Stars of the Week

Central Star of the Week: Jace Fitzgerald - West Bend Power

Veteran forward Jace Fitzgerald wasted no time making an impact, picking up right where he left off last season as the West Bend Power opened the year with a sweep over the Peoria Mustangs.

Fitzgerald started things off on Friday, finding the back of the net on the power play to seal West Bend’s 4-1 victory. He cranked it up a notch on Saturday night, powering the offense with a four-point effort. Carrying momentum from the night before, he posted two points in the opening period, assisting on the first goal before scoring shorthanded to put the Power up 2-1. The second period was more of the same, setting up the team’s fourth goal and then burying his second of the night, which stood as the eventual game-winner in a 5-3 victory.

Power Head Coach Jason Woods credited Fitzgerald’s leadership and impact, saying, “Jace started the year off with a bang. To be able to score in all three phases of the game, on the penalty kill, power play, and five-on-five, really shows his ability to dominate in multiple ways. The tenacity he attacks practice and games with is a great opportunity and example for our younger guys to see how it’s done each and every day!”

2nd Star: Danny Jurcich, F, West Bend Power

3rd Star: Josh Kauppinen, F, Wisconsin Woodsmen

Frontier Star of the Week: Lex Steckelberg - Bozeman Icedogs

The Bozeman Icedogs continue to dominate, standing as the only undefeated team in the Frontier Division. After leading the way offensively in week one, second-year forward Lex Steckelberg kept his foot on the gas, shining once again during the weekend series against the Yellowstone Quake.

In Friday’s tight, low-scoring battle, the hometown standout delivered exactly what fans came to see, opening the scoring in the second period and igniting momentum for Bozeman’s 2-1 victory. Saturday, however, was Steckelberg’s night to shine. He filled the scoresheet with four points, starting with an assist on the first goal before turning into a special teams dynamo. He netted two power-play goals, including the game-winner, and added a shorthanded tally to mark his second hat trick of the season, leading Bozeman to a 4-1 win.

When reflecting on Lex Steckelberg’s strong showing, Bozeman Head Coach Mike Perkins said, "Seeing Lex continue to shine as a veteran player in our program is what it’s all about. He’s put in the work and delivered a huge performance yet again this weekend. We’re excited to watch him continue to grow, and we’re thrilled for him to earn these honors."

2nd Star: Easton Langemo, F, Butte Irish

3rd Star: Dominic Arndt, F, Gillette Wild 

South Star of the Week: Josh Middleton - New Mexico Ice Wolves

The New Mexico Ice Wolves kicked off the 2025-26 season with a strong showing, collecting five points over three games, falling just short in Friday’s overtime opener before dominating in games two and three with regulation wins, both by shutout. Rookie goaltender Josh Middleton was a wall in net all weekend, proving he is a force to be reckoned with even in his first season of junior hockey.

After a tough overtime loss on Friday, Middleton bounced back in spectacular fashion, posting back-to-back shutouts, an impressive accomplishment in the South Division. Over the course of the weekend, the St. Louis Park, MN native faced 102 shots, allowing just six goals for a .941 save percentage. The highlight of his weekend came Sunday, when he stopped 35 shots for a commanding shutout to close out the series. 

When reflecting on Josh Middleton’s strong showing, Head Coach Isaac Washburn shared, “We're extremely proud of Josh and the way he showcased his ability to compete relentlessly all weekend.  His steady and calm presence was a big asset for our group throughout the weekend.  I'm happy to see him recognized and honored as he continuously works hard to lead by example in the way he prepares each day and stays focused through the highs and lows of each game.  We're really excited to work with Josh and watch him continue to develop his game.”

2nd Star: Jake Bamback, F, Austin Ice Bats

3rd Star: Liam Cardona, F,  Austin Ice Bats

Southeast Star of the Week: Lucas Dyer - Texas RoadRunners

The Texas RoadRunners continue to light up the scoreboard, improving to 6-0 with a clean sweep of the Carolina Rage. Leading the charge for the offense is second-year forward Lucas Dyer, who currently sits atop the league scoring leaderboard thanks to an incredible weekend.

The Houston, TX native exploded for 19 points over three games, tallying nine goals and 10 assists. Not only did he record a hat trick in all three contests, including his first of the season, but this performance also pushes his season total to 24 points, already surpassing his entire 2024-25 campaign.

RoadRunners Head Coach Mike Beavis praised Dyer’s hot start, saying, “ Lucas has been on a tear over the first two weeks of the season. He’s determined to help his team make a statement. He should have some opportunities at the NAHL level during the season and will most likely have some choices to make for college. His high GPA coupled with his skill should create some interesting offers."

2nd Star: Brody Neish, F, Louisiana Drillers

3rd Star: Dayton Ruppel, D, Louisiana Drillers

West Star of the Week: Jason Williams - Mason City Toros

The Mason City Toros picked up three out of four points in their opening series against the Minnesota Wilderness, and rookie forward Jason Williams made a strong impression in his first taste of junior hockey. Despite a 2-1 overtime loss in game one, Williams scored his first-ever junior goal, opening the scoring for Mason City.

