Top Prospects Tournament Positions Finalized
Published on December 21, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
For a number of teams, last weekend's games meant a whole lot more than heading into the holiday break on a high note; they also dictated how many players each could send to next month's prestigious Sherwood/NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.
This year's event, which annually attracts over 100 college and professional coaches and scouts, will be held January 18-20 at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich., and again feature all-star teams from the NAHL's Central, North, South and West Divisions competing in a three-game, round-robin tournament.
The number of invites each team gets to Top Prospects is based on each team's winning percentage as of December 20, with higher percentages translating into more representation. The NAHL Top Prospects Tournament Selection Committee will announce the rosters, which will be comprised of 20 players each, on December 29.
For the West Division-leading Wenatchee Wild, which finished the first half of its season with a NAHL-best 25-5-2 record, the selection process was a definite motivator heading into the holidays.
"I think this was important to everybody on our team, whether they thought they'd be selected for the event or not, because they want to see their teammates get the opportunity to be noticed," said Wild associate head coach Ryan McKelvie. "The Top Prospects Tournament is another excellent showcase event for college and pro scouts to see some of the top players in our league."
With the wildcard pick - the selection committee will choose one from each of the four divisions to round out the rosters - the Wild, which already has a league-high seven players from this year's team committed to Division I schools, will send seven players to Top Prospects - all of whom should have bright futures in the collegiate ranks, according to McKelvie.
"I feel that all of them are legitimate Division I prospects," said the coach.
Bismarck Bobcats head coach Byron Pool, whose team also put a lot of emphasis on the Top Prospects roster deadline, will send at least six players to Ann Arbor thanks to his club's first-place standing in the Central.
"One of the goals we set for ourselves was to be in first place at Christmastime - the sole reason being the amount of players we'd be able to send to the Top Prospects Tournament," said Pool, whose Bobcats hold an 18-8-6 record (42 points) in their division.
Nearly 30 players who competed in last year's Top Prospects Tournament committed to Division I schools after the event - a stat not lost on Pool, who already has three players on this year's team with college deals in place.
"Just look at the number of players who've played in the tournament the last two years who've went onto play Division I college hockey and you realize it's an outstanding opportunity for our players to showcase their skills to coaches at the next level," said the coach. "We're extremely excited and proud that we're able to send six players to this prestigious tournament."
As are the Marquette Rangers, who locked down the top spot in the North Division with two wins last weekend. They'll also send a division-high six players to Top Prospects with the possibility of a seventh as the wildcard.
"It's quite an honor for entire our organization to be where we're at in the standings heading into the holiday break," said Rangers head coach Kenny Miller, whose team sits atop the division with an 18-10 record, good for 36 points. "Although only a handful of our guys will play in the event, every player from our club deserves credit for this accomplishment.
"I'm proud of all our guys, the coaching staff and the support staff we have in place for their hard work up to this point in the season."
With two current Rangers committed to Division I schools, Miller is confident Top Prospects will open a lot more doors for a handful of his deserving student-athletes.
"Because this event is so popular with the college scouts, it'll be a great opportunity for our players to showcase their talents," said Miller.
Annually one of the NAHL's leaders in grooming Division I players, the St. Louis Bandits, thanks to two wins last weekend which resulted in a division-leading .796 winning percentage, sealed up the top spot in the South.
"Finishing with the highest winning percentage at the cutoff was a priority for our organization, because getting our young men to the next level is our main responsibility," said Bandits assistant coach Rocky Russo.
Three Bandits who competed in last year's tournament are playing college hockey this season, including league MVP Keith Kincaid (Union College). Four players from this year's team already have their college plans charted.
"The Top Prospects event has given so many players the opportunity to play at the Division I level, and the ability to put six of our players in that situation is fantastic," said Russo.
In the Central Division, the second-place Owatonna Express will send five players to Top Prospects; the North Iowa Outlaws (third place) and Alexandria Blizzard (fourth place) three apiece; and the fifth-place Albert Lea Thunder two.
The second-place Janesville Jets will send five players in the North, followed by the third-place Traverse City North Stars and fourth-place Motor City Metal Jackets, who will send three players each, and the fifth-place Alpena IceDiggers, who will send two.
In the South, the second-place Topeka RoadRunners will send five players; the Texas Tornado (third place) and Springfield Jr. Blues (fourth place) three apiece; and the fifth-place Wichita Falls Wildcats two.
