NA3HL Announces Monthly Player Awards for October

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced its monthly player awards for October. Texas RoadRunners forward Wyatt Mineheine has been recognized as Forward of the Month, Granite City Lumberjacks Coltin Wassengeso earned Defenseman of the Month honors, and Sheridan Hawks goaltender TJ Wonnacott was named Goaltender of the Month.

Forward of the Month: Wyatt Mineheine, Texas RoadRunners

Second-year forward and the NA3HL’s current scoring leader, Wyatt Mineheine put together a sensational month of October. The Proctor, MN native averaged just over five points per game as the RoadRunners rolled to a perfect 10-0 record. Mineheine racked up 51 points in 10 games, highlighted by an impressive 28 goals during that stretch.

He found the back of the net with ease, stacking up five hat tricks and two four-goal performances, including three straight hat tricks to close out the month. Beyond his dominance at even strength, Mineheine was a force on special teams as well, tallying four power-play goals and 12 power-play assists, along with three shorthanded goals and three shorthanded helpers. In total, 22 of his 51 points came while shorthanded or on the man-advantage.

As his production continues to climb, so do expectations. Head Coach Mike Beavis shared these thoughts about his season so far: “Wyatt has been on point all season long, he is on pace for a fantastic season and will be turning lots of heads this year. Honestly, as an ’06, seeing him get a shot in the NAHL this year wouldn’t shock me at all.” 

Runner up: Vincent Leaf, Sheridan Hawks

Defenseman of the Month: Coltin Wassengeso, Granite City Lumberjacks

As the Lumberjacks’ top-scoring defenseman, veteran blueliner Coltin Wassengeso has taken big steps from his first to second season with Granite City. In just 12 games this year, the Chaska, MN native sits one point shy of surpassing last season’s total, thanks in large part to a standout October.

In eight games last month, Wassengeso averaged 1.63 points per game, posting 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists). His first goal of the season, and of the month, was a memorable one, banking home the overtime winner to keep the Lumberjacks’ perfect record intact after a 4-3 victory over Mason City. October also featured a one-goal, one-assist game in which his goal came on the power play, and he added a power-play assist on the game-winning goal.

Over half of his points came on special teams, including five power-play assists and one shorthanded helper, highlighting his ability to make an impact in every part of the game.

Coltin’s impact goes beyond the scoresheet, shaping the team with his leadership and consistency. Head Coach DJ Vold stated: “Coltin has been a staple of consistency for us on D this year. He’s been a good leader by example and even better in the locker room. We hope he continues to find similar success throughout the year as he will be someone we lean on in important situations.”

Runner up: James Parnell, Carolina Rage

Goaltender of the Month: TJ Wonnacott, Sheridan Hawks

The Sheridan Hawks have been trending upward, and veteran netminder TJ Wonnacott has been a major factor in their success between the pipes. The Lake City, CO native appeared in five games during October, posting a stellar 4-1 record while turning aside 125 of 131 shots faced. That performance translated to an impressive .955 save percentage and a 1.20 goals-against average for the month.

Wonnacott’s standout moment came during a Halloween matchup against Bozeman, where he delivered his first shutout of the season. The Icedogs peppered him with 23 shots, including eight while the Hawks were shorthanded, but Wonnacott stood tall to secure the win and cap off a strong month.

Those four victories lifted Wonnacott to a 6-2-0-1 record, cementing his spot among the league’s top goalies and showing no signs of slowing down.

A big part of Sheridan’s recent success has come from the crease out, and Head Coach JJ Santagata was quick to credit his goaltender: “We’re super proud of TJ and his recognition of goaltender of the month. A lot of our team success comes from a crease out, more than a few wins this month TJ played a big part in those games. Being able to bail us out when we need him most, make big saves when we’re on the kill. He’s an extremely focused, detail oriented goalie that gives myself and our team a sense of relief each night. He’s an unreal kid that has worked diligently to earn this recognition!” 

Runner up: Josh Middleton, New Mexico Ice Wolves