NA3HL Announces Week 6 Stars of the Week
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is pleased to announce the Divisional Stars of the Week for week 6 of the 2026-27 season. 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: Bryce Bechen, Defenseman, Wisconsin Woodsmen
Bryce Bechen proved himself as a strong defensive presence on the ice last weekend. He recorded six total assists in two games against the Fox Cities Forge, finding offensive opportunities for his teammates time and time again. The veteran from Dubuque, Iowa recorded three assists on Friday, aiding his team to a 5-0 shutout win, and three assists on Saturday, leading to a 4-0 win. He leads his team in assists and his weekend performance helped the Woodsmen move to 6-3-1-0 on the season so far.
Jon Vaillancourt, head coach of the Wisconsin Woodsmen, talked about his improvement and performance throughout the season.
“Bryce has continued to have an excellent start to the regular season. You can tell that his game has matured greatly since his recruit season in the league. His composure under pressure and vision leading to first pass details have been a key part of our offense through the early part of the season.”
2nd Star: Nolan Sanderson, Goaltender, Peoria Mustangs
3rd Star: Jackson Haupts, Forward, Wisconsin Woodsmen
East Division Star of the Week: Jacob Landry, Forward, New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings
Jacob Landry earned his second Star of the Week honor of the season after his weekend performance against the New Jersey Titans. He had an eight point weekend consisting of four goals and four assists. On Friday, he boasted an impressive five points, which consisted of two goals and three assists, to help lead the Jr. Mountain Kings to a 6-2 win. On Saturday, he once again showed off his scoring prowess with another pair of goals and one assist. His performances helped his team remain on top of the East Division and undefeated. He leads his team in points scored and assists on the season so far.
Clint Cassavaugh, Jr. Mountain Kings head coach, talked more about Landry’s playing characteristics.
“Jacob is that special player that only comes once in a while. I’m very lucky to get to coach a player with as much talent as he has. His IQ on the ice is incredible. He’s that dual threat, he can pass or shoot. That’s what makes him so dangerous on the ice.”
2nd Star: Tate Cakir, Forward, Long Beach Sharks
3rd Star: Kayden Hill, Forward, New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings
Frontier Division Star of the Week: JD Stephens, Goaltender, Great Falls Americans
JD Stephens, a newcomer for the Great Falls Americans, has quickly made big impacts on the team in between the pipes. Last weekend he was a fortress for the Americans, as he recorded a .986 save percentage during two games against the Butte Irish. On Friday, he shut the door on the opposing offense completely, turning away all 29 shots on goal from the Irish. On Saturday, he once again stood tall in the net, making 44 saves out of 45 shots on goal. He only allowed one goal all weekend long, helping his team sweep the Irish.
Greg Sears, Great Falls head coach, talked about his season so far.
“JD has been solid since his arrival. He works hard every day and gives us a chance to win every night.”
2nd Star: Jack Ryan, Goaltender, Bozeman Icedogs
3rd Star: Matthew Cordis, Forward, Badlands Sabres
South Division Star of the Week: Chase Rayburn, Goaltender, New Mexico Ice Wolves
Chase Rayburn stood tall in the net all weekend long to earn a Star of the Week honor. He ended the weekend with a .970 save percentage after the Ice Wolves swept the West Texas Wranglers in a two game series. He only let two goals through during the weekend as he turned away 34 out of 35 shots on Friday and 31 out of 32 on Saturday. Rayburn, a 6-foot-1 Pinckney, Michigan native, boasts a perfect record on the year so far in between the pipes.
Ice Wolves head coach, Isaac Washburn, talked about his presence on the team
“It’s great to see Chase receive this recognition as he continues his strong start to the season. It’s definitely well-earned. He is a really steady presence for us, never too high and never too low, regardless of how the team performs in front of him. He is undoubtedly one of the most consistent and hardest workers in the building. Chase is really professional in the way he approaches the game and his preparation, so it’s great to see him start his junior career with great results early on.”
2nd Star: Gavin Erickson, Goaltender, Texas Brahmas
3rd Star: Michael Manchik, Forward, New Mexico Ice Wolves
Southeast Division Star of the Week: Cohen Palmer, Forward, Louisiana Drillers
Cohen Palmer entered this season with a vengeance after an injury took him out of last season’s play after December. The Louisiana Drillers played one game against the Bayou State Rougarou last weekend, where Palmer recorded three points consisting of two goals and one assist. He found the back of the net twice in the third period, cementing the Drillers to a 12-0 shutout win over the Rougarou.
Chris Francis, Drillers head coach, talked about Palmer’s persistence on the ice.
“It’s great for Cohen to receive this recognition. Last year, getting hurt at the showcase and not being able to play at the end of the season took a toll on him. This is a step in the right direction for him to continue to build his confidence for himself and the team moving forward.”
2nd Star: William Hartle, Forward, Pelham Prowlers
3rd Star: Jordan Janeway, Forward, Atlanta Capitals
West Division Star of the Week: Maddux Domagala, Forward, Willmar WarHawks
Maddux Domagala has been a leading presence of the Willmar WarHawks so far. Since their first matchup in early October, Domagala has found his way onto the scoreboard in every game. Last weekend he recorded six total points during three games. He started off strong on Friday when he found the back of the net twice and recorded an assist, helping his team to a 4-3 win over the Alexandria Blizzard. On Saturday, he once again found scoring opportunities that would lead his team to another win over the Blizzard. On Sunday, he rounded out the weekend with an assist against the Minnesota Wilderness.
Joey Fodstad, head coach of the WarHawks, talked about his weekend performance.
"Maddux played a huge part in our two wins over Alexandria this weekend. He played with a ton of pace and competitiveness, created offensive opportunities, and was really solid in all three zones. In a big rivalry weekend, he seemed to make an impact every time he was on the ice and gave our group a lot of energy. He stepped up when we needed him, and he was a big reason we were able to come away with two wins.”
2nd Star: Kody Zuniga, Forward, Minnesota Vulcans
3rd Star: Zach Price, Goaltender, Granite City Lumberjacks
