NAHL, NAPHL and NA3HL represented on CSS midterm list
January 14, 2014
When the NHL’s Central Scouting midterm rankings came out on Monday, the list of players had a significant feel of players who have played or are playing in the NAHL, NAPHL and NA3HL family of leagues.
The NAHL has a 38-year history of producing NHL talent, but with the recent addition of the NAPHL and NA3HL in the last five years, that number will continue to grow of players who are taking advantage of the ladder of development and the significant scouting presence that the league-wide events provide.
The midterm list is highlighted by four current NAHL players, three of them goalies. Heading the list is Wenatchee Wild goaltender Chase Perry, who is the #4 ranked North American goalie. Perry, 17, is from Andover, Minnesota and is in his first season in the NAHL with the Wild. In 17 games played, Perry (6’2/190) has a 2.35 goals against average and a 90.6% save percentage, along with two shutouts.
Minnesota Wilderness goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo, who was the NAHL Goaltender of the Month in November, is ranked #16 of all the goalies. His 8 shutouts leads all NAHL goalies and he is ranked 2nd in goals against average and save percentage.
Topeka rookie goaltender Drew Vogler is ranked #31. Vogler has appeared in 17 games this season with a 2.44 goals against average and a 89.8% save percentage.
Soo Eagles defenseman Kristofers Bindulis, 18, is #208 of North American skaters. He has six points in 35 games played this season.
The list is also very heavy with NAHL, NAPHL and NA3HL alumni. Leading the way again are the goalies. Of the 34 ranked goaltenders by Central Scouting, eight of them (or 23%) are active players or alumni of the NAHL, NAPHL or NA3HL.
The #1-ranked goaltender on the list is NAPHL alum Thatcher Demko. He spent time developing in the NAPHL as the goalie for the California Titans 16U team during the 2010-11 season. Sporting a 7-2-1 record with a very respectable 92.2% save percentage and a 1.90 goals against average. His save percentage and goals against average both ranked fourth in the 16U Division during the 2010-11 season.
The NA3HL has two alumni on the list, which includes goaltenders Alex Nedeljkovic (#5) and Devin Williams (#14), who both played for the Metro Jets in the NA3HL.
Nedeljkovic appeared in nine games in the NA3HL with the Metro Jets during the 2012-13 regular season. He made an immediate impact as he was named as the NA3HL Goaltender of the Month in November. He also was chosen for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that competed at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Williams is not only an NA3HL alum, but an NAPHL one as well. Prior to his stint in the NA3HL, Williams played the 2010-11 season in the NAPHL as the goalie for the Motor City Metal Jackets 16U team. Williams continued his development during the 2011-12 season with the Metro Jets of the NA3HL. While playing with the Jets, Williams went 9-9-0 with a 3.88 GAA and a 89.6% save percentage playing in 19 games.
Other NAHL alumni on the list include Zach Nagelvoort (Aberdeen Wings/Soo Eagles), who is the #21-ranked goalie and currently plays for the University of Michigan. Jason Pawloski (Austin Bruins) who is ranked #34 and also played for the Omaha 16U team in the NAPHL during the 2011-12 season.
Other NAHL alumni include skaters #132 Matt Iacopelli (Springfield Jr. Blues/Texas Tornado), #134 Brett Beauvais (Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings) and defenseman Luke Ripley (Dawson Creek Rage). Beauvais and Ripley both appeared in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament during their careers.
NAPHL alumni include forward Alex Schoenborn, who is also an NAHL alumni. Schoenborn is the #57-ranked skater and played the 2011-12 season with the Omaha AA 16U team. During the 2012-13 season, he spent a portion of the season with the Wenatchee Wild in the NAHL.
Former Pursuit of Excellence forward Dysin Mayo is ranked as the #84 skater. Former Omaha 16U forward Chris Wilkie, who was the NAPHL scoring champion back during the 2011-12 season, is ranked as the #111 skater and former Omaha and California Titans forward Lawton Courtnall is also on the list.
