NA3HL Announces Stars of the Week

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is pleased to announce the Divisional Stars of the Week for the week ending in January 5th. 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 five divisions of the NA3HL as nominated by their head coaches. 

Central Division Star of the Week: Jake Garrow, Forward, Wausau Cyclones

As the Cyclones learning scorer, Jake Garrow continues to contribute on the scoresheet week in and week out and this weekend’s series with Rochester was no different. Despite coming up short during Friday’s contest, the Marquette, MI native was still able to find the back of the net, scoring the Cyclones lone goal of the second period. He then followed things up by scoring a pair of goals, one on the man advantage, in addition to dishing out one assist as the Cyclones took down the Grizzlies by a score of 4-1. With these four points on the weekend, Garrow has racked up 40 points (23 goals, 17 assists) in 28 games.

“Jake had a great weekend in Rochester and continues to be a driving factor for our offense in Wausau,” stated Cyclones’ Head Coach Nathan Oystrick. “It seems like he gets on the scoresheet every night while playing in all situations and being a strong 2-way forward. He earned this week’s honors, and our entire organization is proud of him.”

2nd Star: Mason Decker, Rochester Grizzlies

3rd Star: Josh Kauppinen, Wisconsin Woodsmen

East Division Star of the Week: Carson Curry, Forward, Binghamton Buzz

Carson Curry and the Binghamton Buzz kicked off the calendar year on a high note, sweeping the Titans on the road. The Scottsdale, AZ native recorded two points in each game, bringing his point total to 31 points on the year. During Saturday’s 5-1 victory, Curry netted his team's fourth goal in the final period and also recorded an assist on the fifth goal. His momentum carried over into Sunday’s game as he scored a pair of goals, his second two-goal game of the 2024-25 campaign. Of his two goals, one was scored on the man advantage while the other was tabbed as the game winner. 

“Carson is a phenomenal player that we have a lot of confidence in. Curry is consistently putting in the extra work on and off the ice, it was only a matter of time before his hard work would be recognized on a league scale,” stated Buzz President of Hockey Operations Ray Welsh. “Our group will rely on Carson along with the rest of the team in order to have continued success!” 

2nd Star: Jason DiMatteo, Binghamton Buzz

3rd Star: Glen Farmer, Norwich Sea Captains

Frontier Division Star of the Week: Easton Langemo , Forward, Butte Irish

Shakopee, MN native Easton Langemo had an outstanding weekend against the Sheridan Hawks, helping the Irish split the series with their divisional rivals. Although Butte came up short on Friday night, the NA3HL rookie was able to tally an assist on all three goals that were scored by the Irish. Saturday night is where Easton was most impactful, recording his fourth hat trick of the season with one goal in each period, in addition to dishing out another assist. 

“Easton is such a fun kid to coach. He listens to my advice and diligently works on the areas I suggest, without hesitation,” stated Irish Head Coach Marc Brodeur. “I would say he has the hardest shot in the whole Frontier and maybe even the NA3HL. He is a goalie’s nightmare!”

2nd Star: Jackson Roethler, Badlands Sabres

3rd Star: Max Arlt, Gillette Wild

South Division Star of the Week: Tommy Forgrave, Forward, Austin Ice Bats

First-year Ice Bats forward Tommy Forgrave extended his point streak to eight games, accumulating five points over three games against the Rhinos. The Palm Springs, CA native started the series with a two-goal performance, including his team's first goal just 28 seconds into the second period. He continued to impress with another two-point performance, scoring a goal and adding an assist, both in the final period. To close out the three-game series, Forgrave recorded an assist on his team's third goal, finishing the weekend with a +4 plus-minus rating.

“Tommy's dedication to fundamentals and consistency stands out on and off the ice. From his hockey IQ development to his reliable communication with teammates, his attention to detail has elevated his performance significantly over the past month,” stated Ice Bats’ Head Coach Westin Michaud. “His disciplined practice habits and focus on mastering the basics have transformed him into a more complete player.”

2nd Star: Guhnar Hillman, Austin Ice Bats

West Division Star of the Week: Marcus Fritel, Forward, Mason City Toros

Marcus Fritel has been a true powerhouse for Mason City, delivering another outstanding performance during his team's cross-divisional series against the Jr. Blues. With nine points over the weekend, this was Fritel's best series to date, further proving why he's a force to be reckoned with. The Elk River, MN native tallied three points in game one, scoring two goals and adding an assist. His other six points on the weekend came during game two as he scored another two goals and dished out an impressive four assists, earning six out of eight possible points on the day as his team triumphed over St. Louis with an 8-4 victory.

“Marcus continues to deliver for us on and off the ice on a daily basis. His production is a correlation not only to his talent but his hard work and dedication to his teammates,” stated Toros’ Head Coach Mark Hicks. 

2nd Star: Eli Fletcher, Alexandria Blizzard

3rd Star: Aidan Callaghan, Willmar WarHawks