East Division wins 3HL Top Prospects Tournament

The North American 3 Hockey League (3HL) Top Prospects Tournament concluded this past weekend in Frisco, Texas.

The team from the East Division took home the title with a 3-1 record, which included a 2-1 win over the West Division Team in the Championship Game on Sunday.  Bryan Hovanec (Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins) had the game winning goal and James Odom (Flint Jr. Generals) also scored in the East win at the Dr Pepper Arena.

The East team, which was composed of players from the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks, Flint Jr. Generals, Metro Jets and Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins, got 25 saves from Jr. Penguins Tyler Stepke in the win.  Kyle Bonstrom (Minnesota Flying Aces) had the lone goal in the loss for the West Division. 
Team Central’s Jeremy Edwards (Chicago Hitmen) led the tournament in scoring with five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in four games, while Stepke finished as the top goaltender with a 0.50 goals against average and a 97.7% save percentage.

In the consolation game, the North Division defeated the Central Division, 3-1.  It was the North’s first win of the tournament as Andrew Benyo (Toledo Cherokee) scored twice and Joey Lioy (Battle Creek Jr. Revolution) added the other goal.  Robert Hintz (St. Louis Jr. Blues) scored the only goal for the Central Division, who finished with a 2-2 record, as did the West Division.

The 3HL Top Prospects Tournament was played in cooperation with the NAHL Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament and the North American Prospects Hockey League (PHL) Top Prospects Tournament.  Over 50 college and junior scouts, including all 28 NAHL teams, were in attendance during the event.