NAHL Alumni Update

February 18, 2015

It was a big week for NAHL alumni this past week as many raked in NCAA awards.  Here is a look at some of those honored:

McHugh's lone point of the weekend was a big one, as the rookie's 3rd period, game-winning goal Saturday lifted Alabama Huntsville past Lake Superior State on the scoreboard and in the standings. The freshman from Seattle, Wash. scored a power-play marker at the 8:28 mark to snap a 1-1 tie and send the Chargers to a 3-1 victory. With the win, UAH is now in sole possession of eighth place in the WCHA standings (seventh among playoff-eligible teams), two points ahead of LSSU and just three behind Ferris State. McHugh leads UAH and is fourth among WCHA freshmen with 18 points overall (eight goals, 10 assists). McHugh played in the NAHL for three seasons, all for the Wenatchee Wild from 2010-13.

 

Petersen is honored as the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week. The freshman netminder turned away all 38 shots to post a shutout against Providence Friday night and stopped 70 of 73 shots on the entire weekend. Prior to allowing his first goal against the Friars Saturday, the netminder had not allowed a goal in 137:53 of play. During the 2011-12 season, Petersen played in the NAHL for the Topeka RoadRunners.

 

Wildung continued his torrid stretch with back-to-back victories on Friday and Saturday against Niagara at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. On Friday, Wildung stopped 22-of-24 shots in the Lakers' 5-2 victory and then turned aside 24-of-25 in Saturday's 4-1 win. He allowed only one even-strength goal over the weekend with two of Niagara's three markers coming during a Purple Eagle power play. He finished the weekend with a 1.50 goals against average and stopped 46-of-49 shots in the sweep (.939 save percentage). Over the last four games (three starts), Wildung is 4-0-0 with a 1.15 goals against average and a .957 save percentage (90-of-94) to help the Lakers move into a tie for second in the conference. Wildung most recently played in the NAHL for the Minot Minotauros last season.

 

Basking had a team-high five points (3-2-5) in the AIC series to lead the Falcons to a series sweep. He scored the game-winner in Saturday's 3-1 victory. Baskin was a +4 in the series and also had a power play goal. On Friday, he tied his career high with two goals and three points. He had one goal and one assist on Saturday. His current seven-game scoring streak is the longest of his career. He has 10 points (7-3-10) during the streak. Baskin played in the NAHL during the past two seasons for the Aberdeen Wings in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

 

In the two-game series against AIC, he blocked three shots and was a +6 to help lead Air Force to a series sweep. In Friday's game, he had two assists in the Falcons' 9-3 win. With several injuries to key defensemen, Kopackastepped up to log minutes in all situations and was part of a defense that held AIC to just 30 shots on goal in the series. Kopacka played in the NAHL for three seasons ranging from 2011-14 for the Port Huron Fighting Falcons. Prior to that, he played in the NAPHL.

 

In NCAA Division III hockey, goalie John McLean (Bismarck Bobcats, 2008-09) became the second Bismarck alum in three weeks to secure MIAC Player of the Week honors as the 6-foot-9 netminder made 66 saves for Gustavus Adolphus as the Gusties swept first-place St. Thomas on the weekend.

 

 

Former Janesville Jets goalie and last year’s NCAA Division III Player of the Year, David Jacobson, is out for the remainder of the season with a broken bone. (Story)

 

Being at Army has changed the life of former Amarillo Bulls forward Joe Kozlak (Story)