The second-place Alaska Avalanche will send five players in the West, followed by the third-place Fairbanks Ice Dogs and fourth-place Kenai River Brown Bears, who will send four apiece.
With the December 20 date also came the announcement of the Top Prospects Tournament coaches: Pool will serve as head coach of the Central Division team with Owatonna head coach Pat Cullen assisting; Miller (head coach) and Janesville head coach Dane Litke (assistant coach) will lead the North; St. Louis head coach Jeff Brown (head coach) and Topeka head coach Scott Langer (assistant) will coach the South; and Wenatchee head coach Paul Baxter (head coach) and Alaska head coach Dave Boitz (assistant) will guide the West team.??
In conjunction with the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, the fourth event of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) season will also be played at the Ice Cube from January 15-18.
After the season's third showcase, the Southern California Titans hold the lead in the U18 division, while the Florida Panthers Alliance sit atop the U16 standings.
It's the final event before the NAPHL Championship Tournament Series, which will be played in San Jose from February 12-15.
For more information on the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, visit NAHLTopProspects.com.
For more information on the North American Prospects Hockey League, visit NAPHL.net.
STANDINGS/LEADERS
STANDINGS
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/standings.html?leagueid=164&seasonid=4527
LEADING SCORERS
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=164&seasonid=4527
LEADING GOALTENDERS
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/goalieleaders.html?leagueid=164&seasonid=4527
GOALS
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=164&seasonid=4527&sortby=g
ASSISTS
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=164&seasonid=4527&sortby=a
PLUS/MINUS
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=164&seasonid=4527&sortby=plusminus
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sherwood/NAHL North Player of the Week: Josh Bussell - Marquette Rangers
Marquette forward Josh Bussell connected for two goals and five assists as the Rangers fashioned a 2-1 record against Alpena. On Friday, the Detroit native recorded a goal and two assists, including one on Tanner Kero's game-winning marker, in a 3-2 victory. The next night, the 20-year-old recorded two assists, including one on Andrew Kolb's game-winner, as the Rangers downed the IceDiggers, 8-1. Bussell picked another goal and an assist in a 3-2 loss on Sunday. He was also a plus-5 on the weekend.
"Josh is a scoring threat every night and, as a veteran leader on this team, we expect him to put up numbers like he did last week," said Rangers head coach Kenny Miller. "His hard work in all three zones paid off for him."
HONORABLE MENTION: Janesville forward Cam Severson; Marquette forward Tanner Kero; Motor City forward R.J. Kleiman
Sherwood/NAHL South Player of the Week: Jared Rickord - Springfield Jr. Blues
Springfield forward Jared Rickord put home three goals and four assists as the Jr. Blues picked up five of six points against Wichita Falls. On Friday, the Skokie, Ill., native notched a goal and an assist in a 4-0 victory. The next night, the 20-year-old tallied another goal and two more assists as the Jr. Blues downed the Wildcats, 7-2. Rickord, a Bentley University recruit, recorded two points (goal, assist) in a 4-3 overtime loss on Sunday.
HONORABLE MENTION: St. Louis forward Craig Kitto; Topeka forward Erik Higby; Wichita Falls forward Broderick Browne
Sherwood/NAHL Central Player of the Week: Dominic Panetta - Bismarck Bobcats
Bismarck forward Dominic Panetta rang up a goal and four assists as the Bobcats celebrated a two-game sweep over North Iowa. On Friday, the Grand Rapids, Mich., native registered a pair of assists in a 3-2 victory. The next night, the 18-year-old potted a goal and two more assists as the Bobcats bested the Outlaws, 5-2. He was also a plus-2 on the weekend.
"Dominic is off to an outstanding start for a first-year player," said Bobcats head coach Byron Pool. "He brings a tremendous amount of energy to the rink every night and, if he continues at this pace, he should have a great second half."
Sherwood/NAHL West Player of the Week: Joe Krause - Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Fairbanks forward Joe Krause registered four assists as the Ice Dogs skated to a two-game sweep over Kenai River. On Friday, the Hermantown, Minn., native rang up a pair of assists, including one on Justin Kirchhevel's game-winning goal, in a 3-2 triumph. The next night, the 20-year-old recorded two more assists as the Ice Dogs bested the Brown Bears, 5-3. He was also a plus-3 on the weekend.
