NA3HL Announces Bethel University Stars of the Week
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is pleased to announce the Divisional Stars of the Week for the week ending January 25th, sponsored by Bethel University. This weekly award recognizes the top-performing players from each of the league’s six divisions, as nominated by their head coaches, for their outstanding contributions on the ice.
Central Division Star of the Week: Jackson Schroeder, Forward, Wausau Cyclones
In their final regular-season meetings with the Woodsmen, the Cyclones stayed in control and pushed their season series record to 7-1. Wausau’s leading scorer, Jackson Schroeder, continued to make his mark, earning Star of the Week honors for the third time this season.
Game one was an offensive showcase for the Clones as they rolled to a 9-2 victory. The ’07 rookie delivered his best performance of the season, putting on a monster night with two goals and three assists for a five point outing. Two of those points came on the man advantage, as Schroeder stayed dangerous every time he touched the puck.
Game two brought the drama, ending in a tight 3-2 thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats. The Cyclones struck first when Schroeder set up Jackson Maddock, but the Woodsmen answered on the power play moments later. Schroeder wasted no time responding, cashing in to give Wausau a 2–1 lead at the break and tilt the momentum back in Cyclones’ favor.
The weekend performance reflected more than just points, as Head Coach Nathan Oystrick explained: “Jackson had another great weekend for us in Wausau. He continues to lead our team in scoring while getting better in all three zones which has opened up more scoring opportunities for him and his linemates. The buy-in on the defensive side of the puck has elevated his game to another level and it paid off with 7 points in 2 games.”
2nd Star: Drew Sparacino, D, West Bend Power
3rd Star: Jace Fitzgerald, F, West Bend Power
East Division Star of the Week: Brody Emond, Forward, Maine Nordiques
After finishing the 2024-25 season as Maine’s leading scorer, second-year Nordique Brody Emond hasn’t missed a beat, once again pacing the team in points. Following a sweep of the Buzz and a hard fought shootout loss to the Sea Captains, the ’07 earns weekly honors for the third time this season.
The two game set against the Buzz marked his most dominant series yet, as Emond powered the Nordiques to a crucial sweep and four valuable points in the standings. In game one’s 6-2 win, his name was all over the scoresheet, turning in his best performance of the season with five of six possible points, two goals and three assists.
Game two brought more of the same. After falling behind 1-0, Maine rattled off five unanswered goals to complete the sweep. Emond once again made his presence felt, scoring another pair of goals and adding two assists for a four point afternoon.
Even in the shootout loss to Norwich, Emond’s impact was undeniable. Maine battled back to earn a point by forcing the game past regulation. After assisting on the Nordiques’ third goal to make it 3-1, the Sea Captains stormed back to take a 5–3 lead early in the third. Emond responded by converting on the power play to make it a one-goal game, then set up Peyton Dyer for the tying goal, sending the contest to overtime and capping off another statement weekend.
2nd Star: Ivan Korshikov, F, New Jersey Titans
3rd Star: Jaxson Sardinha, F, Maine Nordiques
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Dayton Niedert, Forward, Badlands Sabres
Despite not getting the results they were hoping for at Steed Arena against the Bighorns, Badlands’ leading scorer Dayton Niedert once again proved to be the engine of the Sabres’ offense. When Badlands needed a spark, Niedert was the one providing it.
In the series opener, the Sabres fell 4-2, but Niedert accounted for one of the two goals. With Badlands trailing 4-0, he found the back of the net to spark a late push and give the Sabres life in their comeback attempt.
Game two told an even bigger story of his impact. In a 7-3 loss, Niedert was simply unstoppable, scoring all three Sabres goals for his second hat trick of the season. Two of the goals came in the second period, including a power play strike for his second tally, while he capped the hat trick with a third period goal.
With four goals on the weekend, Niedert now has 35 points in 43 games, averaging 1.23 points per game, solidifying his role as the driving force of the Sabres’ offense.
