NA3HL announces monthly player awards for November

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced its monthly player awards for the month of November. The Bauer Hockey NA3HL Forward of the Month is Misha Akatnov of the Missoula Jr. Bruins. The Bauer Hockey NA3HL Defenseman of the Month is Jake Berry of the Milwaukee Power. The Vaughn NA3HL Goaltender of the Month is Thomas Held of the Texas Brahmas. Only players who are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the NA3HL monthly awards. 

Bauer Hockey NA3HL Forward of the Month: Misha Akatnov, Missoula Jr. Bruins

With multiple goals in each of his six games played and an astronomical five point-per-game average through the month of November, Akatnov tore through the competition last month. In just a half-dozen games, the Tyumen, RUS native nabbed three hat-tricks — including a five-goal effort — four outings with four points or more and two game-winning strikes. His 18 total November goals also helped him pick up quite the milestone along the way — Akatnov became the NA3HL’s all-time leading goalscorer with his 106th marker on Nov. 11. He now boasts a stunning 114 career tallies in just 103 games.

Runner-Up: Jason Ladzinski, Atlanta Capitals

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Colby Audette, L/A Nordiques — Will Baginski, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Kolye Bankauskas, Northeast Generals — Chuck Bay, Milwaukee Power — Jarod Blackowiak, North Iowa Bulls — Tyler Blanchard, Texas Brahmas — Dominic Canic, Bozeman Icedogs — Anthony Fortin, Wisconsin Whalers — Cooper Hoheisel, Breezy Point North Stars — Cade Lambdin, Long Beach Sharks — Brady Lindauer, Coulee Region Chill — Mark Mannarn, Oswego Stampede — Alec Marshal, Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts — Payton McSharry, Great Falls Americans — Jack Radley, Peoria Mustangs — Dylan Saccone, Skylands Kings — Grant Troumbly, Granite City Lumberjacks — Coleman Varty, Gillette Wild — Drew Wotta, Louisiana Drillers

Bauer Hockey NA3HL Defenseman of the Month: Jake Berry, Milwaukee Power

Milwaukee continues to set the pace in the Central Division with a 21-3-1-1 record and an eight-point advantage at the top, thanks in large part to some offense from the back end from Jake Berry. Finding the scoresheet in each of his 10 games played, Berry 8-30—38 in November to lead all skaters in that span. Though he was buoyed in large part by 13-point showing in a 25-1 win on Nov. 9, Berry consistently contributed to the Power’s high-octane offense throughout the 30 days with a streak of eight games that saw him log two or more points each night. 

Runner-Up: Harrison Stewart, North Iowa Bulls

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Tucker Alspaugh, Louisiana Drillers — Ethan Becker, Gillette Wild — Vito Carlo, Atlanta Capitals — JP Chauvin, L/A Nordiques — Trevor Christopher, Skylands Kings — Connor Frye, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Luke Hefty, Wisconsin Whalers — Blake Holmes, Coulee Region Chill — Elijah Morris, Oswego Stampede — Jordan Olson, Granite City Lumberjacks — Nate Simpson, Great Falls Americans — Dan Wieber, Breezy Point North Stars — Tom Yurisich, St. Louis Jr. Blues

Vaughn NA3HL Goaltender of the Month: Thomas Held, Texas Brahmas

One of just two goalies to post a sub-2.00 GAA with at least three starts in the month of November, Held picked up wins in each of his six outings with 137 saves on 147 shots for a .932 save percentage and a stingy 1.65 GAA in that span. The Orchard Park, NY native allowed two or fewer goals and posted a .900 save percentage or higher in five of his six starts, nabbing a shutout of division rival Louisiana in his first outing of the month as he backstopped Texas to a six-point lead atop the South Division. Four of Held’s six wins were also decided by just a single goal, including overtime wins over Mid Cities and Atlanta, helping to separate the Brahmas in a tight division race. 

Runner-Up: Kavan Johnson, Skylands Kings

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Samuli Aarinen, Louisiana Drillers — Noah Brandau, Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts — Colin Burgess, Oswego Stampede — Mikael Foucher, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Cody Grogan, Gillette Wild — Daniel Miller, L/A Nordiques — Josh Mitchell, Niagara Falls Powerhawks — David Mulligan, Granite City Lumberjacks — Devin Naidow, Coulee Region Chill — Caleb Sauer, Wisconsin Whalers — Dysen Skinner, North Iowa Bulls — Trevor Smith, Peoria Mustangs — Viktor Wennberg, Great Falls Americans — Evan Williams, Missoula Jr. Bruins