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 January 6, 2019. 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: Justin Schwartzmiller, F, Wisconsin Whalers
The Whalers bolstered their playoff hopes last weekend with a pair of wins over third-ranked Peoria to move within six points of the fourth spot in the Central Division. Schwartzmiller was at the center of Wisconsin’s refocused attack, posting four goals across the two contests, including a hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-3 win. Two of his three tallies in that game came while shorthanded – his first markers of that kind this season. Schwartzmiller now boasts goals in four of his last five games, and his 17 goals and 30 points are both second only to teammate Sam Hanson among Whalers skaters.
2nd Star: Brandon Ratzloff, F, Coulee Region Chill
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Aslan Akervik, F, Coulee Region Chill – Mikael Foucher, G, St. Louis Jr. Blues – Caleb Sauer, G, Wisconsin Whalers – Jacob Wiethaupt, F, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Coastal Division Star of the Week: Zack Mullen, F, L/A Nordiques
Mullen took the ice twice last weekend in a pair of L/A victories over Long Beach. The Parkside, PA native was in fine form after going pointless in the prior contest, logging a total of 1-6—7 on the weekend to lead all Coastal Division Star of the Week nominees. Friday saw him take up the playermaker mantle with four helpers, while Saturday featured a balanced approach from Mullen with a goal and two assists. Mullen’s marker was just his second PPG of the season.
2nd Star: Cade Lambdin, F, Long Beach Sharks
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Valeri Rykov, F, L/A Nordiques
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Mikael Levokari, G, Bozeman Icedogs
Levokari’s remarkable season went full steam ahead in last week’s play, as the Finnish netminder took a pair of wins over Missoula, 3-2 and 5-2 on Friday and Saturday. Levokari turned aside 62 of 66 total shots across the two games – good for a .939 save percentage – and allowed just two goals in each contest to stretch his current 2.00 GAA or lower streak to four games. Subsequently, his personal winning streak also hit four games with his two wins last week.
2nd Star: Darren Donovan, F, Helena Bighorns
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Daniel Davis, D, Bozeman Icedogs – Cody Dearing, F, Great Falls Americans – Jack Harris, F, Yellowstone Quake – Luke Hartge, F, Yellowstone Quake – Garrett Peters, F, Great Falls Americans – Justin Sullivan, D, Helena Bighorns
Northeast Division Star of the Week: Markus Cook, F, Binghamton Jr. Senators
Cook led all Northeast Division Star of the Week nominees with seven points in just two games last week, breaking him out of a four-game funk that saw him put up a single assist, which came back on December 17th at the Showcase. Cook logged two goals and an assist on Friday in a win over Skylands, finding twine on a power-play in the contest. He then switched to setup duties on Saturday with four assists. Cook now boasts 59 points in 31 outings this season, good for 19th in the NA3HL.
2nd Star: Adam Morgan, F, Niagara Falls Powerhawks
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jake Cicalese, F, Skylands Kings – Tanner Coleman, D, Oswego Stampede – Manny Legace, G, Oswego Stampede – Jacob Robertson, D, Niagara Falls Powerhawks – Josh Sears, G, Skylands Kings
South Division Star of the Week: Mitch Dolese, D, Louisiana Drillers
Looking to keep pace with Texas atop the South Division, Dolese and the Drillers topped a scrappy Spirit side twice over the weekend in a back-to-back that featured five total points from the blueliner. Dolese posted a pair of assists in Friday’s win before scoring twice and assisting another on Saturday. The second win marked Dolese’s fourth multi-goal game of the season, and featured his second PPG of the campaign. Dolese currently ranks fourth among all NA3HL defensemen with 15-19—44 on the year.
2nd Star: Quinn Yeager, G, Atlanta Capitals
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Alejandro Apud, F, Louisiana Drillers – Blake Forystek, G, College Station Spirit – Jason Ladzinksi, F, Atlanta Capitals
West Division Star of the Week: Dylan Mattson, F, Alexandria Blizzard
Entering the weekend on a two-game pointless skid, Mattson set a few season firsts as he broke out in a big way with two goals and a helper on Friday to help the Blizzard to a 4-1 win over Breezy Point. The occasion marked Mattson’s first multi-goal game and first with three or more points in a single game this season. Saturday saw him post two assists, signaling his first back-to-back set of games with multiple points in 2018-19 as well.
2nd Star: Peter Verstegen, F, North Iowa Bulls
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Evan Junker, D, North Iowa Bulls – Blake Spetz, F, Granite City Lumberjacks Lumberjacks – Grant Troumbly, F, Granite City Lumberjacks
