NAHL Alumni Update

As the NCAA tournament wraps up this weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota at the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four, the list of NAHL alumni inking professional contracts continues to grow.

Former Maryland Black Bear and Odessa Jackalope goaltender Cooper Black signed a two-year entry level contract with the Florida Panthers on April 2nd. While playing 19 games with the Black Bears during the 2019-2020 season, Black posted a .916 save percentage and a 2.58 GAA. The following season, the 6’8” netminder made the switch to the Odessa Jackalopes where he posted a .924 save percentage and a 2.58 GAA. Following his time in the NAHL, Black spent one season in the BCHL before committing to play at Dartmouth College. While at Dartmouth, the Alpena, MI native averaged .904 save percentage and 2.82 GAA over the course of two seasons.

Lleyton Roed signed a two-year entry level contract with the Seattle Kraken on March 27th. Roed suited up for the Minnesota Magicians during the 2021-2022 season, recording 6 goals and 7 assists for 13 points in 14 games played. Following his year in the NAHL, the White Bear Lake, MN native would play one season in the USHL before playing collegiate hockey at Bemidji State for two seasons. Upon signing his NHL contract, Roed has played three games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL where he netted his first professional goal on April 7th against the Abbotsford Canucks.

Cam Thiesing signed a two-year entry level contract with the New York Islanders on March 22nd. The Chippewa Steel alumni played in the NAHL during the 2018-2019 season, recording 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points, the 2nd highest point total for the Steel that season. The 6’0” center went on to play in the USHL before committing to play collegiate hockey at Ohio State University. In 108 games with the Buckeyes, the alternate captain recorded 61 points (32 goals, 29 assists) across three seasons. 

NAHL and NAPHL alumni Devin Cooley earned his first NHL win between the pipes for the San Jose Sharks against the St. Louis Blues on April 6th. During the 3-2 overtime win, the San Jose native had 34 saves and a save percentage of .944. 

Monthly Honors

CCHA

CCHA Goaltender of the Month: Mattias Sholl, Minnesota State (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) - Sholl led all CCHA goalies in goals-against average (1.41) and save percentage (.942), going 4-1-0 in five March starts. He totaled 114 saves in 297:48 minutes of action, recording a league-high two shutouts. He had at least 20 saves in four of his five apperances, including a high of 28 in a 6-0, MacNaughton Cup clinching, shutout of Minnesota State on March 1.

CCHA Defenseman of the Month: Eric Pohlkamp, Bemidji State (Minnesota Magicians) - Pohlkamp led all CCHA defensemen with seven points on four goals and three assists for seven points, while pacing all conference skaters with a +10 plus-minus. Two of his tallies came on the power play, while one was a game-winner. Leading all blueliners with 21 shots on goal, his month was highlighted by putting up three points, including the overtime-winning goal, in a 5-4 victory over Ferris State in Game 1 of the Mason Cup Semifinals.

via: ccha.com

ECAC

ECAC Forward of the Month: Gabriel Seger, Cornell (Amarillo Bulls) - Seger claims Forward of the Month honors with an impressive offensive display, accumulating 10 points throughout March for the Big Red. In a standout performance, Seger recorded two goals and two assists in game two of the ECAC Quarterfinals against Harvard. He contributed three assists in the semifinal matchup against Dartmouth, securing Cornell’s spot in the Championship game. Additionally, Seger added two assists in the NCAA Tournament contests against Maine and Denver, leading the league in points for the month.

ECAC Goaltender of the Month: Ian Shane, Cornell (Bismarck Bobcats) - Shane is honored as Goaltender of the Month for his stellar performance in the crease, posting a 6-2-0 record for the Big Red. Shane played a pivotal role in securing Cornell’s ECAC Championship title with 31 saves and helped secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He made 31 saves and allowed just one goal in Cornell’s opening game of the NCAA Tournament against Maine, advancing to game two of the regional. Shane posted a 1.89 goals-against average and .926 save percentage with a total of 187 saves in March.

via: ecachockey.com

ECHL

ECHL Rookie of the Month: Blake Bennett, Rapid City Rush (Corpus Christi Ice Rays) - 

Blake Bennett of the Rapid City Rush has been named ECHL Rookie of the Month for March. Bennett scored 11 goals and added seven assists for 18 points in 14 games during the month.

 The 25-year-old tallied at least one point in nine of 14 games in March, scoring a goal in seven of the 14 contests. He had five points (3g-2a) on March 29 against Allen and three points (2g-1a) on March 23 against Utah.

via: echl.com

 

Weekly Honors

ECHL

ECHL Player of the Week: Ashton Calder, Worcester Railers (Minnesota Wilderness) - Ashton Calder of the Worcester Railers is the Inglasco ECHL Player of the Week for April 1-7. Calder scored six goals and added four assists for 10 points in three games against Maine last week. The 26-year-old had an assist in a 6-2 loss on Friday, tallied a goal and an assist in an 8-2 win on Saturday and scored five goals while adding two assists in a 9-5 victory on Sunday. He became just the 35th player in ECHL history to score at least five goals in a game.

via: echl.com