NAHL announces monthly player awards for September
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its monthly player awards for the month of September. The Forward of the Month is Matteo Disipio from the Rochester Jr. Americans. The Defenseman of the Month is Erick Comstock from the Wisconsin Windigo. The Goaltender of the Month is Jack Wieneke from the Maryland Black Bears. Only players who are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the NAHL monthly awards.
Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Matteo Disipio, Rochester Jr. Americans
Rochester forward Matteo Disipio, 20, made the most of his NAHL debut in September. The 5’11/160 lbs. native of Nepean, ON, posted 17 points in 10 games played during the month, which included five goals and 12 assists. Disipio recorded at least a point in eight of the 10 games during the month and had six multi-point games. His 17 points is currently 2nd in league scoring. “Matteo is having a great start. His consistency and leadership have made a big impact on our team. Any NCAA program would be lucky to have him as an excellent player,” said Rochester head coach Francois Methot.
“As a team we’ve created a culture that we love being a part of and building on every day. A great factor in all of this is my teammates and most notably my line mates. We’ve managed to create the type of chemistry that every player wants. We complement each other very well and trust each other to make the right play which in the end make us successful. As a team we want to continue to improve every day. Attacking the day with the same mindset of winning and getting better is the key. Some days will be more challenging than others but, in the end, it will get us to where we want to be and that’s winning the championship at the end of the season,” said Disipio. “Rochester has been such a great place to play. There are many people that have put in tremendous hours of hard work to make this such a special place to play right from the beginning. It’s like the teams been around for years the way it is so professional and that everything is done with a purpose. The fans are a big reason we look forward to each game. We know they’ll be there supporting us and getting rowdy all around the rink. It’s just the start but we’re ready and working towards a successful season.”
Runner-Up: Kellen Murphy, Maine Nordiques
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Julian Beaumont, Bismarck Bobcats – Hunter Fetterolf, New Hampshire Mountain Kings – Sixten Jennersjo, Northeast Generals - Ryan Johnson, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Michael Kadlecik, Odessa Jackalopes – Haden Kruse, Janesville Jets - Reid Lune, Johnstown Tomahawks - Lance Mengel, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Kaden Nelson, Oklahoma Warriors – Hayden Nichol, Shreveport Mudbugs – Fyodor Nikolayenya, Anchorage Wolverines – Topi Puikkonen, Amarillo Wranglers – Romulus Riego de Dios, Colorado Grit – Adam Schankula, Maryland Black Bears – Will Schumacher, Wisconsin Windigo – Nick Stevens, Kenai River Brown Bears – Frank Tafelski, El Paso Rhinos
Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Erick Comstock, Wisconsin Windigo
Wisconsin defenseman Erick Comstock, 18, made quite an impact during his first full month in the NAHL. The 5’7/165 lbs. native of Salol, MN, recorded 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in eight games played during the month. Comstock recorded at least a point in seven of his eight games during the month and had three multi-point outings. He currently ranks 2nd among all NAHL defensemen in scoring. “We thought Erick would have an impact this season, but he has established himself even quicker than we expected. He has elite hockey sense, and is very gifted with the puck, but what’s impressive is his ability to defend at his size. He’s been a player we lean on in all situations so far and I look forward to helping him continue to develop,” said Windigo head coach Blake Hietala.
“The keys to our team were just to play our game which is fast and hard, then our skill will take over. My personal success is just try and show up and play my part in the plan we have for the weekend,” said Comstock. “My short-term goal is just to keep playing like I have been for my team. My long-term goal is to win the Midwest Division and also win the Robertson Cup this season.”
Runner-Up: Tyler Procious, Rochester Jr. Americans
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Conner Brown, Janesville Jets - Bowen Burke, Colorado Grit – David Clarke, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Nolan Gagnon, Amarillo Wranglers – Justin Gibson, Johnstown Tomahawks - David Helledy, Maine Nordiques - Logan Heroux, Shreveport Mudbugs – Jakub Jerman, El Paso Rhinos – Dylan Kuntz, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Matthew Rafalski, Bismarck Bobcats – Nick ReCupero, Northeast Generals - Nathan Rickey, Oklahoma Warriors – Lemuel Vardy, Odessa Jackalopes
True Hockey NAHL Goaltender of the Month: Jack Wieneke, Maryland Black Bears
It was an undefeated month for Maryland goaltender Jack Wieneke. The 20-year-old from Plymouth, MN, posted a 4-0-0 record for the 1st place Black Bears. Wieneke (6’2/185) won all four of his starts during the month, allowing just eight goals, which was good for a 2.00 goals against average. He stopped 102 of a possible 110 shots, which was good for a .927 save percentage. That also included a 26-save shutout in a win agains the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at the NAHL Showcase. “Jack is an ultimate competitor and really gives his teammates confidence when he’s in the net. He competes every single time he steps on the ice and has done a great job for us early in this season. His numbers and wins reflect his performance and we couldn’t be happier for the kid,” said Black Bears head coach Clint Mylymok.
“I think we have had early success so far this season because of the buy-in from all the players on our team. We are a very unselfish group who support each other and compete very hard every time we hit the ice,” said Wieneke. “The goal for our team is to complete our unfinished business. Last year we got a taste of the Robertson Cup experience and this year we want to take the final step and win a championship. I come to the rink every day with the mindset to grow and develop as a goaltender and put myself in a position to play NCAA hockey next year.”
Runner-Up: Aidan Wright, New Hampshire Mountain Kings
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Matthew Alberti, Janesville Jets - Daniel Duris, Oklahoma Warriors – Jack Erickson, Colorado Grit – Zack Ferris, Johnstown Tomahawks - Jackson Fuller, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Toby Hopp, Northeast Generals - Klayton Knapp, Bismarck Bobcats – Tyler Krivtsov, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Linards Lipskis, Wisconsin Windigo – Michael Manzi, El Paso Rhinos – Connor McDonough, Amarillo Wranglers – Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau, Shreveport Mudbugs – Quentin Sigurdson, Odessa Jackalopes