Head Coach Brooks Mitzel has been impressed with Dayton’s impact, saying: “Dayton’s made the jump from high school to juniors look pretty seamless. He works hard every day, and it shows on the ice. Leading the team in points as a rookie is a big accomplishment, and he consistently makes things happen offensively.”
2nd Star: Carson Joersz, F, Yellowstone Quake
3rd Star: Brayden Waters, D, Gillette Wild
South Division Star of the Week: Calahan Butler, Forward, New Mexico Ice Wolves
Calahan Butler and the Ice Wolves went 2–1 over the weekend against the Rhinos, securing a spot in this year’s Fraser Cup Playoffs. The second-year New Mexico forward has been a key contributor all season in the NA3HL, already surpassing his point total from last year.
This weekend highlighted just how vital he’s been for the Ice Wolves. Game one of the three game series saw New Mexico skate away with a 4-1 victory. With the game tied 1-1 after the first period, Butler struck just two minutes into the second, scoring the eventual game winner and setting the tone for the Ice Wolves’ offense.
After falling just short in game two, New Mexico bounced back with a 5-3 win. Butler turned in one of his standout performances of the season, scoring two first period goals, including a buzzer-beater with just one second left, and setting up Ryan Hoosteen for the Ice Wolves’ fourth goal.
The Ice Wolves’ coaching staff was quick to recognize Butler’s impact this season. As Head Coach Isaac Washburn shared: “It's great to see Cal receive this recognition as he is such a consistent piece of what we do and who we are as a team. He's a true leader, both in words and in action, and is an excellent steward for the culture and standards within our organization.
It's been awesome to work with Cal and see his development throughout the season. He's a great example of staying determined and remaining process oriented even when the results aren't there. He stays the course and the results have started to show up for him with 9 goals in January while his 21 goals for the season are triple of his entire goal output for last season. Beyond just putting up points though, Cal is a constant source of energy for our group and an excellent role model for the younger players on the team.”
2nd Star: Joshua Reaska, F, Texas Brahmas
3rd Star: Gavin Erickson, G, Texas Brahmas
Southeast Division Star of the Week: Ethan Tierman, Forward, Bayou State Rougarou
Ethan Tierman and Bayou State put on a show in their lone game of the weekend, powering past Carolina with a commanding 14-5 victory. A bright spot for the Rougarou, Tierman continues to drive the offense and shine individually in the team’s inaugural season.
Tierman was unstoppable in this one, finishing with four goals and two assists for six points, marking his 11th multi-point game of the season. He opened the scoring for the Rougarou with two goals in the first period, added two more in the second, and sprinkled in two assists throughout the game, keeping the Rage constantly on their heels.
2nd Star: Reese Beckwith, F, Carolina Rage
West Division Star of the Week: Wyatt Mineheine, Forward, Minnesota Wilderness
Wyatt Mineheine and the Minnesota Wilderness went 1–1 over the weekend, with Mineheine continuing to make his mark since joining the team in mid-November.
Game one saw the Wilderness fall 8-5 to the Alexandria Blizzard, but Mineheine was a standout, notching a hat trick, his 10th game this season with three or more goals. He tallied a second period goal and followed with back-to-back third period strikes, keeping Minnesota in the hunt late in the game.
The Wilderness flipped the script in game two, cruising to an 8-4 victory over the Willmar WarHawks. The ‘06 forward carried his momentum from the night before, scoring two goals and adding an assist to contribute three points in the win. With six points on the weekend, he has now recorded points in nine of his last 10 games, including seven multi-point outings, continuing his streak of strong performances for the Wilderness.
His growth since joining Minnesota has continued to impress, as Head Coach Chris Ratzloff noted: “It’s been great to see Wyatt finding the back of the net consistently lately. His chemistry with Christian and Kamps keeps improving each week, he’s a natural goal scorer, and they’re connecting with him on the ice. Miney is a great kid with a true knack for putting the puck in the net, and he’s always fun to watch.”
2nd Star: Ty Smith, F, Granite City Lumberjacks
3rd Star: Max Lazo, F, Alexandria Blizzard
