Springfield hits high note

January 9, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release

The Springfield Jr. Blues by far put together their best effort of the season last week, taming a potent Santa Fe offense en route to three wins over the RoadRunners.

"Our performance was solid all around," said Jr. Blues coach Nick Pollos, whose team improved to 18-15-4. "From the net out, we had a great effort. Our guys laid it on the line against a great Santa Fe team and were rewarded for their efforts."

Springfield opened its weekend with a 4-1 win over the RoadRunners on Thursday. Christian Hmura notched the game-winning goal, with Steve Mohler, Mike Crowder and Ross Janecyk adding the other Jr. Blues tallies. Goaltender Adam Roy turned aside 25 shots in net.

The next night, Springfield took another 4-1 decision. Mohler rang up two more goals in the win, including the game-winner, while Alexsei Repkin and Mike Keeven scored the other markers. Roy again made 25 saves.

On Saturday, Crowder, Andrew Berecz and Ryan Kretzer lit the lamp in as the Jr. Blues skated to a 3-1 victory. Phil Cook made 31 saves between the pipes to pick up the win.

"We've been around .500 most of the year, so getting these wins at this time of the year is a big shot in the arm for our club," said Pollos. "Getting the wins at home was even more important for us.

"Our division is so tight that one bad weekend could change your place in the standings, so our goal right now is getting points every weekend. I think we gained some confidence as well."

The Jr. Blues' sharp team effort on the defensive side of the puck was highlighted by the play of both goaltenders.

"Adam gave us the lift we needed in Games 1 and 2 of the series. He showed why he's one of the top goalies in the NAHL," said Pollos. "Phil rebounded well from his last outing (allowing four goals on 14 shots on Dec. 14 against St. Louis). As he gets more experience, he too will evolve into one of the league's best in the years to come."

Roy, a 20-year-old Massachusetts native heading to Holy Cross next fall, improved his record to 15-11-4 to compliment a 2.84 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

"Adam is tops in my book," said Pollos. "His composure, athleticism and technique are solid. He is coming into his own right now with his best hockey still ahead of him. He'll be our workhorse down the stretch as we battle for a playoff spot."

Pollos was also pleased to see the scoring spread throughout the lineup, which has been aided lately by the recent returns of Mohler, Hmura and Derek Carr, all of whom missed significant time with injuries.

"For a while we didn't have that balance, so this was a welcomed positive to our club," said the coach. "If we're going to be successful, we need balance in our lineup. Berecz and Kretzer have carried the load for most of the season, so it's great to see others step up."

In particular Mohler, who notched three goals last week. The 19-year-old from Anaheim, Calif., now has nine markers on the season (15 points) after 22 games.

"He's a goal-scorer," said Pollos. "He has a great stick and good hockey sense. He can shoot it and move well. He brings so much to our lineup."

As does defenseman Brad Sellers (pictured left), a 19-year-old from Centennial, Colo., whom Pollos believes one the top blueliners in the NAHL.

"He plays like it every night," said Pollos. "He leads our team in minutes played along with Berecz and Kretzer. His skating ability and hockey sense are as good as anyone in the league."

Along with a healthy lineup, Pollos knows it's going to take a total team effort for his charges to savor continued success.

"For our club, it's very simple: work hard and work smart and be willing to lay it on the line for your teammates each night - that will be the big key for us down the stretch," he said.

NAHL STANDINGS/LEADERS
North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Mahoning Valley 37 28-8-1 57 .770 161 94
Alpena 35 23-10-2 48 .686 130 106
Traverse City 37 12-20-5 29 .392 110 150
Marquette 34 13-19-2 28 .412 100 123
USNTDP 30 11-17-2 24 .400 99 112

South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
St. Louis 33 25-6-2 52 .788 122 73
Santa Fe 35 23-8-4 50 .714 123 77
Texas 35 22-10-3 47 .671 122 102
Fairbanks 38 20-17-1 41 .539 136 132
Wichita Falls 35 13-18-4 30 .429 96 117
Alaska 36 11-20-5 27 .375 91 129

Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Fargo-Moorhead 35 24-9-2 50 .714 129 98
So. Minnesota 39 20-17-2 42 .538 121 111
Springfield 37 18-15-4 40 .541 110 111
Bismarck 38 13-19-6 32 .421 106 145
Alexandria 36 15-20-1 31 .431 102 120
North Iowa 36 14-20-2 30 .417 101 136

LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 35 19 38 57
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 38 34 18 52
Shean, Joe FBX F 38 15 36 51
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 35 22 28 50
Maroon, Pat STL F 30 16 28 44
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 34 24 18 42
Pierson, Drew ALP F 35 16 26 42
Cloutier, Dustin MVY 28 20 20 40
Craner, Nolan ALP F 32 17 23 40
(two players tied with 39)

LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Nagle, Pat STL 19 1128:42 14-3-2 1.91 .934
Hopper, Nick SFE 30 1735:50 19-7-3 1.94 .913
Zapolski, Ryan MVY 34 1977:02 27-6-1 2.19 .933
Lee, Austin FMH 20 1162:52 15-3-1 2.32 .929
Tragust, Thomas TXS 29 1644:54 17-7-3 2.52 .904

GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 38 34
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 34 24
(three players tied with 22)

ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 35 38
Shean, Joe FBX F 38 36
(two players tied with 28)

PENALTY MINUTES
PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM
Belanger, Neeco MAR F 34 144
Flink, Adam TXS F 29 143
Yovanic, Paul TXS F 29 133

Zuk, Shean, Roy named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marquette forward Brodie Zuk struck for a goal and four assists last week as the Rangers completed a two-game sweep of Traverse City. On Friday, the 19-year-old scored a goal and two assists in Marquette's 7-5 win. The next night, Zuk, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, tallied two assists as the Rangers downed the North Stars, 5-2.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fairbanks forward Joe Shean rang up nine assists last weekend as the Ice Dogs skated to three wins over North Iowa. On Friday, the 19-year-old recorded one assist in Fairbanks' 4-1 win. The next night, Shean notched four helpers, including one on Travis Hamway's game-winning goal, in a 5-3 triumph. The Pleasant Lake, Mich., native wrapped up his weekend with four more assists on Sunday, including one on Kyle Schmidt's game-winner, in Fairbanks' 8-5 win.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Springfield goaltender Adam Roy backstopped the Jr. Blues to a pair of wins over Santa Fe last week, turning aside 50 of 52 shots. On Thursday, the 20-year-old from Feeding Hills, Mass., made 25 saves in the Jr. Blues' 4-1 win over Santa Fe. The next night, the Holy Cross recruit again stopped 25 shots in another 4-1 victory.

HONORABLE MENTION: Alpena goaltender Mike Jarboe; Bismarck forward Jeremy Robert and goaltender Clark Oliver; Fairbanks forward Kyle Schmidt; Mahoning Valley forward Dustin Cloutier and goaltender Ryan Zapolski; Springfield forward Steve Mohler; Texas forward Ryan Fuller and defenseman Colin Long; Wichita Falls forward Luke Salazar and defenseman Rick Doriott

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday, January 4
Santa Fe 1 @ Springfield 4 (SPR: Hmura, GWG)
Alexandria 5 @ Bismarck 6 (BIS: Hoey, GWG, A)

Friday, January 5
So. Minnesota 3 @ Fargo-Moorhead 2 (OT) (SM: Montgomery, GWG)
North Iowa 1 @ Fairbanks 4 (FBX: Schmidt, 2G)
Santa Fe 1 @ Springfield 4 (SPR: Mohler, G, GWG)
Alexandria 4 @ Bismarck 1 (ALX: Freismuth, G, A)
Texas 2 @ Wichita Falls 3 (WF: Salazar, 2A)
Alpena 0 @ Mahoning Valley 4 (MV: Zapolski, 37 saves)
Marquette 7 @ Traverse City 5 (MAR: Zuk, G, 2A)

