St. Louis defenseman Boccardi signs NAHL tender
April 17, 2020
The St. Louis Jr. Blues, proud members of the NA3HL, are pleased to announce that Top Prospects defenseman Joey Boccardi has signed a tender agreement with the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League. The Bobcats play in the Central Division of the NAHL.
The 6’0/175 lbs. native of St. Louis, Missouri, has grown into a top offensive blue-liner during his time with the Jr. Blues. This season he led all St. Louis defensemen in all offensive categories, with 12 goals and 25 assists in 37 games.
Boccardi, 18, was called up to the NAHL earlier this season by the Springfield Jr. Blues for their trip to Alaska, where he played in three games, and for the second straight year skated for the Central Division team at the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament in Attleboro, Mass., where he netted two goals and added an assist.
His hockey success was not limited to juniors this season: as captain of St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, he led the Griffins to their first city championship in 24 years and was named Prep Hockey Player of the Year by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“Joey’s a mature, strong defenseman who brings a lot of offensive talent to the table,” said Jr. Blues head coach Chris Flaugher. “He’s physically and mentally tough and has proven that he has what it takes to succeed at a higher level. We’re incredibly happy to see Joey tender with Bismarck. They’re a great program with a great track record of advancement.”
Boccardi becomes not only the second Jr. Blues player to sign an NAHL tender, but also the second to tender with a Central Division team, as forward Seamus Campbell signed with Aberdeen in February.
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include one tender exclusively used on players from the NA3HL - plus or minus any trades - which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on July 21, 2020.
