NAHL announces Bauer Hockey Stars of the Week
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending October 8, 2023. The Divisional Stars of the Week is a weekly feature during the 2023-24 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: Trent Wiemken, Goaltender, Austin Bruins
Austin goalie Trent Wiemken, 19, started and won both games this past weekend as the Bruins moved to 7-1-0 on the season with a sweep of St. Cloud. The 6’2/170 lbs. native of Fargo, ND, stopped 50 of 54 shots in the two wins. On Friday, he made 23 saves and stopped all three shooters in the shootout in a 3-2 win. On Saturday, he made 27 saves in a 4-2 win. For the season, Wiemken is 5-1-0 with a 1.95 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. “Trent was outstanding this weekend. He made some key saves at big moments in both games that sparked us. He’s the backbone of this team and we are hopeful that a division one school will see what he is (and has been) doing for us,” said Bruins head coach Steve Howard.
2nd Star: Grant Kohnen, F, Aberdeen Wings
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Croix Kochendorfer, G, Aberdeen Wings – Austin Salani, F, Austin Bruins
East Division Star of the Week: Adam Gionta, Forward, Rochester Jr. Americans
Rochester forward Adam Gionta, 18, helped his team to a weekend home sweep of Johnstown with a four-point weekend. The 5’81/62 lbs. native of Clarence Center, NY, had three goals and an assist in the two wins, which included a pair of goals in a 3-2 win on Friday and a goal and an assist in a 5-4 overtime win on Saturday. For the season, Gionta has recorded eight points in 11 games played to date. “Adam has been getting better every day and adjusting rapidly to the pace of the league. He is now starting to get rewarded for the effort he has put in on a daily basis,” said Rochester head coach Francois Methot.
2nd Star: Jeremi Tremblay, F, Maryland Black Bears
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Zach Aben, F, Johnstown Tomahawks – Luke deVries, D, Philadelphia Rebels – Josh Doolan, D, New Hampshire Mountain Kings – Miles Roberts, G, Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks – Colin Ronan, G, Maryland Black Bears – Kris Samitis, F, Philadelphia Rebels – Aidan Wright, G, New Hampshire Mountain Kings
Midwest Division Star of the Week: Haden Kruse, Forward, Janesville Jets
Janesville forward Haden Kruse, 20, had a six-point weekend as the Jets split a road series against the Wisconsin Windigo. The 6’1/172 lbs. native of Nisswa, MN, had an assist in Friday’s 4-3 loss, and then turned around on Saturday and had two goals and three assists in a 7-3 win on Saturday. For the season, Kruse leads the Jets in scoring so far with 18 points in 11 games played. “Haden had another strong weekend for us against a very tough opponent in a tough environment. He is showing he can consistently create offense for us every weekend. He shows up every night with the mindset of doing whatever it takes to help us have success. It’s very exciting to watch firsthand on the type of player and person he is becoming. Whatever NCAA program that lands Haden is going to be absolutely thrilled with him in every aspect of a student athlete,” said Jets head coach Joe Dibble.
2nd Star: Liam Beerman, G, Anchorage Wolverines
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Talan Blanck, F, Chippewa Steel – Ashton Dahms, F, Minnesota Wilderness – Noah Gibbs, F, Janesville Jets – Bryce Monrean, F, Anchorage Wolverines – Gustav Ozolins, D, Minnesota Wilderness – Peyton Platter, F, Chippewa Steel
South Division Star of the Week: Daniel Duris, Goaltender, Oklahoma Warriors
Oklahoma goalie Daniel Duris, 20, helped the Warriors pick up a weekend road sweep of the Corpus Christi IceRays this past weekend. The 6’1/180 lbs. native of Martin, Slovakia, stopped 69 of 72 shots in the two wins. On Friday, he made 32 saves in a 5-1 win, and then on Saturday, he made 37 saves in a 6-2 win. For the season, Duris has a 5-2-0 record with a 1.99 goals against average and a .937 save percentage. “Daniel played excellent for us this past weekend and continues to prove he is an elite goaltender in our league. He has picked up where he left off last year as a goalie that can steal us a game if we are off and that has given our guys the confidence to make plays and develop in front of him. Daniel made some timely saves in big moments for us this past weekend which propelled us to get two much needed wins on the road,” said Warriors head coach Garrett Roth.
2nd Star: Brock James, F, Lone Star Brahmas
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Yusaku Ando, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Billy Biedermann, F, Corpus Christi IceRays – Brady Borgestad, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Kael DePape, G, El Paso Rhinos – Logan Heroux, D, Shreveport Mudbugs – Ryan Hintz, D, Corpus Christi IceRays – Justin Kerr, F, Lone Star Brahmas – Tory Lund, F, El Paso Rhinos – Nick Marino, F, Shreveport Mudbugs – Kaden Nelson, F, Oklahoma Warriors
