NAHL Alumni Update

Former NAHL forward Jay Dickman, who led the Austin Bruins to the Robertson Cup Finals in 2014, was named the ECHL Rookie of the Month.

Ten NCAA Division I men’s hockey players who excel both on and off the ice, including Janesville Jets alums Jack LaFontaine (Minnesota) and Zach Solow (Northeastern), along with Aberdeen Wings/Topeka RoadRunners alum Kevin Fitzgerald (St. Cloud State), were selected as finalists are three of 10 finalists for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be classified as NCAA Division I seniors and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their athletic platforms to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from the list of 15 candidates announced earlier in the season. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through March 29. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the Frozen Four in April.

ECHL Rookie of the Month: Jay Dickman, Wichita Thunder (Austin Bruins)

Wichita Thunder forward Jay Dickman has been named the ECHL Rookie of the Month for February. Dickman scored five goals and added eight assists for 13 points in 13 games during the month. The 27-year-old picked up at least one point in eight of his 13 outings in February. He had five multiple-point games, including two-goal efforts on Feb. 5 at Allen and Feb. 13 at Utah. A native of Shoreview, Minnesota, Dickman leads ECHL rookies with 21 points (8g-13a) in 26 games this season. Dickman has recorded 27 points (11g-16a) in 44 career ECHL games with Wichita, Indy and Florida.

Atlantic Hockey Player of the Month and Player of the Week: Colin Bilek, Army (Northeast Generals)

Colin Bilek followed up a strong January with a tremendous February for Army. He led the Black Knights to a perfect record, was tied for the top point getter in Atlantic Hockey, and was tops in goals, producing a 6-goal, 3-assist, and 9-point stat line in seven games played. Bilek had two game-winning goals in February, with those coming against Bentley and LIU. He had points in all seven games, which brought his point streak to 11 games, and two multi-point efforts, both coming in the final weekend against LIU. Bilek matched teammate Anthony Firriolo as the top goal scoring skater in Atlantic Hockey last week with three in two wins over LIU. Bilek had a goal and an assist in Friday’s 5-0 victory over the Sharks, with his assist going on the game-winner, and then he scored another two goals, including the game-winner, on Saturday. He extended his goal streak to five games and his point streak to 11 games, which coincides with Army’s nation-leading unbeaten streak.

Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month: Nate Horn, Air Force (Minnesota Wilderness)

Air Force had few opportunities to take to the ice in February, but freshman Nate Horn did not play like a rookie in those three games for the Falcons. He had four points in three games, all wins for Air Force, taking his season point total from two to six in the process. He had an assist in Air Force’s overtime win over visiting Canisius on February 19th, then came back the next day with his first collegiate multi-point outing with two goals and an assist on the game-winner in a 5-1 victory.

Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week: Anthony Firriolo, Army (Corpus Christi Ice Rays)

Anthony Firriolo was the top scoring player in Atlantic Hockey last week with five points in a sweep of LIU. The defenseman accumulated all five of his points in Saturday’s 6-3 win, netting a hat trick and adding two assists, with one of those going on the game-winner. Firriolo finished the weekend with a plus-2 rating and added a blocked shot in the two wins.

ECAC Goalie of the Week: Ethan Haider, Clarkson (Minnesota Magicians)

Haider (Fr. - Maple Grove, Minn.) went 2-0-0 this weekend, leading Clarkson to a pair of one-goal victories and keeping them in the hunt for the 2021 Cleary Cup. He stopped 45 of the 49 shots he faced against Colgate, improving his season GAA to 2.01 and save percentage to .920.