JACKS FINALIZE 2012-13 TENDERS

Press Release

ODESSA, TX– The Odessa Jackalopes have finalized thirteen NAHL tenders for the 2012-13 season, the team announced Wednesday. Players from five different states were signed, including 2011-12 Jackalopes tender Ryan Webber of the NAPHL’s San Jose Jr. Sharks and Austin Ho, a defenseman from the Los Angeles Jr. Kings, who participated in Odessa’s 2011 main tryout camp in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

Among the players selected by the Odessa coaching and scouting staff are eight forwards, four defensemen and goaltender Blake Wojtala, a Trenton, Michigan native. With the departure of future UMass-Lowell River Hawk and NAHL Goaltender and Rookie of the Year Connor Hellebuyck, Jacks Assistant Coach and President of Hockey Operations Matt Cressman says, filling the void in net will be one of the team’s biggest challenges in 2012-13. “Obviously we’ve got a big hole to fill with [Hellebuyck] gone,” said Cressman Wednesday, “but it’s not just that, we’re looking for lots more goal-scoring and scoring touch and we’ve got complete faith in [Jackalopes Director of Scouting] Craig Sarner…we know he’s got lots of great players lined up for us.”

Odessa’s 2012-13 crop of tenders also includes NA3HL veteran Corey Sikich of the Quad City Jr. Flames and Johan Sjoden of the NAPHL’s San Jose Jr. Sharks. A pair of Minnesota High School standouts also caught the Jacks’ eye in the leadup to the team’s second NAHL season as Mahtomedi High School forward Tanner Jordan and Burnsville High School captain Mason Wyman notched a combined 42 goals and 103 points in just 53 total games played in 2011-12.

Other 2012-13 Jackalopes tenders include Colorado Rampage U18 defenseman Charlie Donlin, Michigan-native Steven Hayden of Detroit Catholic Central High School, Dallas Ice Jets forward and Wenatchee, Washington native Austin Azurdia, a pair of Chicago Young Americans U18 forwards Shaunak Pal and John Power and former D-man for the LA Jr. Kings, Cody Slocum.

All thirteen 2012-13 Odessa tenders will compete alongside returning Jacks players and NAHL draftees at the Jackalopes’ Main Tryout Camp, held July 26-29 at the Polar Ice House in Grapevine, TX. Registration is still open for the 2012 Jacks Tryout Camp and required forms and more information are available online at www.jackalopes.org. The 2012 NAHL Draft takes place Thursday, May 31st at 1:00 pm central.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)