NAHL announces monthly awards for September
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its monthly player awards for the month of September. The Easton Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month is Jay Dickman from the Austin Bruins. The Easton Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month is Nate Repensky from the Bismarck Bobcats. The Brian’s Custom Sports NAHL Goaltender of the Month is Adam Carlson from the Coulee Region Chill. Only players who are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the NAHL monthly awards.
Easton Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Jay Dickman, Austin Bruins
Austin Bruins forward Jay Dickman, 20, was virtually unstoppable during the month of September. The Shoreview, Minnesota native made a bold statement during the month that he is going to make his final season in the NAHL count. Dickman (6’6/225) led to Bruins to a 5-1-0 record during the month and capture a share of the Central Division lead. For the month, Dickman was tied for second in NAHL scoring with 10 points in just six games played and his seven goals led the NAHL. Dickman was also a +9 during the month of September, which was tops among all NAHL forwards. He recorded eight points in four games at the NAHL Showcase, including a four-goal game, which earned him NAHL Central Division Star of the Week honors back on September 23rd. Last season, Dickman recorded 55 points in 55 regular season games for the Bruins and was named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team. “Jay has had a huge role in our success so far this season and he has really showed a lot of leadership,” said Bruins head coach Chris Tok. “I think the most impressive part about Jay is his skill set and his hands. You rarely see someone with his size with that type of high-end skill. It is something that has attracted a lot of interest from NCAA Division I scouts, so our focus right now is to make sure he keeps improving. He has the ability to score goals in a variety of different ways and that is what makes him so effective.”
“It is an important year for me and this team, so it was important to get off to a quick start. I think we have a really good team this year and there is a lot of skill and speed,” said Dickman. “However, we are always looking to get better and improve. That was one of the things I worked really hard on this summer was to always keep improving my game, come into the season in the best shape possible and ready to play my best from the first game. Ultimately, I would like a chance to play NCAA Division I hockey, but I know that is only going to happen if I continue to work hard and show and I can be a leader on and off the ice.”
Runner-Up: Alec Butcher, Kenai River Brown Bears
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Tim Donohue, Minot Minotauros – Billy Exell, Minnesota Wilderness – Tyler Gernhofer, Amarillo Bulls – Evan Hesse, Brookings Blizzard – Jordan Himley, Janesville Jets – Nick Kuchera, Minnesota Magicians – Tyler Ledford, Wichita Falls Wildcats – Mitch Maloney, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Jacob McDowell, Soo Eagles – Eric Purcell, Corpus Christi IceRays – Brandon Reinholz, Johnstown Tomahawks – Kyle Shreve, Springfield Jr. Blues – Bjorn Sigurdarson, Aberdeen Wings – Filip Starzynski, Bismarck Bobcats – Michal Uhrik Topeka RoadRunners – Richard Zehnal, Coulee Region Chill
Easton Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Nate Repensky, Bismarck Bobcats
Veteran Bismarck Bobcats defenseman Nate Repensky, 20, has picked up right where he left off last season. The native of Duluth, Minnesota, helped the Bobcats to a 4-2-0 record in the month of September and in the process was able to tie for the league lead in scoring for all defensemen. What makes Repensky (5’11/175) so effective is his consistency. He was able to register a point in each of Bismarck’s six games during the month and finished with nine points in six games. He was also able to take care of things on the defensive end, as he finished with a +3 rating during the month. Last season, Repensky recorded 27 points in 37 regular season games for the Bobcats and was named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team. “Nate has been key in our success so far. He was such a big part of the team last year and one of the goals this season is for him to really take on a leadership role,” said Bobcats head coach Layne Sedevie. “I think what is so valuable about Nate is that he is such a responsible two-way defenseman. He really knows how to move the puck and run a power play, but he also takes care of things in his own end. I think it is one of the things that makes him so attractive to NCAA Division I scouts.”
