NAHL announces monthly awards for November

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its monthly player awards for the month of November.  The Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month is Adrian Holesinsky from the Janesville Jets.  The Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month is Brennan Kapcheck from the Aston Rebels.  The Vaughn NAHL Goaltender of the Month is Mareks Mitens from the Aston Rebels.  Only players who are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the NAHL monthly awards.

Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Adrian Holesinsky, Janesville Jets

Janesville Jets forward Adrian Holesinsky, 20, stood out among his NAHL peers in November, leading all players in scoring with 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists) in nine games played as the Jets maintained their lead in the Midwest Division with a 7-1-1 record. The native of Cadca, Slovakia, recorded at least a point in eight of the nine games and had six multi-point games along with a +5 rating. For the season, Holesinsky (6’0/180) is tied for the NAHL scoring lead with 30 points and is also tied for the league lead in assists with 22. “Adrian was a big part to our success over this past month. He made big plays for us all month and scored big goals in key situations. He makes everyone around him better everyday. He is an elite player with an elite skill set and a high hockey IQ which is why he is a NCAA Division I prospect,” said Jets head coach Joe Dibble.

“I think the team really came together in November. The feeling here is one of family and everyone feeds off of one another,” said Holesinsky. “I think the goal for me the rest of the season is to hopefully earn an NCAA Division I scholarship and help my team win a Robertson Cup Championship.”

Runner-Up: Luke Radetic, Kenai River Brown Bears

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Khristian Acosta, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights – Colin Bilek, Northeast Generals – Gianluca Esteves, Aston Rebels – Kevin Fitzgerald, Aberdeen Wings - Tobias Fladeby, Bismarck Bobcats – Will Hammer, Minnesota Magicians – Max Harper, Topeka RoadRunners – Travis Kothenbeutel, Austin Bruins – Mason Krueger, Corpus Christi IceRays – Matt Long, Springfield Jr. Blues – Tim Nicksic, Minnesota Wilderness – Charlie Singerhouse, Amarillo Bulls – Joe Sofo, Coulee Region Chill – Reid Stefanson, Minot Minotauros

Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Brennan Kapcheck, Aston Rebels

It was quite the month for Aston Rebels defenseman Brennan Kapcheck. The 20-year-old native of Chicago, Illinois, totaled eight points (6 goals, 2 assist) and a +12 rating during the month of November as the Rebels maintained the NAHL’s best record with a 6-0-1 mark in November. Kapcheck (5’9/160) recorded at least a points in five of the seven games. He also committed to play NCAA Division I hockey during the month of November to American International College. He currently leads all NAHL defensemen in scoring with 23 points to date. “Brennan can flat out play hockey. For an undersized defenseman, he plays with lots of fire and compete level, but his skill set is very good. American International College is getting a great player. He has been a big player for our organization for two years and will certainly be missed next season,” said Rebels head coach Joe Coombs.

“Getting a commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey is something I have been working towards for a long time, so to see it become a reality was a dream come true. I am exciting to be joining a team and program at AIC that is up and coming and heading in the right direction,” said Kapcheck. “I think the team has really pulled together as a group the last couple of months and it has helped accelerate all of our development.”

Runner-Up: Chris Lipe, Kenai River Brown Bears

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Travis Brown, Minnesota Magicians – Bray Crowder, Amarillo Bulls – Cody Fleckenstein, Corpus Christi IceRays – Jordan Fralich, Bismarck Bobcats – Connor Matsinger, Springfield Jr. Blues – Dan Petrick, Austin Bruins – Steven Quagliata, Coulee Region Chill – Adam Roeder, Janesville Jets – Jake Rosenbaum, Topeka RoadRunners – Tristan Rostagno, Minnesota Wilderness – Keenan Sabatini, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights – Nolan Sawchuk, Minot Minotauros

Vaughn NAHL Goaltender of the Month: Mareks Mitens, Aston Rebels

For the second consecutive month Aston Rebels goalie Mareks Mitens, 18, was named the NAHL Goaltender of the Month. The 6’1/176 lbs. native of Ventspids, Latvia, was very good in the month for the Rebels, posting a 5-0-0 record with a 0.99 goals against average and a 95.9% save percentage, which were better than his numbers in October. Mitens, who leads the NAHL in shutouts with six, had two more shutouts in November. He current leads all NAHL goalies in wins (15), goals against average (1.23), save percentage (94.8%) and shutouts (6). He will represent Lativia at the World Junior Championships in December as they play against the likes of the United States, Canada and Russia. “Mareks just continues to get better each time out. He is getting more comfortable as he plays and makes it look easy at times, which any of us know who play this game that goaltending is not easy. The best part about Mareks is his compete level in practice and the fun he has doing so. I believe he makes everyone better around him,” said Aston head coach Joe Coombs.

“The past three months have really helped me develop as a goalie. We have a very good team here in Aston and everyone puts in a lot of hard work to make sure we are successful,” said Mitens. “I am very excited to represent my country of Latvia at the World Junior Championship. It is something I have dreamed of since I was young and to be playing against the best in the world will be a very rewarding.”

Runner-Up: Evan Fear, Springfield Jr. Blues

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Nikita Babintsev, Amarillo Bulls – Jake Barczewski, Janesville Jets – Cam Burggrabe, Corpus Christi IceRays – Robbie Goor, Kenai River Brown Bears – Cam Haugenoe, Bismarck Bobcats – Ivan Prosvetov, Minnesota Magicians – Alex Schilling, Austin Bruins – Ryan Snowden, Topeka RoadRunners – Grant Valentine, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

About Bauer

Bauer Hockey is the world's most recognized designer, marketer and manufacturer of hockey equipment. Founded in Kitchener, Ontario in 1927, Bauer Hockey developed the first skate with a blade attached to a boot, forever changing the game of hockey. Since then, Bauer Hockey has continued to develop the most sought after products in the industry, including the widely successful SUPREME®, VAPOR® and NEXUS® lines of products. For more information, visit Bauer Hockey's website at www.BAUER.com.

About Vaughn

Vaughn is the official Goaltending Equipment Partner to the NAHL and serves as the Preferred Goaltending Equipment Supplier of the NA3HL and NAPHL. Founded in 1982, Vaughn became one of the first major hockey production companies to use multiple foam layers in equipment. As strictly a goalie equipment company, the main focus for Vaughn is the innovation and quality of their product. Visit Vaughn online at: www.vaughnhockey.com