NA3HL announces Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending January 25, 2021. The divisional stars of the week are awards given each week of the regular season to the top-performing players in each of the five divisions of the NA3HL as nominated by their head coaches.
Central Division Star of the Week: Owen Carlson, G, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Carlson was a busy man between the pipes last week, starting three games in three days for the Jr. Blues. The Esko, MN native passed that test with flying colors, though, picking up three wins and allowing just four total goals on 85 shots last week. After stopping 22/23 in a win on Friday, Carlson picked up his first shutout of the year with a 24-save goose-egg on Saturday. Capping off an impressive week, the Blues’ puck stopper turned aside 35/38 to notch another W, earning his fifth straight win dating back to the 15th. Carlson now boasts an 8-6-1 record with a 2.49 GAA and .933 save percentage with St. Louis this year.
2nd Star: Tyler Nelson, F, Milwaukee Power
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Mason Ausmus, D, Milwaukee Power — Micah Gernander, F, Rochester Grizzlies — Shane Soderwall, G, Rochester Grizzlies — Joey Solimando, F, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Cole Walter, G, Peoria Mustangs
East Division Star of the Week: Carson Asper, F, Northeast Generals
Asper has been one of Northeast’s most consistent skaters since joining the team in December, and rode his strong start to five goals in two games last week. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound sniper grabbed a goal on Friday to rebound from just his third goalless game in the prior matchup, then erupted for four more tallies on Sunday, including the game-winner. Asper’s five-goal outburst helped his season totals balloon to a gaudy 17g-15a—32pts in just 12 games this season.
2nd Star: Sean Gorman, F, Northeast Generals
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None
Frontier Division Star of the Week: Tommy Near, G, Butte Cobras
After a few tough outings to start the season, Near was absolutely locked in during his two starts for the Cobras last week, stopping 107 of 110 total shots en route to a 1-0-1 mark on the week. The native of Caledonia, MI started his week with a win over Helena on Friday, stopping nearly everything in sight with 59 saves on 60 shots. And after carrying the Cobras to victory that night, Near was at his best again just one day later with 48 saves on 50 shots in a shootout loss against Great Falls on Saturday. Near has now allowed two goals or fewer in four consecutive appearances dating back to Dec. 11, posting a .955 save percentage in that span.
2nd Star: Tristan Baker, F, Gillette Wild
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Alex Bailey, D, Helena Bighorns — Cayce Balk, F, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Liam Bland, F, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Zane Cluphf, F, Butte Cobras — Luke Desmarais, F, Sheridan Hawks — Isaac Ellingson, F, Helena Bighorns — Lucas Gudz, F, Great Falls Americans — Alex Jackson, F, Great Falls Americans — Austin Newson, F, Gillette Wild — Justin Schwartzmiller, F, Sheridan Hawks
South Division Star of the Week: Gunner Moore, D, Atlanta Capitals
One of the more consistent point-producing defensemen in the NA3HL, Moore tallied three straight two-point performances (4-2—6) to help Atlanta to a 2-0-1 record against the RoadRunners last week. After opening the tripleheader with a pair of goals in a shootout loss on Friday, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound native of Las Vegas, NV, posted back-to-back 1g,1a efforts to help the Capitals salvage a pair of wins. Now in his fourth NA3HL campaign, Moore ranks third among Capitals skaters and ninth among NA3HL defensemen with 8g-14a—22pts in just 19 games this season.
2nd Star: Trey Erramouspe, F, El Paso Rhinos
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Nick Cyprian, F, Atlanta Capitals — Kyle Karoleski, G, Louisiana Drillers — Jaron Ketterman, F, Texas RoadRunners — Alex Marschel, D, Louisiana Drillers — Christian Wong-Ramos, G, Texas RoadRunners
West Division Star of the Week: Alex Kupka, F, Willmar Warhawks
Playing just his third and fourth NA3HL games last week, Kupka continued to establish himself with the Warhawks as he bagged 3g-2a—5pts in a 1-1-0 set against Alexandria and North Iowa. Pacing a Warhawks win on Wednesday, Kupka potted two goals for his first multi-goal game in a Willmar uniform. In Mason City on Saturday, Kupka put up another multi-point effort with a goal and two helpers in a loss to the Bulls. A native of Trnava, Slovakia, Kupka has scored in each of his four games with the Warhawks this year, and is averaging two points per game with 5g-3a—8pts in four outings.
2nd Star: Campbell Cichosz, D, North Iowa Bulls
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Noah Bissett, F, Granite City Lumberjacks — Matt Delany, D, Granite City Lumberjacks — Joey Gimberlin, F, New Ulm Steel — Lukas Haugen, G, Willmar Warhawks — Sota Isogai, F, North Iowa Bulls — Teddy Lillico, D, New Ulm Steel