"Joe will be a very valuable asset to a college program next season," said Ice Dogs head coach Josh Hauge. "He plays hard every night and he's a leader, and it's really good to see a hard-working player getting rewarded on the offensive side of the game."
HONORABLE MENTION: Kenai River forward Brett Lubanski
Sherbrook/NAHL Goalie of the Week: Tyler Bruggeman - St. Louis Bandits
St. Louis goaltender Tyler Bruggeman backstopped the Bandits to a two-game sweep over Motor City, turning aside 48 of 53 shots. On Friday, the Mankato, Minn., native made 25 saves in a 4-1 victory. The next night, the 18-year-old who was picked up in a trade from Fairbanks earlier in the season, stopped 23 shots as the Bandits downed the Metal Jackets, 5-4.
"Tyler has been a huge presence for us since we acquired him," said Bandits assistant coach Rocky Russo. "His performance has allowed us to feel even more comfortable with Garrett (Bartus') decision to move on to (the University of Connecticut after the holiday break). His teammates trust that he can bring a consistent effort every night."
HONORABLE MENTION: Janesville's Matt Wichorek; Marquette's Kevin Kissaw; Topeka's Eric Rohrkemper
AROUND THE NAHL
ALASKA AVALANCHE: With last weekend off, the Avalanche returns to NAHL action Jan. 2-3 for a two-game set in Wenatchee.
ALBERT LEA THUNDER: Forward Stephen Obarzanek (Macomb, Mich.) tallied the overtime game-winner and an assist in the Thunder's 3-2 victory over Owatonna on Saturday. He has points in his last four games (six).
ALEXANDRIA BLIZZARD: Forward Alex Altenbernd (Moorhead, Minn.) put home a goal and three assists, including one on Tyler Resch's (Alexandria) game-winner, as the Blizzard downed Owatonna on Friday, 5-4.
ALPENA ICEDIGGERS: Forward Kevin Crowe (Galloway, N.J.) rang up the game-winning goal in the IceDiggers' 3-2 triumph over Marquette on Sunday.
BISMARCK BOBCATS: Goaltender Ryan Faragher (Fort Frances, Ontario) backstopped the Bobcats to a two-game sweep over North Iowa, turning aside 53 of 57 shots.
FAIRBANKS ICE DOGS: Brown University recruit Michael Juola (Lake Forest, Calif.), a forward, added to his league-leading point totals (51) with a goal and two assists in the Ice Dogs' 5-3 win over Kenai River on Saturday.
JANESVILLE JETS: Forward Cam Severson (Seattle) connected for three assists, including one on Mike Shenfeld's (Littleton, Colo.) game-winning goal, in the Jets' 5-3 victory over Traverse City on Saturday.
KENAI RIVER BROWN BEARS: Goaltender Dainis Vasiljevs (Latvia) will represent his country at the upcoming World Junior Championships, which will take place from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.
MARQUETTE RANGERS: Goaltender Kevin Kissaw (Goodrich, Mich.) recorded a 2-1 record against Alpena, turning aside 71 of 76 shots. "Kevin is our backbone and once again he was rock solid all weekend," said head coach Kenny Miller. "He gives us a chance to win every night."
MOTOR CITY METAL JACKETS: Forward R.J. Kleiman (Dewitt, Mich.) tallied a goal in Motor City's 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis on Saturday.
NORTH IOWA OUTLAWS: Forwards Connor Gaarder (Edina, Minn.) and Tyler Klein (Fargo, N.D.) each netted a goal and an assist as the Outlaws dropped a pair of games to Bismarck.
OWATONNA EXPRESS: Goaltender Mike Shibrowski (Edina, Minn.) will begin his Division I career at Colorado College (WCHA) after the holiday break.
SPRINGFIELD JR. BLUES: Goaltender Andrew Martin (Stoughton, Wis.) stopped all 25 shots as the Jr. Blues blanked Wichita Falls on Friday, 4-0.
ST. LOUIS BANDITS: Forward Craig Kitto (Ashburn, Va.) connected for three goals, including the overtime game-winner in Saturday's 5-4 victory, as the Bandits skated to a two-game sweep over Motor City. "Craig has really elevated his game and we're looking forward to a big second half from him," said assistant coach Rocky Russo.
TEXAS TORNADO: Forward Jack Prince (United Kingdom) added to his team-leading point totals (29) with a goal and an assist in the Tornado's 5-3 loss to Topeka on Saturday.
