3HL announces Combat Hockey 3 stars of the week
The North American 3 Hockey League (3HL) today announced the Three Stars of the Week presented by Combat Hockey for the week ending December 11, 2011. The Three Stars of the Week is a weekly feature during the 2011-12 regular season that honors the top performing players each week of the regular season as nominated by their respective teams. This week’s nominees included all games played at the 3HL Showcase in Darien, Illinois from December 4-7.
1st Star: Parker Tomczyk, forward, Minnesota Flying Aces
Minnesota Flying Aces forward Parker Tomczyk, 20, is second in the 3HL in goals with 22 and a big reason why was his play this past week earning him the #1 star in the 3HL. In five games this past week, the Mosinee, Wisconsin native recorded 12 points, including eight goals and four assists. 10 of those points came at the annual 3HL Showcase, where Minnesota posted a 3-1-0 record. Tomczyk (5’8/165) began the week with a goal in a 4-1 win over Queen City. The next day he sparkled with a hat-trick and three assists for a six point night in an 8-3 win over Michigan. On Tuesday, he recorded another goal in a 4-3 win against the Metro Jets. On the final day of the Showcase, he registered two goals in a close 4-3 loss against Flint. Tomczyk rounded out the week with a goal and assist in a 5-2 win against Twin City on Sunday. “Parker has figured out his game and has remained consistent all season long,” said Flying Aces head coach Craig Larson. “He is playing better team hockey, giving up the puck when he needs to, shooting when he needs to and has remained a very hard-working player.”
2nd Star: Ben Myers, goaltender, Flint Jr. Generals
The Flint Jr. Generals went undefeated at the 3HL Showcase and have now won eight straight games and one of the biggest reasons is the play of goaltender Ben Myers. Myers, 18, was a perfect 4-0-0 in the games he played in last week as he posted a 1.95 goals against average and stopped 103 of 111 combined shots. Myers (6’2/195) played in three of the four games at the 3HL Showcase. The Wauwatosa, Wisconsin native posted wins in the Showcase against Peoria, Chicago and shut down the high-powered Granite City offense with a 35-save performance. On Saturday, he made 25 saves in a 5-1 road win at Michigan. “Before the Showcase he beat Cleveland, who is a very good team, and that gave everyone on the team a lot confidence, especially Ben,” said Flint head coach Jeff Worlton. “He was the biggest difference in all the games. It is just one of those things… once he gets hot he has taken it and run with it. He is playing with good rebound control and a positive demeanor. He has put in his time to try and improve on a daily basis.”
3rd Star: Evan Weiss, goaltender, Twin City Steel
Evan Weiss, 20, played in three games this past week and the White Bear Lake, Minnesota native put up some phenomenal numbers. He helped lead Twin City to the 3HL Showcase title by posting shutouts in both games on the final two days of competition. On Tuesday, he stopped 30 shots as the Steel edged the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks, 1-0. The next day, Weiss was equally as good as he stopped all 30 shots for his second straight shutout in a 5-0 blanking of the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins. Weiss (5’9/165) had his shutout streak of over 135+ minutes snapped on Sunday as he and Steel fell to the Minnesota Flying Aces on the road, but not before making another 30 saves. For the week, Weiss posted a 2-1-0 record, a 1.35 goals against average and stopped a combined 90 of 94 total shots for a 95.7% save percentage. “Evan was a big reason we had great success at the 3HL Showcase,” said Steel head coach Stu Ronsberg. “I think not only did he play very well, but he did it against some quality opponents.”
Other players nominated were (alphabetical order): Ethan Baker, forward, Michigan Mountain Cats – Matt Bartels, goaltender, North Iowa Bulls – Cameron Bazin, forward, Metro Jets – Matt Grove, goaltender, Granite City Lumberjacks – Chris Hellebuyck, forward, Metro Jets – Marshall Helton, forward, Michigan Mountain Cats – Trace Jablin, forward, St. Louis Jr. Blues – Stephen Langford, forward, Minnesota Flying Aces – Alexander Larson, goaltender, Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks – Peter Lindblad, forward, Granite City Lumberjacks – Mike Meadows, goaltender, Quad City Jr. Flames – Ken Miloser, defenseman, Flint Jr. Generals – Clint Steinmeyer, goaltender, St. Louis Jr. Blues – Kegan Storjohann, forward, Twin City Steel – Toms Taurins, forward, Quad City Jr. Flames.
