoula’s most consistent pieces up front, and his talents were on full display with goals in each of his two games in Sheridan last week. Tallying once in both Friday and Saturday’s contests brought his goal-scoring streak to four consecutive games, a solid run after a three-game pointless skid at the end of January. Frank’s impressive campaign now features 25g-27a—52pts in just 32 games on the year.
2nd Star: Jack Luttringer, F, Yellowstone Quake
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Shane Dotto, F, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Keegan Ferguson, F, Yellowstone Quake — Jackson Henningsgard, F, Great Falls Americans — Ty Lorring, D, Great Falls Americans
South Division Star of the Week: Noah Easterson, F, El Paso Rhinos
Easterson and the Rhinos faced a busy week with three games between the 15th and 21st, but the 2003-born sniper’s goal-scoring prowess shone with four goals in that span. After scoring his fifth goal in as many games on a heated rivalry matchup against Oklahoma City on Friday, Easterson was held off the scoresheet in the rematch with the Blazers, but rebounded with a hat-trick performance against the RoadRunners on Sunday, grabbing the game-winning goal in El Paso’s victory. The rookie forward is now up to 10g-8a—18pts in 23 games on the year.
2nd Star: Blake Rothstein, F, Texas Brahmas
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jacob Kalandyk, F, Texas Brahmas
West Division Star of the Week: Nicholas Richert, F, Granite City Lumberjacks
The Lumberjacks ran a four-game gauntlet last week and came out with a respectable 3-1-0 showing, thanks in large part to Richert’s 2g-5a—7pts in that span. The 2001-born Richert found the scoresheet in each outing, including back-to-back multi-point outings to start the week’s action with 1g, 1a against Alexandria and three helpers against New Ulm. Richert also chipped in an assist in Saturday’s loss to Willmar, then lit the lamp again in another win over the Steel to close the week on a high note on Sunday. Richert has now recorded 5g-9a—14pts in 20 games this season, drawing nearer to his mark of 7g-18a—25pts in 43 games in 2019-20.
2nd Star: Isaiah Thomas, F, Willmar Warhawks
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Evan Babekuhl, G, North Iowa Bulls — Brockston Masseth, F, Granite City Lumberjacks — Lewis Rowan, F, Willmar Warhawks — Caden Smith, F, North Iowa Bulls
