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Fighting Falcons Alumni Excelling at Next Level

December 26, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release


PORT HURON, MI - While this year's Port Huron Fighting Falcons team enjoys a few more days off during the North American Hockey League's holiday break, several of the team's alumni who have moved on in their hockey careers return to action this week.

 

NCAA DIVISION 1

 

Five former Fighting Falcons are in the midst of their first season of NCAA Division 1 hockey this season. Each player has appeared in at least seven games, and all have recorded points in their freshman season.

 

Alex Globke, Lake Superior State University - Globke, whose 42 points led the Fighting Falcons to a 2011-12 North Division championship has been more than a pleasant surprise to the coaching staff at LSSU this season. The forward leads the Lakers with 17 points on eight goals and nine assists through 18 games this season. Globke was named the WCHA's Rookie of the Week in the first week of the 2013-14 season.

 

Ricky DeRosa, Penn State University - DeRosa has brought the leadership skills that made him Port Huron's captain and leading scorer last season to Penn State for their first year of Division 1 competition in the new Big Ten hockey conference. DeRosa has seven points on three goals and four assists in his first 11 games of college hockey.

 

Ian Miller, Lake Superior State University - Miller joins former teammate Globke in the Upper Peninsula for his freshman season. In 11 games of NCAA action, the forward has a goal and an assist. The Fraser native, whose 45 goals are a Fighting Falcons franchise record, spent a few days practicing with his former team last week at McMorran Arena.

 

Ryan Nick, Army - This defenseman has a pair of assists through 12 games this season at Army. The Plymouth native scored 41 points in two seasons with the Fighting Falcons.

 

Kyle Plageman, Army - Plageman joins former teammate Nick at Army after playing together in Port Huron last season. The Cleveland, Ohio native has an assist in seven games this year.

 

NCAA DIVISION 3

 

Dan Dupell, Plymouth State University - A three-year NAHL veteran, Dupell has begun his college career at Plymouth State in New Hampshire. In his first nine games, the forward has scored four points on three goals and an assist.

 

Mick Bruce, Wentworth College - Bruce, who joined the Fighting Falcons in a late-season trade a year ago, begins the next phase of his career at Wentworth College in Boston. In 12 games this year the defenseman has two assists.

 

Easton Powers, Utica College - Powers joins former Fighting Falcons forward Louis Educate at Utica College in New York. Though he's played just three games so far this season, the first draft pick in Fighting Falcons franchise history has chipped in with a goal and an assist.

 

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE

 

Tyler Spezia, Youngstown Phantoms - Spezia joined the Fighting Falcons late last year after spending most of his 2012-13 season in the USHL. The forward averaged more than a point per game in Port Huron, and was drafted back into the USHL for 2013-14. In 23 games this season, Spezia has 10 points on two goals and eight assists.

 

David Parrottino, Lincoln Stars - Parrottino, who played seven games in the USHL last year before joining the Fighting Falcons returns to Lincoln for a second season. In 21 games, the forward has nine points on three goals and six asssits.

 

Mark Evan Auk, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders - Auk, who earned his call-up last December, will have a new teammate after Christmas when Port Huron's 2013-14 leading scorer Mitch Maloney joins the RoughRiders. Auk has been solid on the blue line this year, and has nine points on three goals and six assists to go along with a +5 rating on the season.

 

Player development is among the most important aspects of the Fighting Falcons organization, and the North American Hockey League as a whole.  Junior teams give young players the training, coaching and resources necessary to further their careers both on and off the ice.

 

NAHL teams like the Fighting Falcons also give players' families a financial break compared to other levels of play. While it can cost $15,000 - $20,000 to put a player through top-level AAA teams, players in the NAHL have the opportunity to play at a high level in front of college and professional scouts for a fraction of that cost.

 

Teams cover the cost of most equipment, all ice time for practices and games, and all travel expenses, including busing, hotels and meals. Out-of-town players pay a small billeting fee to local families who host them, but even those fees are less than what an average week could cost at other levels.

 

Every fan that purchases a ticket to watch the Fighting Falcons is supporting the current group of players as they try to reach the next phase of their hockey careers and further their education. Local businesses that advertise at McMorran Arena help young players achieve their dreams every bit as much as they help bring customers into their restaurants, stores and offices.

 

Tickets to any Fighting Falcons home game are available at the McMorran Arena Box Office, starting at just $7 for seniors, students and military. For more information, call the team's front office at (810) 966-3800.



North American Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2013


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.

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