NAHL names Players of the Week
Published on December 21, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
BECKER'S EIGHT POINTS GRABS SHER-WOOD NAHL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
There were some fine offensive performances in the NAHL last week. Mahoning Valley's Mark Menzione had seven points in a pair of games against the USNTDP Under-17 team, including the first goal and game winner on Friday and a hat trick and an assist, contributing to all four Phantoms' goals on Saturday. Cleveland's Jeremy Tejchma also notched seven points, including assists on three straight Barons goals on Saturday.
But Texarkana's Anthony Becker led all NAHL scorers with eight points in two games last week and captured the Sher-wood NAHL Offensive Player of the Week award for the week ending December 18.
On Friday night, the North Tonawanda, New York, native set up three Bandits power play goals in a 5-3 win over Wichita Falls on home ice. The next night, in Wichita Falls, Becker scored the first goal and then set up a second goal four minutes later. When the Wildcats stormed back to tie the game in the second period, he set up a goal to put the Bandits back in the lead. The Wildcats tied it again, but then Becker scored what proved to be the game-winner late in the second. In the third, he set up an insurance goal with his third assist of the game (all three on goals by linemate Casey Haines), making the score 5-3 in an eventual 6-3 Texarkana victory.
Becker now leads the Bandits in scoring and has vaulted into a tie for 11th place among all NAHL scorers with 15 goals and 20 assists.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Tibor Kutalek (Helena), Jacques Lamoureaux (Bismarck), Marc Menzione (Mahoning Valley), Bob Preece (Fargo-Moorhead), Karl Sellan (Texas), Jeremy Tejchma (Cleveland), Jason Wiley (Southern Minnesota).
O'BRIEN, STONEHOUSE SHARE SHER-WOOD NAHL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
A goaltender and defenseman share the Sher-wood NAHL Defensive Player of the Week award for the week ending December 18.
For the second time this season, Fargo-Moorhead Jets goaltender B.J. O'Brien has been honored for his play. O'Brien, who is now second among NAHL goaltenders in goals against average and save percentage, won two games, including one by shutout, his third of the year which ties him for the second highest number in the league.
The Lakeville, Minnesota, native stopped 23 North Iowa shots on Thursday, December 15, in a 5-2 victory in Fargo, surrendering no goals at even strength during the game. Two nights later, on the road in Alexandria, O'Brien made a first period goal stand up as he stopped all of the Minnesota Blizzard shots in a 1-0 victory.
Texas Tornado defenseman Devrin Stonehouse has been honored for the first time in his U.S. junior hockey career after a five point week. On Friday, the Elkhorn, Manitoba, native scored two goals against the Santa Fe Roadrunners, an early second period goal which tied the game 1-1, and then a late second period goal that proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 Tornado victory.
The next night, Stonehouse registered three assists in a 7-4 triumph over the Roadrunners, including one on the game opening first period goal, one on a second period go-ahead goal, and a third period empty net goal.
Last season's Manitoba Junior Hockey League Defenseman of the Year, Stonehouse is now second among Tornado defenseman in scoring.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Jeff Carlson (Southern Minnesota), Craig Dulman (Mahoning Valley), Justin Johnston (Texarkana), John Kennedy (Cleveland), Clark Oliver (Bismarck).
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)
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 December 21, 2005
- NAHL names Players of the Week - NAHL
- Menzione named NCB Player of the Week - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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