Danowski Named Player of the Week

Published on February 10, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release

Veteran Texas Tornado forward Derek Danowski amassed seven points in the Tornado's three games to capture the Sher-wood NAHL Offensive Player of the Week award for the week ending February 5.

Danowski actually got his seven points in two games, although Texas played three. He was kept off the scoreboard on February 2 by Traverse City in the Tornado's 4-2 victory, although he was a plus-2 on the evening.

The Warren, Michigan, native did score twice and add an assist the next day on the road in Wichita Falls. He set up linemate Karl Sellan for a goal just 15 seconds into the second period of a scoreless game to give his team a 1-0 advantage. Then, after the Wildcats answered twice to take a 2-1 lead, Danowski answered with two of his own. First, he tallied an unassisted shorthanded goal, only 16 seconds after the Wildcats had taken the lead, to tie the game. Then he gave the Tornado a 3-2 lead with a goal coming at 19:50 of the middle stanza. Texas never surrendered the lead and went on to win 6-3.

Back in Frisco on Saturday, February 4, Danowski set up four goals in the Tornado's 6-1 victory. With the score tied 1-1 in the first period, he drew an assist on Dervin Stonehouse's goal at 14:30, which proved to be the game winner. Before the period was over, he set up another goal by Sellan. Then, in the first minute of the second period, he drew an assist on yet another Sellan goal, to give the Tornado a 4-1 lead. In the third period, he got his fourth helper of the game on the power play, passing to Andrew Harrison who tallied the game's final goal.

During the last 10 games, Danowski is Texas' top scorer. He is now second on the Tornado in scoring and has moved into the Top 20 on the NAHL scoring parade, entering the week tied for the 18th spot.

HONORABLE MENTION: Tommy Dee (Bismarck), Phil Fox (Fargo-Moorhead), Casey Haines (Texarkana), Tibor Kutalek (Helena), Mike Wallgren (North Iowa).

VASQUEZ EARNS SHER-WOOD NAHL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

This season has been a rugged one for the Helena Bighorns, starting from training camp when coach Brent Agrusa could not assume his duties due to illness. But the players have soldiered on and nothing better represents their never-say-die attitude better than this week's performance by goalie Dan Vasquez.

This week, the Bighorns captured four of a possible six points and they did it largely because Vasquez was a monster in front of their net. Helena was outshot by a combined total of 158 to 85 in those three games and Vasquez stopped an extraordinary 146 of those shots - a .924 save percentage - to earn the Sher-wood NAHL Defensive Player of the Week award for the week ending February 5.

Helena skated into North Iowa on Thursday, February 2 and the home team fired 39 shots at Vasquez, 20 in the first period alone, but the native of Grosse Point, Michigan, surrendered only two goals, only one at even strength, as the Bighorns walked out with a 5-3 win.

Things didn't get easier the next night in Bismarck, where the Bobcats took 54 shots - 28 in the second period, sandwiched by periods of 13 shots. Vasquez surrendered two goals in that second period and another two in the third as Helena lost 4-1.

Then, in the rematch on Saturday, the Bobcats fired 65 shots - averaging shot a minute - at Vasquez during regulation and overtime. In reality, Bismarck took 12 shots in the five minute overtime period, but Vasquez held firm. He gave up five during regulation, as did Bobcats goalie Tim Krystosek. But in the shootout, Vasquez allowed no goals in three attempts and his team converted on three, giving the Bighorns a 6-5 shootout victory.

"This weekend marks the first time all season the Bighorns have managed to win a two-of-three weekend and the majority of the credit lies with goaltender Dan Vasquez," said Helena owner and acting head coach Mike Butters.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brian Bina (Fargo-Moorhead), Justin Johnston (Texarkana), Dervin Stonehouse (Texas).

PREVIOUS WINNERS

September 18

Offensive: Karl Sellan (Texas), Chris Connelly (Fargo-Moorhead)

Defensive: B.J. O'Brien (Fargo-Moorhead)

September 25

Offensive: Sean McWhorter (Bismarck)

Defensive: Kenny Reiter (Cleveland), Brett Blatchford (Texas)

October 2

Offensive: Kyle Kraemer (Wichita Falls)

Defensive: Riley Gill (Texarkana)

October 9

Offensive: Kyle Kraemer (Wichita Falls), Sean Murphy (Southern Minnesota)

Defensive: Lyon Messier (Texas)

October 16

Offensive: Anthony Ciraulo (Mahoning Valley), Dan Swanson (Minnesota)

Defensive: Matt Dalton (Bozeman), Johnny Morrow (Alpena)

October 23

Showcase MVP: Josh Heidinger (Bozeman)

Offensive: Sean Murphy (Southern Minnesota)

Defensive: Tim Krystosek (Bismarck)

October 30

Offensive: Marc Menzione (Mahoning Valley), Alex Coles (Minnesota)

Defensive: Matt Morin (North Iowa)

November 6

Offensive: Karl Sellan (Texas)

Defensive: Dennis Urban (Mahoning Valley)

November 13

Offensive: Josh Leonard (Cleveland)

Defensive: Bobby Jarosz (Cleveland), Jeff Carlson (Southern Minnesota)

November 20

Offense: Jacques Lamoureaux (Bismarck)

Defense: Drew Fortney (Mahoning Valley), Graham McManamin (Bozeman)

November 27

Offense: Blake Page (Helena), Ryan Guentzel (Southern Minnesota)

Defense: Matt Dalton (Bozeman), Troy Redmann (Texas)

December 4

Offense: Phil Fox (Fargo-Moorhead)

Defense: Mike Garman (Springfield), Jeff Carlson (Southern Minnesota)

December 11

Offense: Tibor Kutalek (Helena)

Defense: Riley Gill (Texarkana)

December 18

Offense: Anthony Becker (Texarkana)

Defense: B.J. O'Brien (Fargo-Moorhead), Dervin Stonehouse (Texas)

January 1

Offense: Travis Hamway (Billings), Casey Haines (Texarkana)

Defense: Bryce Christianson (Fairbanks), Tim Krystosek (Bismarck)

January 8

Offense: Jason Krispel (Bozeman)

Defense: Brandon Johnson (Santa Fe), Ian Wilson (Billings)

January 15

Offensive: Troy Matilla (Springfield Jr. Blues)

Defensive: Nick Hopper (Southern Minnesota), Davide Nicoletti (Springfield Jr.Blues)

January 22

Offense: Rhett Rakhshani (USNTDP)

Defense: Joe Palmer (USNTDP)

January 29

Offensive: Steve Mcleod (North Iowa), Scott Motz (Minnesota)

Defensive: Riley Gill (Texarkana)

One of the great brand names in hockey equipment, Sher-wood is the exclusive Official Equipment Supplier of the North American Hockey League. Sher-wood sticks, gloves and pants are provided to NAHL clubs by the company, which also sponsors the NAHL Players of the Week awards. Each week, NAHL coaches nominate offensive and defensive players for these awards and winners are selected for their outstanding play and recognized on NAHL.com. The teams and players of the NAHL thank Sher-wood for their support of the oldest and largest Junior A hockey league in the United States.

North American Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2006

• Phantoms best North Stars - Traverse City North Stars
• U.S. National Under-18 Team Falls To Russia In Five Nations Opener - U.S. National Team
• Icedogs vs. Bighorns tonight - Bozeman Icedogs
• U-17 Tops Germany - U.S. National Team
• Danowski Named Player of the Week - NAHL
• Icedogs Look to Start New Streak - Bozeman Icedogs

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