“I think we have gotten better each game so far this season. I think for the most part we are happy with where we are after six games. I think personally, I owe a lot to my teammates, who did a good job of scoring goals and producing offense that allowed me to have the numbers I had during the month,” said Repensky. “You have to have guys who can create and finish and I think we have a very talent group of players on this team that are able to do that when you put the puck on their stick. I think the experience of the Robertson Cup last year has really motivated us this season. We want to get back there and win it. I think long term I just want to keep playing well and working hard to earn an NCAA Division I opportunity.”
Runner-Up: Dillon Eichstadt, Aberdeen Wings
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Alex Archibald, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Kristofers Bindulis, Soo Eagles – Jake Bushey, Kenai River Brown Bears – Cody Champagne, Topeka RoadRunners – Scott Dornbrock, Minot Minotauros – Mitch Hall, Johnstown Tomahawks – Grant Hutton, Corpus Christi IceRays – Derick Kuchera, Minnesota Magicians – Terry Leabo, Minnesota Wilderness – Michael Mylchreest, Springfield Jr. Blues – Sam Piazza, Wichita Falls Wildcats – Brendan Vetter, Amarillo Bulls – Jake Zeleznikar, Coulee Region Chill.
Brian’s Custom Sports NAHL Goaltender of the Month: Adam Carlson, Coulee Region Chill
Virtually out of the blue this past month came 19-year-old Coulee Region goaltender Adam Carlson. When the Chill deciding their goalies for the season, the only sure thing was returner Blake Cates. Then came Carlson, who made the team through a successful main camp and then the native of Edina, Minnesota was thrust into the spotlight at the NAHL Showcase. Carlson (6’3/175) responded with the calmness of a veteran during the month as in 153 minutes of play and four games, he allowed just three goals. He ended up leading the NAHL during the month in goals against average (1.18) and save percentage (95.6%). Carlson, who spent last season playing Tier III juniors between the NA3HL and the MNJHL, won his NAHL debut in a 3-2 win over Corpus Christi and followed it up with a 4-1 win over Janesville last weekend. It is quite a leap for a goaltender who didn’t even start on his high school team in Minnesota, but who has developed quickly in his time spent in the NAHL. “Adam is quite the story so far and is following a similar path to those recent NAHL goaltenders who have had success in the league, who may have flown under the radar up until this point,” said Chill head coach AJ Degenhardt. “He is a big kid who can move well and has great agility. He is fundamentally sound and I think his underdog-type story is something that motivates him on a daily basis.”
“It has been a long road up until this point, but I never stopped working hard and believing. I don’t want to take anything for granted and that motivates me to continually to try and get better and be there for my teammates,” said Carlson. “The moment I drove into Onalaska to potentially play for the Chill, I had a really good and positive feeling about the entire situation. I felt like I belonged there and I was going to do everything in my power to earn some playing time. I think finally realizing that goal and playing the way I did the first couple of games was something that was very emotional for my family and I, knowing the path I had taken to this point. We have a really tight and close group of players on this team and my goal is to get better every day and take advantage of the opportunity that I have right now.”
Runner-Up: Kasimir Kaskisuo, Minnesota Wilderness
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Sandro Aeschlimann, Springfield Jr. Blues – Chad Catt, Aberdeen Wings – Collin Delia, Amarillo Bulls – Logan Halladay, Janesville Jets – Nick Lehr, Austin Bruins – Max Milosek, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Chase Munroe, Wichita Falls Wildcats – Aaron Nelson, Bismarck Bobcats – Alex Okicki, Johnstown Tomahawks – Zach Quinn, Kenai River Brown Bears – Paige Skoog, Soo Eagles – Atte Tolvanen, Minnesota Magicians – Drew Vogler, Topeka RoadRunners – Brandon Wildung, Minot Minotauros.
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The Official Goaltending Equipment Supplier of the NAHL, Brian's has been a leading Canadian supplier of custom-built goal equipment since 1984. As one of the original and remaining custom goal equipment manufacturers Brian's remains committed to continuing to lead the industry with exceptional design and quality. Visit Brian’s online at www.goaliesonly.com
