Press Release
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) today announced the
Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Combat Hockey for the week
ending September 23, 2012. The Divisional Stars of the Week is a weekly
feature during the 2012-13 regular season that honors the top
performing players in each of the four NAHL divisions as nominated by
their respective teams.
Central Division Star of the Week: Bryan Nies, goaltender, Bismarck Bobcats
Nies, a goaltender from Grand Forks, North Dakota, helped shut
the door on the Fresno Monsters this past weekend as he was between the
pipes for both wins in a weekend home sweep. Nies, 19, was in goal for
back-to-back, 2-1 wins as he stopped 55 of a combined 57 shots, which
was good for a 96.5% save percentage and a 1.00 goals against average.
His best performance came on Saturday, as he made 35 saves, allowing
just the lone goal. For the season, Nies (5’10/185) has a 3-1-0 record
with a 1.75 GAA and a 93.3% save percentage. “Entering a season where
we had some questions in goal, Bryan has been very good for us so far
and really stepped up,” said Bobcats head coach Layne Sedevie. “He is
giving us a chance to win every night and has played very consistent.”
2nd Star: Rory Vesel, defenseman, Bismarck Bobcats
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None
North Division Star of the Week: Luc Boby, forward, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
Kalamazoo forward Luc Boby, 20, leads the NAHL in goals with
seven, thanks in large part to his five goal outburst this weekend as
Kalamazoo split a weekend road series against the Soo Eagles. On
Friday, Boby (6’3/208) scored both goals in a 4-2 loss against the
Eagles. On Saturday, with his team down 3-1, the Oswego, Illinois
native scored goals two, three, and four all in a row and all in
successive periods as Kalamazoo went on to a 6-4 come-from-behind win.
Boby has 10 points on the season and is currently riding a four-game
point streak and a three-game goal streak. “Luc carried the team on his
back this weekend. He scored some real timely goals and has been a
great addition to the team. He has worked real hard to get where he is
now and we hope he continues to better as the season goes along and earn
himself a NCAA Division I opportunity,” said Jr. K-Wings head coach
Marc Fakler.
2nd Star: Tyler Marble, goaltender, Soo Eagles
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Josh Dangel, forward, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings – Jason Ford, forward, Janesville Jets - Reid Mimmack, goaltender, Jamestown Ironmen – Ryan Nick, defenseman, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Daniel Rehnstrom, forward, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Evan Ritt, forward, Jamestown Ironmen – Jared Van Wormer, forward, Soo Eagles – Austin Vieth, forward, Janesville Jets.
South Division Star of the Week: Evan Cowley, goaltender, Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats goaltender Evan Cowley, 17, began the week by being
named to the NHL Central Scouting watch list and being selected to be in
the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game. The native of Evergreen,
Colorado ended the week by posting back-to-back shootout home wins over
the Corpus Christi IceRays to move the Wildcats into a tie for 3rd place
in the South Division. For the weekend, Cowley (6’4/185) stopped 58 of
63 shots for a 92.1% save percentage and a goals against average of
2.40, but really shined in the shootouts, where he stopped nine of 10
IceRays shooters to earn the Wildcats the valuable four points. “I
think in total, Evan faced about 14 breakaways during the weekend and
stopped all but one of them, so that is a testament to his natural
ability. He is learning at a really fast pace and has already adapted
to the level of play in the NAHL,” said Wildcats head coach Paul Baxter.
2nd Star: Eliot Grauer, forward, Wichita Falls Wildcats
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Kyle Sharkey, forward, Topeka RoadRunners.
West Division Star of the Week: Gustaf Johansson, goaltender, Kenai River Brown Bears
Kenai River goaltender Gustaf Johansson, 19, was spectacular in
the Brown Bears weekend road sweep of the Jr. Blues in Springfield.
The native of Uppsala, Sweden, stopped 75 of a combined 76 shots this
weekend and posted his first NAHL shutout on Saturday night with a
41-save performance. For the week, Johannson (6’4/190) had a save
percentage of 98.7% and a goals against average of 0.50. The wins this
weekend were the first for the Brown Bears and Johansson during the
2012-13 season. “Gustaf is new to the NAHL style of play and has had to
adapt in a very a short period of time. I thought Springfield played
really well and threw a lot at us, but Gustaf was dialed in for every
shot, had good rebound control and played very well this weekend,” said
Brown Bears head coach Oliver David.
2nd Star: Jono Davis, forward, Wenatchee Wild
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Robert Nichols, goaltender, Wenatchee Wild – Nick Hinz, defenseman, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Steve Perry, goaltender, Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
KOTP Ep. 184 – The Final 15
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