NA3HL announces Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending December 9, 2018. The divisional stars of the week are awards given each week of the regular season to the top-performing players in each of the six divisions of the NA3HL as nominated by their head coaches.
Central Division Star of the Week: Deric Richison, F, Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts
As the Thunderbolts continue to hunt an elusive first win of the season, Richison has emerged as a star that is certain to figure into Evansville’s success moving forward. The Pinkerington, OH native found the scoresheet in six of his first 13 games this season, but erupted for 4-1—5 in three games against Wausau last week. Richison netted once Friday and Saturday, then capped off his slate of games with a pair of goals and an assist for his third multi-point outing of the year, and first with at least three points.
2nd Star: Matthew Monreal, F, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jake Berry, D, Milwaukee Power – Benjamin Beversdorf, F, Milwaukee Power – Anthony Caserta, F, Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts – Jaden Gardner, G, Peoria Mustangs – Thomas Magnavite, F, Coulee Region Chill – Brandon Ratzloff, F, Coulee Region Chill – Tom Yurisich, D, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Coastal Division Star of the Week: Kolye Bankauskas, F, Northeast Generals
With just two goals in his five previous outings, Bankauskas was due for a breakout last week, and did so to the tune of 5-1—6 against New England, Long Beach and Maine. A 5-4 midweek OT loss to the Stars saw him notch one goal, while Saturday featured a more potent attack as Bankauskas tallied twice in a 3-1 victory. His starring effort came on Sunday, where the Coventry, RI native bagged another pair of goals – once on the power play, once while shorthanded – and added a helper to fuel a 6-0 Northeast win.
2nd Star: Cade Lambdin, F, Long Beach Sharks
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Tami Merilainen, D, Northeast Generals – Jack Pensa, F, Long Beach Sharks
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Zach VanCompernolle, D, Gillette Wild
VanCompernolle took the ice just once last week, helping the Wild top Yellowstone 7-0 on Friday. But the 6’6”, 233lbs defenseman made his presence felt in all facets of the game, most noticeably on the scoresheet. VanCompernolle logged a whopping five assists in the win and went +3 on the night, making it two straight games with multiple helpers (seven total in two contests) and a collective +8 across his last four contests. VanCompernolle now boasts 5-20—25 in 24 games this year, which leads all Wild blueliners.
2nd Star: Dylan Olson, F, Great Falls Americans
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Michael Allman, G, Yellowstone Quake – Brady Boyce, F, Great Falls Americans – Cody Grogan, G, Gillette Wild – Ricards Groskops, D, Helena Bighorns – Jack Harris, F, Yellowstone Quake – Trevor Prince, F, Missoula Jr. Bruins – Alexander Rogers, G, Helena Bighorns – Evan Williams, G, Missoula Jr. Bruins
Northeast Division Star of the Week: Steven Ford, F, Skylands Kings
Like his Frontier Division counterpart, Ford saw action just once last week as his Kings fell to Long Beach 9-5 in a scoring-laden affair. Ford carried quite the offensive load, though, with a goal and three helpers to account for four of Skylands’ five tallies. His four points on Friday tied him for the most in the contest with the Sharks’ Avery Matthews, who bagged two goals and two assists. Ford went scoreless through four games in November, but has since logged a point or more in two games since the calendar turned to December, moving him into a tie for first in Skylands scoring with 10-24—34 in just 23 games this season.
2nd Star: Wade Moak, F, Oswego Stampede
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Khole Hibbert, F, Skylands Kings – Ben White, G Oswego Stampede
South Division Star of the Week: Andrei Rusakov, F, Atlanta Capitals
Rusakov and Atlanta find themselves perhaps a bit further back in the South Division race than they would like, trailing second-place Louisiana by nine points and first-place Texas by 11, but the Ukrainian forward played a key role for the Caps last week as they went 2-1-0 against Mid Cities – who trail them by just two points for third place – in three games last week. Rusakov scored in each of Atlanta’s first two games, including a shorthanded strike on Saturday as he helped fuel a pair of Capitals wins. Atlanta’s third-leading scorer had his four-game point streak snapped by the Stars’ shutout win on Sunday, but has certainly heated up as of late with 5-7—12 in his last eight games and six multi-point postings in that span.
2nd Star: Drew Wotta, F, Louisiana Drillers
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Riley Sloane, F, Louisiana Drillers – Quinn Yeager, G, Atlanta Capitals
West Division Star of the Week: Jake Ford, F, New Ulm Steel
New Ulm pulled off not one, but two impressive results in back-to-back games on the weekend, knocking off top-ranked Granite City 3-2 and 6-5 (OT) to hand the Lumberjacks just their fourth and fifth losses of any fashion this season. Ford was at the center of it all, notching the game-winning tally in BOTH contests as he netted a total of three goals across the two games. Both winning markers came at the crucial moment, as Ford took the win at the death on Saturday, finding twine with just 21 seconds remaining in regulation. He then followed that clutch performance with another, scoring with 24 seconds left in overtime on Sunday for his second strike of the game.
2nd Star: Vladislav Sorokin, F, Rochester Grizzlies
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Lukas Brockman, F, Breezy Point North Stars – Jordan Cooper, F, New Ulm Steel – Matthew DeRosa, F, Rochester Grizzlies – Tom Nagle, D, Granite City Lumberjacks – Ryan Pogue, F, Granite City Lumberjacks – Carson Simon, F, Breezy Point North Stars – Dysen Skinner, G, North Iowa Bulls – Peter Verstegen, F, North Iowa Bulls
