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 February 2nd. 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: Adam Prokop, Goaltender, West Bend Power

West Bend veteran netminder Adam Prokop continues to shine for the Power, pushing his record to 11-0-1-1 after splitting their weekend series with Rochester. Both games went to extra time, with Friday's matchup ending in a shootout and Saturday’s in overtime. Prokop played a key role in helping the team secure three out of a possible four points in the standings. Over the course of the weekend, the 6’2” goaltender faced a challenging 69 shots from a tough Rochester team, making an impressive 66 saves and allowing just 3 goals for a weekend save percentage of .956. Prokop now ranks at the top of the NA3HL leaderboard for both save percentage and goals against average among all goaltenders with a season GAA of 1.362 and a save percentage of 947. 

“Adam continues to lead our team both on and off the ice. His experience and leadership play a key role and his on ice play is far above the norm,” stated Power Head Coach Jason Woods. “His play in net allows our players to play with a high level of confidence and security!”

2nd Star: Jack Ruess, St. Louis Jr. Blues

3rd Star: Joey Bertram, Rochester Grizzlies 

East Division Star of the Week: Luke Pomerleau, Forward, Maine Nordiques

NA3HL rookie Luke Pomerleau has been a major contributor to the Nordiques' recent success, as the team has gone 7-3 in their last 10 games, including splitting their weekend series with the Northeast Generals. During Friday’s 5-0 victory for Maine, the '05 forward was a standout against the Generals, scoring a hat trick, including the game-winner. He found the back of the net once in the first period and added two more in the second. Despite coming up short on Saturday, Pomerleau still managed to find his way onto the scoresheet, scoring not one but two goals on the man advantage as Nordiques went two for three on the powerplay. 

“Luke has been outstanding all year. He’s a consistently strong player and a true leader. Our team relies on him both in the locker room and on the bench,” stated Nordiques’ Head Coach Chris Pomerleau. “His work ethic really stood out this weekend, especially with his five goals.”

2nd Star: Isaac Mansfield, New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings

3rd Star: Connor Gilkeson, Norwich Sea Captains

Frontier Division Star of the Week: Dawson Wirth, Forward, Badlands Sabres

The Badlands Sabres have climbed into the number two spot in the division after sweeping the Gillette Wild, fueled by an outstanding offensive performance from Dawson Wirth. The Rapid City, SD native delivered identical performances in both games, scoring two goals and adding an assist in each. In Friday's 5-3 victory, Wirth helped set up the Sabres' first goal, then scored the first goal of the second period. He followed that with the first goal of the third, capitalizing on a power play after Gillette was called for tripping, with that goal ultimately becoming the game-winner. On Saturday, both of his goals came in the middle frame, including starting the period off hot scoring just 9 seconds after the puck was dropped. He of course added on another point, assisting on the seventh goal of the contest. 

“Dawson has come in and been a spark plug for our team. He is earning every point and is continuing to get better,” stated Sabres’ Head Coach Brooks Mitzel. “His offensive abilities have helped us have a strong second half and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do the rest of the year.”

2nd Star: Spencer Wilkinson, Bozeman Icedogs

3rd Star: Austin Uecker, Helena Bighorns 

South Division Star of the Week: Dantae Hunziker, Forward, New Mexico Ice Wolves

Dantae Hunziker and the New Mexico Ice Wolves continue to be a threat in the South Division, picking up three wins by significant margins over Atlanta. The Fairbanks, AK native was on an offensive tear, showcasing his scoring prowess with an incredible six goals over the weekend. His weekend was highlighted by a hat trick in game two where he was able to find the back of the net once per period. In addition to his goal-scoring explosion, he also played the role of playmaker, racking up four assists over the series to help set up his teammates and contribute to the team’s success.

“Dantae is a 200ft player with good offensive instincts. He has been a big part of our team this season and continues to progress through his hard work and his diligent play,” stated Ice Wolves’ Head Coach Darren Banks.

2nd Star: Joey Crowley, Texas Brahmas

3rd Star: Issa Murakami, New Mexico Ice Wolves

West Division Star of the Week: TJ Lepisto, Forward, Granite City Lumberjacks

Second-year Lumberjacks forward and assistant captain TJ Lepisto had a strong weekend on the scoresheet for Granite City. Although his team came up short in game one on Friday, the Menomonie Falls, WI native made his mark by recording his first hat trick of the season. He scored twice in the first period and added another in the second, including a powerplay goal. Granite City bounced back in game two, and Lepisto continued to shine. He netted the Lumberjacks' fifth goal of the game on the man advantage and also recorded an assist on the final goal, bringing his point total to five points on the weekend. With this win and the valiant efforts of Lepisto and the team as a whole, Granite City has locked up a spot in this year’s Fraser Cup Playoffs as the top team in the West Division.

“TJ has been the heartbeat of our team for most of the season. It's always rewarding to see players thrive when they play the game the right way and have a genuine drive to win above all else. Hopefully, he can keep this level of production going for the rest of the season,” stated Lumberjacks’ Head Coach DJ Vold. 

2nd Star: Jake Hodd-Chlebeck, Minnesota Wilderness

3rd Star: Carson Wendorff, Willmar WarHawks