NAHL announces Bauer Divisional Stars of the Week
First honors of the 2017-18 season go to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Tyrone Bronte, Janesville forward Matt Hanewall and Lone Star goalie Mitchell Gibson.
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending September 17, 2017. The Bauer Hockey Divisional Stars of the Week is a weekly feature during the 2017-18 regular season that honors the top performing players in each of the four NAHL divisions. Only players that are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the Divisional Players of the Week award.
Central Division Star of the Week: No Games
East Division Star of the Week: Tyrone Bronte, forward, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights opened their season with a weekend sweep of the New Jersey Titans. Rookie forward and NAPHL alumni Tyrone Bronte, 18, showed why he was one of the top players in the NAPHL last season as he racked up four points (1 goal, 3 assists) and was +3 in the two wins. The native of Melbourne, Australia, had an assist on Friday night and a goal and an assist on Saturday night. “Tyrone was a player that stood out to our staff each time we evaluated him. He's a really talented forward that has speed and hands, but most importantly he's a really smart hockey player. Tyrone is already playing big minutes and made big plays on the game winning goals in both our victories over the weekend. We're excited that he's off to a fast start for us. He brings a lot to our lineup, and the faster he gets acclimated to this level of play the better we'll be. He truly deserves this recognition after a great start to the season,” said Knights head coach Tom Kowal.
2nd Star: Colin Bilek, F, Northeast Generals
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Patrick Harrington, D, Northeast Generals - Jack Olmstead, F, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Midwest Division Star of the Week: Matt Hanewall, forward, Janesville Jets
In the Janesville Jets season opener in Springfield on Saturday, forward Matt Hanewall, 19, had a huge game as the native of Lombard, Illinois recorded two goals and two assists in a 5-3 win. Hanewall (6’0/175), who played in the NAHL last season for both the Wichita Falls Wildcats and Brookings Blizzard, recorded both his goals in the 2nd period and assisted on Janesville’s first and fifth goal during the win. “Matt is a very smart player. He compliments his linemates very well and we got a lot of production from that line on Saturday. Hemis not afraid to go into the tough areas of the ice and uses his speed very effectively,” said Jets head coach Gary Shuchuk.
2nd Star: Shane Haviland, F, Springfield Jr. Blues
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Mike Corson, G, Springfield Jr. Blues - Kip Hoffman, F, Janesville Jets
South Division Star of the Week: Mitchell Gibson, goaltender, Lone Star Brahmas
New Lone Star Brahmas goalie Mitchell Gibson was literally perfect this past weekend as the Brahmas picked up three of four points on the road in their opening series in Shreveport against the Mudbugs. The 18-year-old native of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, made his NAHL debut on Friday with a 18-save shutout in a 3-0 win. On Saturday, the Harvard commit stopped all 28 shots in regulation and in overtime to force a scoreless shootout where the Mudbugs ultimately picked up the extra point. In 125 minutes of NAHL action, Gibson (6’3/186) still has yet to allow a goal. “I thought Mitchell was our best player on the ice for both games. He played with a lot of confidence and made some really nice saves. Consistency is a big thing in our league. It's definitely a great start to his NAHL career,” said Brahmas head coach Dan Wildfong.
2nd Star: Alex Peterson, F, Amarillo Bulls
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jayson Dimizio, F, Corpus Christi IceRays – Gustavs Grigals, G, Shreveport Mudbugs - Brendan Miller, F, Corpus Christi IceRays