TOPEKA ROADRUNNERS: Forward Erik Higby (New Braunfels, Texas) tallied two goals, including the game-winner in a 3-1 win on Friday, and three assists as the RoadRunners celebrated a two-game sweep over Texas. "Erik has really raised the level of his game and is contributing offensively for sure, but also winning faceoffs, killing penalties and playing solid defensively," said assistant coach R.J. Enga.
TRAVERSE CITY NORTH STARS: Lake Superior State University recruit Dan Radke (Orinda, Calif.), a forward, registered a goal and an assist in the North Stars' 3-5 loss to Janesville on Saturday.
WENATCHEE WILD: With last weekend off, the NAHL-leading Wild will return to action Jan. 2-3 for a two-game set against Alaska.
WICHITA FALLS WILDCATS: Forward Broderick Browne (Coppell, Texas) connected for a goal and two assists as the Wildcats went 1-2 against Springfield.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday, December 28
Marquette @ Traverse City, 3:00 pm
Tuesday, December 29
Marquette @ Traverse City, 3:00 pm
Wednesday, December 30
Alpena @ Marquette, 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 31
Albert Lea @ Owatonna, 6:00 pm
Wichita Falls @Topeka, 6:05 pm
Traverse City @ Alpena, 7:00 pm
Alexandria @ Bismarck, 7:15 pm
(all times local)
COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
ALASKA AVALANCHE
Matt Friese - University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA) *
ALBERT LEA THUNDER
Joe Rogers - University of Notre Dame (CCHA)
ALEXANDRIA BLIZZARD
Jordan Gidaro - Western Michigan University (CCHA)
Bryce Ravndalen - St. Cloud State University (WCHA) #
Brett Wall - Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
ALPENA ICEDIGGERS
Ryan Timar - Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey)
BISMARCK BOBCATS
Jason Fabian - Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey)
Gavin Hartzog - University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Sam Rendle - Bemidji State University (CHA)
Tony Turgeon - University of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) #
FAIRBANKS ICE DOGS
Michael Juola - Brown University (ECAC)
Jared Linnell - University of Alaska-Fairbanks (CCHA) *
MARQUETTE RANGERS
Kevin Gravel - St. Cloud State University (WCHA) #
Nate Heng - University of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) #
Tanner Kero - Michigan Tech University (WCHA)
Garrett Ladd - Bemidji State University (CHA)
MOTOR CITY METAL JACKETS
Brice Geoffrion - University of Alabama-Huntsville (CHA)
Patrick Sullivan - Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)
OWATONNA EXPRESS
Mike Shibrowski - Colorado College (WCHA)
Ben Persian - Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey)
Jake Youso - University of Minnesota (WCHA)
SPRINGFIELD JR. BLUES
Jack Callahan - Quinnipiac University (ECAC) #
Randy Cure - Mercyhurst College (Atlantic Hockey)
Nick Curry - University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East)
Rob Dongara - Northeastern University (Hockey East) #
Trent Frey - Mercyhurst College (Atlantic Hockey)
CJ Groh - University of Alabama-Huntsville (CHA)
Jared Rickord - Bentley University (Atlantic Hockey)
ST. LOUIS BANDITS
Garrett Bartus - University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey)
Clinton Bourbonais - Yale University (ECAC) #
Michael Gunn - Michigan State University (CCHA)
Joe Kalisz - University of Alaska-Fairbanks (CCHA)
Brad Smith - Ohio State University (CCHA)
TOPEKA ROADRUNNERS
Kevin Ryan - Niagara University (CHA)
Cole Schneider - University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey)
TRAVERSE CITY NORTH STARS
Kelin Ainsworth - Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
Kyle Jean - Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
Andy Huff - Ferris State University (CCHA)
Tyler Marble - Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
Dan Radke - Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
WENATCHEE WILD
Kyle Brodie - Bemidji State University (CHA)
Brandon Burrell - St. Cloud State University (WCHA)
Armand De Swardt - Cornell University (ECAC)
Nic Dowd - St. Cloud State University (WCHA) #
Jeff Jubinville - Bemidji State University (CHA)
Adam McKenzie - Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey)
Alex McLean - Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey)
Mitch Torrel - Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey)
WICHITA FALLS WILDCATS
Zach Ledford - Bentley University (Atlantic Hockey)
Aaron Quick - Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey)
# alumni
* for 2011-12 season
North American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2009
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
