NAHL Alumni Update

Former NAHL and Aberdeen Wings goalie Matt Vernon was named the Goalie of the Week in the ECHL.

ECAC Goalie of the Week: Ian Shane, Cornell (Bismarck Bobcats) - Ian Shane (Jr., Cornell) secured another MAC Goaltending Goaltender of the Week honor with an outstanding performance that helped the Big Red retain the Kelley-Harkness Cup, marking their fourth consecutive victory in the Red Hot Hockey contest. The junior netminder made 35 saves against nationally-ranked Boston University, limiting them to just one goal in Madison Square Garden. Shane posted a .972 save percentage in the 2-1 victory.

ECAC Defender of the Week: John Prokop, Union (Janesville Jets) - John Prokop (So., Union) earned the well-deserved title of Defender of the Week for a commanding performance during Union’s weekend sweep of Stonehill. Prokop contributed with three assists, including two in Friday’s 5-2 victory and a crucial assist on the game-winning goal in Saturday’s match. The sophomore blueliner, putting up six shots on goal and blocking two shots, finished with a positive plus-minus of two.

ECAC Forward of the Week: Carter Korpi, Union (Wichita Falls Warriors) - Carter Korpi (So., Union) showcased a remarkable performance, earning him the title of Forward of the Week, Presented by Bluebird by Lark Hotels. In the Garnet Chargers' weekend sweep against Stonehill, Korpi notched two goals and one assist. During Friday’s 5-2 victory, he recorded his first multi-point night of the season with a goal and an assist. The sophomore forward added another goal in Saturday’s four-goal shutout, concluding the weekend with three points and a favorable plus-minus of three.

CCHA Goalie of the Week: Beni Halasz, Northern Michigan (New Mexico Ice Wolves) - Halasz stopped all 30 shots he faced in a 2-0 road shutout win at Bowling Green on Saturday night. He helped the Wildcats rebound from a 6-2 defeat on Friday, making 12 saves in the first period, 10 in the second and eight in the third. He turned away the only two shots he saw while Northern Michigan was shorthanded, aiding a perfect 3-for-3 penalty kill on the night. The shutout was his first of the year and fourth of his career.

Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week: Matt Vermaeten, Canisius College (Shreveport Mudbugs) - Canisius junior Matt Vermaeten tallied two goals and an assist to help guide the Golden Griffins to a 2-0-1 record last week. The Ottawa, Ont., native was part of penalty kill that went 16-of-19 during the three-game homestand. He recorded the opening goal in the Griffs' 5-1 victory over Robert Morris on Nov. 21 and tallied the game-winning goal with a shorthanded marker in a 3-1 win against Air Force on Nov. 24. He ended the week with an assist in the series finale against the Falcons on Nov. 25. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.

Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Week: David Fessenden, Canisius (Northeast Generals) - Canisius senior David Fessenden posted a 1.30 goals-against average and .959 save percentage to help lead Canisius to a 2-0-1 record against Robert Morris and Air Force. The Parker, Colo., native began the week with a 29-save performance in the Griffs’ 5-1 victory over RMU on Nov. 21. He recorded 24 stops in a 3-1 triumph against Air Force on Nov. 24 before making a season-high 41 saves in a 2-2 draw against the Falcons the following day. His 41-save effort in the series finale against Air Force marked the third time in his collegiate career and the first time at Canisius that he has recorded 40 or more saves in a contest. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.

Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week: Jake Hewitt, Army (Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks) - Army West Point forward Jake Hewitt led all Atlantic Hockey players in scoring this week with five points on three goals and two assists in three games. The Fitchburg, Mass., native scored a goal in all three of the Black Knights’ road games at RV/UR Holy Cross, Merrimack and RV/UR UMass Lowell. He also registered an assist in the victories over Holy Cross and UMass Lowell. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.

B1G #2 Star: Jacob Barczewski, Michigan (Janesville Jets) - Barczewski stopped 66 of 69 shots for a .957 save percentage and 1.44 goals-against average to lead No. 14/14 Michigan to a series win over No. 17/16 St. Cloud State. He earned 50th career win and seventh career shutout (first at Michigan) with a 30-save effort Friday at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Barczewski made 36 saves in a 3-3 overtime tie against the Huskies on Saturday. The Canisius transfer earns his second Big Ten weekly award of the season after being named Second Star on Oct. 24, 2023.

ECHL Goalie of the Week: Matt Vernon, Jacksonville (Aberdeen Wings) - Matt Vernon of the Jacksonville Icemen is the ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Nov. 20-26. Vernon went 2-0-0 with a 0.96 goals-against average and a save percentage of .966 in two appearances last week. The 25-year-old made 24 saves in a 3-1 win at Atlanta on Tuesday and turned aside 33 shots in a 2-1 victory against Florida on Friday. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Vernon is 4-2-0 in six appearances with the Icemen this season. He is tied for sixth in the ECHL with a 2.33 goals-against average and tied for 10th with a .916 save percentage.

ECHL Player of the Week: A.J. White, Idaho (Michigan Warriors) - A.J. White of the Idaho Steelheads is the ECHL Player of the Week for Nov. 20-26. White scored three goals and added three assists for six points in three games at Rapid City last week. The 31-year-old had an assist in a 5-3 win on Wednesday and added a pair of helpers in a 4-1 victory on Friday before recording his second hat trick of the season in a 6-3 win on Saturday. A native of Dearborn, Michigan, White is tied for seventh in the ECHL with 20 points (9g-11a) in 16 games with the Steelheads this season.