Saturday, January 6
North Iowa 3 @ Fairbanks 5 (FBX: Shean, 4A)
So. Minnesota 1 @ Fargo-Moorhead 8 (FM: Philipp, G, 2A)
Texas 4 @ Wichita Falls 3 (OT) (TEX: Long, G, A)
Bismarck 0 @ Alexandria 5 (ALX: Leets, 27 saves)
Alpena 2 @ Mahoning Valley 4 (MV: Dexter, GWG, A)
Santa Fe 1 @ Springfield 3 (SPR: Kretzer, G, A)
Marquette 5 @ Traverse City 2 (MAR: Smith, 2G)

Sunday, January 7
Fargo-Moorhead 5 @ So. Minnesota 2 (FM: Moreland, G, GWG, A)
North Iowa 5 @ Fairbanks 8 (FBX: Schmidt, 2G, GWG, A)

AROUND THE NAHL
RUDASILL BUCKEYE BOUND: Second-year Alpena forward Todd Rudasill, 18, has committed to Ohio State University (CCHA) for next season. The Powell, Ohio, native leads the NAHL in scoring with 19 goals for 57 points after 35 games.

CLARK TO WEST POINT: Second-year North Iowa goaltender Jay Clark has committed to Army (Atlantic Hockey) for the 2007-08 season. The Baudette, Minn., native, who turns 20 on Jan. 26, holds a 3-7-2 record along with a 3.18 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. Clark, who played last season with Billings of the NAHL, is the first player in the Outlaws' two-year history to commit to a Division I program.

BANDITS' CAPTAIN TO CANISIUS: St. Louis defenseman Phil Rauch, 19, has committed to Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey) for the fall of 2007. The Lambertville, Mich., native, who played last season with Helena of the NAHL, has three goals for nine points after 31 games this season.

PIERSON HEADED TO ARMY: Second-year Alpena forward Drew Pierson, 20, has committed to Army (Atlantic Hockey) for the 2006-07 season. The Pleasant Prairie, Wis., native has 16 goals for 42 points after 35 games.

U-17'S WIN FOUR NATIONS CUP: The U.S. National Under-17 Team won the Toys for Tots Four Nations Cup held in Ann Arbor, Mich., Dec. 29-Jan. 2. Team USA finished the event with a 3-1 record, including a 3-2 overtime win over Sweden in the championship game. Jordan Schroeder, from Lakeville, Minn., led Team USA in scoring with four points (one goal).

ZAPOLSKI SHINES: Mahoning Valley goaltender Ryan Zapolski, 20, backstopped the Phantoms to two wins over Alpena last weekend, stopping 77 of 79 shots, including a 37-save shutout performance (4-0) on Friday. "I can't say enough about Ryan," said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt of the Mercyhurst College recruit. "He battled a virus for the past week, yet has been very steady in goal."

THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday, January 10
Marquette @ Alpena, 7:00 pm

Friday, January 12
North Iowa @ Alaska, 7:30 pm
Bismarck @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm
Wichita Falls @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
St. Louis @ Springfield, 7:30 pm
Santa Fe @ Texas, 7:30 pm
Alexandria @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
USNTDP @ Marquette, 7:00 pm
Traverse City @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm

Saturday, January 13
North Iowa @ Alaska, 7:30 pm
Wichita Falls @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Springfield @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm
Santa Fe @ Texas, 7:30 pm
Alexandria @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Fargo-Moorhead @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Alpena, 7:00 pm
USNTDP @ Marquette, 7:00 pm
Traverse City @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm

Sunday, January 14
Springfield @ St. Louis, 6:00 pm
Bismarck @ Alexandria, 5:00 pm
Wichita Falls @ Fairbanks, 5:00 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Alpena, 3:00 pm
(all times local)

North American Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2007

• U.S. National Under-18 Team Hosts NAHL's Traverse City - U.S. National Team
• Springfield hits high note - NAHL
• Moreland, Connolly Achieve Milestones - Fargo-Moorhead Jets

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