Gill near perfect in winning Sher-Wood NAHL Defensive Player of the Week
Published on February 1, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
The Texarkana Bandits struggled a bit at the start of the new year and some of that was the absence of their veteran goaltender Riley Gill, who could not play for fear of violating NCAA eligibility rules. But when the junior college in which he was enrolled resumed classes, Gill resumed his starting role for Texarkana -- and he returned in grand style.
Gill won all three games this week, two via shutout and allowing only one goal in the third game to capture the Sher-wood NAHL Defensive Player of the Week award for the week ending January 29.
Against Wasilla on Tuesday, January 24, the Northfield, Minnesota, native stopped all 29 Spirit shots for his fourth shutout of the season and shut down all six of their power plays in a 6-0 whitewashing. The Spirit came on strong in the third period when they outshot Texarkana 13-7 in an effort to get back in the game or at least break the shutout. But Gill stood strong. "Riley really earned his shutout there at the end," coach Jon Cooper told the Texarkana Gazette. "I believe this team has a certain comfort zone when Riley is playing."
Two nights later, Gill blanked the Spirit again, turning aside all 25 shots for his fifth shutout in a 4-0 victory. The Bandits led 2-0 going into the second period and Wasilla outshot them 12-9 in the middle frame, but Gill held the fort while his teammates increased their lead.
On Saturday, Gill allowed his first goal in nearly 150 minutes, dating back to the three minute mark of the third period on December 31, when Wichita Falls forward Dan Sexton beat him at 12:15 of the first period. But that was the only goal Gill "was brilliant with 26 saves, including two breakaways by the Wildcats in the second period," according to the Gazette. Gill was named the game's First Star for the third contest in a row.
Gill is now the second ranked goalie in the NAHL, tied with Bozeman's Matt Dalton for the lead in shutouts (5) and save percentage (.932, although Gill has faced 142 more shots) and second in GAA (2.02) and wins (22).
This is Gill's third Player of the Week award this season. He is the only NAHL player to have been honored three times.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Paul Henderson (Minnesota), Nick Hopper (Southern Minnesota), Tim Krystosek (Bismarck), Graham McManamin (Bozeman), Lyon Messier (Texas), Nick Swinteck (Wichita Falls).
MOTZ, MCLEOD SHARE SHER-WOOD NAHL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Two players with six points each share the Sher-wood NAHL Offensive Player of the Week award for the week ending January 29.
North Iowa Outlaws forward Steve Mcleod had three goals and three assists this week - plus a shootout goal, doing a lot of damage in the opening shift of a period. He began his week on Thursday, January 26, with a three assist game in an overtime win against Billings. Two of his assists against the Bulls came in the first minute of a period. Early in the second period, the Atikokan, Ontario, native set up a go ahead goal that gave the Outlaws a 2-1 lead at the 28 second mark. At 4:10, he assisted on a goal that extended that lead to 3-1. The game would eventually go to overtime tied 4-4 when Mcleod drew the lone assist on the game winner by Mike Bernardy at the 31 second mark.
The following night against Southern Minnesota, Mcleod struck again in the first minute of a period. With the Outlaws trailing 2-0, he got them on the board with a goal at the 26 second mark. The game eventually went to a shootout and Mcleod tallied the only shootout goal to give North Iowa the win.
At Saturday's rematch against the Express in Owatonna, the Outlaws again trailed 2-0 when a Mcleod goal put them back in the game at 14:11 of the second period. North Iowa would tie the game in the third, but drop a 3-2 decision to the Express
Minnesota Blizzard veteran forward Scott Motz also tallied three goals and three assists on the week, beginning Friday night against Billings. In a see-saw battle against the Bulls, he set up a goal in the middle of the second period that gave the Blizzard a 3-2 lead, then added a goal in the third period with just over five minutes remaining in regulation that pulled the Blizzard back to a 4-4 tie in a game they eventually won on a shootout goal by Paul Henderson.
Two nights later, the native of Maplewood, Minnesota, led a furious late game charge against Bismarck that overcame a 3-0 deficit. He scored just over a minute after the Bobcats' third goal early in the third period to get the Blizzard on the board. Then, with just under two minutes remaining in regulation play, he set up Henderson to make the score 3-2. With 36 seconds left in regulation, Motz scored again to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra session, he assisted on Henderson's game winner at 2:45 of OT.
Mcleod and Motz are the leading scorers for their respective teams, both averaging better than a point per game. Both are among the top 20 scorers in the NAHL so far this season. Motz is seventh and Mcleod is tied for 19th.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Derek Danowski (Texas), Josh Heidinger (Bozeman), Dan Sexton (Wichita Falls), Ben Noah (Bismarck), Jason Wiley (Southern Minnesota).
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)
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 1, 2006
- Gill near perfect in winning Sher-Wood NAHL Defensive Player of the Week - NAHL
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