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 28, 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: Garrett Smith, F, Rochester Grizzlies
Smith was explosive in Rochester’s two wins over Oregon last week, notching six points across Friday and Saturday’s matchups. The first tilt saw the Eden Prairie, MN native pot the game-winning goal to go with two helpers, before then posting three assists during another Grizzlies victory in the rematch on Saturday. The performances were Smith’s third and fourth three-point efforts on the year, and inflated his season statistics to 8g-24a—32pts in 30 games.
2nd Star: Jared Wisely, D, Peoria Mustangs
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Blake Arneson, D, Rochester Grizzlies — Owen Carlson, G, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Danny Fraga, G, St. Louis Jr. Blues — George Giese, F, Peoria Mustangs — Devin Hays, F, Oregon Tradesmen — Carter Stobb, F, Oregon Tradesmen
East Division Star of the Week: Nick Cullinan, F, Springfield Jr. Hat Tricks
Cullinan and the Jr. Hat Tricks were a busy group with four games last week, a run of contests that saw the 2001-born Cullinan go on an 11-point tear with four straight multi-point outings. Cullinan opened the week with two goals and a helper against Bay State on Tuesday, then followed with another one of each against the Sharks on Friday. Saturday and Sunday’s duels against Northeast saw more of the same brilliance, as Cullinan scored twice in the first game, then capped things off with a bang as he scored for a fifth consecutive game and chipped in three helpers as well. Cullinan has played in just six games this year, but already boasts 7g-5a—12pts in that span and has found the scoresheet in all but one fixture this year.
2nd Star: Zakary Justice, F, Bay State Bobcats
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brett Bell, F, Mass Titans — Gijs De Schepper, D, Northeast Generals — Philippe Doucette, F, Mass Titans — Payton Felix, F, Northeast Generals — George Fomin, F, New England Sharks — Anderson O’Connor, F, New England Sharks — Zack Roncarati, G, Bay State Bobcats
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Blake Billings, F, Sheridan Hawks
The Hawks headed to Bozeman for a weekend back-to-back and came away with two victories on the back of performances like Billings’, as the Sheridan native bagged three goals and an assist across the pair of contests. With two goals on Friday and another strike to go with an assist on Saturday, Billings spearheaded Sheridan’s attack as the team remarkably picked up its 29th and 30th consecutive wins this season. Billings has recorded 32g-33a—65pts in 31 games this year, good for a share of third in league scoring.
2nd Star: Trevor Prince, F, Missoula Jr. Bruins
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Alex Bailey, D, Helena Bighorns — Johnny Baird, F, Helena Bighorns — Shane Dotto, F, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Tyler Hanson, F, Yellowstone Quake — Trever Mellen, G, Great Falls Americans — Jarret Perino, G, Yellowstone Quake — Ben Winkler, G, Great Falls Americans — Christian Wong-Ramos, G, Sheridan Hawks
South Division Star of the Week: Nick Cyprian, F, Atlanta Capitals
After a relatively quiet stretch through much of February, Cyprian lit up the scoreboard with 12 points in just three games last week — his second run of three consecutive multi-point performances this season. Cyprian bagged two goals and two assists on Friday, with the game-winning goal in tow as his side opened up the weekend with a win over Mid Cities. The native of Aledo, TX kept his outburst going through the rest of the set, with a goal and two more helpers on Saturday, and a 1g-4a—5pts effort on Sunday — his first five-point showing of the season. The 2001-born Cyprian is up to 24g-30a—54pts in 33 games on the year.
2nd Star: Jack Cooper, F, Texas Brahmas
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Chris Branch, G, Louisiana Drillers — Luke Busher, D, Texas Brahmas — Josh Hrip, F, Louisiana Drillers — Joe Pearson, G, Atlanta Capitals
West Division Star of the Week: Carson Jones, F, North Iowa Bulls
Jones hit the ice for three games with the Bulls last week, including a two-game set against rival Granite City — and came away with six points in that span as he extended his point streak to seven games. Jones set up a pair of goals on Friday against the Lumberjacks, then chipped in a goal of his own in the rematch on Saturday. He crowned a successful weekend with two more markers and another assist on Sunday, cementing his fifth three-point performances of the season. Jones has been held off the scoresheet just four times in 22 games this year, and boasts 18g-15a—33pts on the year.
2nd Star: Atticus Kelly, G, Alexandria Blizzard
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Braeden Bartoo, F, Granite City Lumberjacks — Joey Gimberlin, F, New Ulm Steel — James Spaargaren, F, New Ulm Steel — Sean Sullivan, D, North Iowa Bulls — Josh Weyandt, G, Granite City Lumberjacks
