The Texas Tornado, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that goaltender Hunter Leisner
has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for American International
College (AIC), who are members of the Atlantic Hockey Association
(AHA).
Leisner, 20, just completed his NAHL career, which spanned the last
three seasons. The last year and a half was spent with the Tornado,
who acquired Leisner (6’0/170) from the Aberdeen Wings in the middle of
the 2011-12 season. The native of Garland, Texas, then went onto lead
the Tornado to the 2012 Robertson Cup National Championship.
This past season, Leisner led the NAHL in games played with 50 and
minutes played with 2,962 minutes. He also ranked tied for 3rd in the
league with 30 wins. He posted a 2.71 goals against average and a 90.6%
save percentage during the 2012-13 season.
Back in January, Leisner was named the NAHL’s Goaltender of the
Month as he posted a perfect 8-0 record during the month as the Tornado
put together a 10-game winning streak. As a part of that streak, Leisner
won 14 straight starts at one point. He also recorded his only shutout
of the season during the month of January.
“I think every team needs a go-to goaltender and Hunter was that
guy for us a year and half. He works very hard on the ice and is quick
to analyze his game and be his own strongest critic,” said Tornado head
coach Tony Curtale. “He has tremendous quickness and a calm confidence
when he is in goal.”
During his three year NAHL career, Leisner appeared in 145 regular
season games and another 13 in the playoffs. 78 of those games were
with the Wings in his first year and a half. His best numbers came
during his second season with the Wings during the first half of the
2011-12 season, when he posted a 2.53 goals against average and was one
of the league-leaders with a 93.0% save percentage before being traded
to Texas. He finished his NAHL career with a career goals against
average of 2.89 and had a career save percentage of 91.1%.
Leisner is the seventh player from the 2012-13 Texas Tornado roster
to commit to an NCAA Division I school, joining: Justin Greenberg
(Miami), Brandon Hawkins (Bowling Green), Drew Mayer (Ferris St.), Nick
Neville (Denver), CJ Reuschlein (Army) and Max Shuart (Michigan).
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
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