Williams truly made his mark on Saturday, helping propel the Toros to an 8-3 victory. The St. Louis, MO native was unstoppable, scoring one even-strength goal in each period to record a hat trick. At just an ‘07 birthyear, he is currently the youngest player in the league to achieve a hat trick this season.

Toros Head Coach Alex North applauded Williams’ weekend efforts, saying, “I couldn’t be happier for Jason earning this honor. He comes to the rink every day with the right attitude and work ethic, and it showed in both games. Jason plays the game the right way, and this recognition is a well-deserved reward for his efforts.”

2nd Star: Ty Smith, F, Granite City Lumberjacks

3rd Star: Max Jackson, F, Willmar WarHawks

Central Star of the Week: Caden Lindley - St. Louis Jr. Blues

The St. Louis Jr. Blues opened their season in dominant fashion, sweeping the Peoria Mustangs in front of their home crowd. Rookie forward Caden Lindley  made an immediate impact in his NA3HL debut, collecting five points across the two-game set. In Saturday’s 8-2 win, Lindley started quietly before erupting in the final two periods, notching two goals (including a power-play tally) and adding two assists. He followed up on Sunday by sealing the 6-2 victory with the game’s final goal, bringing his weekend total to five points in two games.

When asked about his week one performance and earning Weekly Honors Head Coach Matt Ocello said the following:

“Caden had a great opening weekend for being a newcomer into the league.  Putting up 5 points on the weekend including 3 goals and 2 assists he contributed immensely.  Caden is a player that we have been watching for a few seasons in our Midget program and was a target this past summer to lock in for this season.  He brings good vision and skill assets to the team that are very beneficial to putting points on the scoresheet.  We are looking forward to continuing to see great things from Caden this season.”

2nd Star: Joseph Lopiccolo, F, St. Louis Jr. Blues

Frontier Star of the Week: Jack Ryan - Bozeman Icedogs

2006 netminder Jack Ryan wasted no time making his mark in year two with the Bozeman Icedogs, earning back-to-back wins to start the 2025-26 campaign against the Butte Irish and Great Falls Americans. Starting both games, the Denver, CO native turned aside 75 of the 78 shots he faced, 33 from Butte and 45 from Great Falls. Despite numerous penalty minutes across the weekend, Ryan stood tall on the penalty kill, denying both opponents on the power play. In total, he allowed just one goal against the Irish and two against the Americans, finishing the weekend with a stellar .962 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average.

When asked about Ryan’s dominant performance between the pipes, Head Coach Mike Perkins said the following:

“We’re excited to see Jack’s growth and development from last year to this year. His play over the weekend not only gave us a chance to win both games, but also set the tone for our team to keep improving.”

2nd Star: Jackson Roethler, G, Badlands Sabres

3rd Star: Chase Berg, F, Helena Bighorns 

South Star of the Week: Gavin Brown - West Texas Wranglers

The West Texas Wranglers made a strong first impression in their NA3HL debut, earning three of a possible four points on opening weekend. Friday’s matchup with the Austin Ice Bats was a thriller, with forward Gavin Brown leading the way. Brown assisted on the first goal in Wranglers’ program history and scored twice, including the game-tying goal that sent the contest to overtime before Austin ultimately prevailed in a shootout. On Saturday, West Texas captured its first-ever victory with a 4-2 win over Austin, as Brown once again made his mark by adding two assists, including one on the game-winning goal, to finish the weekend with five points.

When asked about the 07’s contributions on opening weekend Head Coach Austin Sutter said the following: 

“We’re proud of Gavin for being named South Division Star of the Week. He and his teammates have fully embraced the standard we’re building in Amarillo, and his hockey IQ and relentless work ethic stood out in Austin. At just an ’07 birth year, Gavin has tremendous upside, and with continued development, we are confident he has the ability to play college hockey.” 

2nd Star: Matthieu Leblanc, F, Austin Ice Bars

Southeast Star of the Week: Michael Garrett - Texas RoadRunners

RoadRunners newcomer Michael Garrett made an immediate impact on opening weekend, leading Texas’ offense in a three game sweep of the Pelham Prowlers. The Woodbury, MN native was all over the scoresheet, tallying an impressive nine points across the series. He kicked off the weekend with a hat trick on night one, scoring once in each period. Garrett kept the momentum rolling in game two, netting four more goals, two shorthanded and two on the power play, while adding an assist. He finished the weekend strong with another goal in the finale, closing out a dominant debut with nine points.

When asked about his lights out performance and joining the team Head Coach Mike Beavis said the following: 

"Michael has been a tremendous addition to our program, and we are extremely pleased with his work ethic. His play has already helped elevate the team, and as a two-way, 200-foot player who gives his all every shift, he’s the kind of talented, dedicated kid who is sure to catch the attention of several NCAA teams right away."

2nd Star: Wyatt Mineheine, F, Texas RoadRunners