Players of the Month
Defenseman of the Month: Antoine Cormier - Shreveport Mudbugs
Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Antoine Cormier, Shreveport Mudbugs
Antoine Cormier showed off his offensive ways from the blue line for the Mudbugs this past month. The 18-year-old skater led defensemen in October with 13 points. The Quebec, Canada, native tallied five goals while posting eight assists in his nine games played for the South Division club. His offensive ways as a defenseman had him recording points in seven games in October, with three of the contests as multipoint nights. Cormier spotlighted a career-high performance on Oct. 10, 2026 against the Amarillo Wranglers as he notched four assists in their 5-0 victory.
In addition to providing helpers for his team, Cormier found twine for the Mudbugs. Two of his five tallies were scored on the man advantage, with his final goal of the month notched as the eventual game-winner for Shreveport on Oct. 25, 2026. From that weekend’s performance against the Lone Star Brahmas and Odessa Jackalopes, Cormier was named as the South Division Star of the Week, tallying four points as a defenseman.
Cormier describes what it means to be named to the Defenseman of the Month honor.
“Winning this award is a huge honor, but it really comes down to the hard work our whole team puts in every day. It’s nice to get individual recognition, but it’s really just a reflection of the trust my teammates and coaches place in me.”
The ‘08 blueliner went on to explain how he was able to find success on the ice in October.
“For me, it came down to playing with confidence and having the freedom from our coaching staff and teammates to be creative and generate offense. I focused heavily on moving the puck north quickly, making clean transition passes, and jumping into the rush when the lanes opened up. Having great teammates around me made my job easy; they created space, finished plays, and made it easy for me to find them from the blue line.”
Head coach of the Mudbugs, Jason Campbell, describes how dedicated Cormier is to developing and getting better day after day.
“Antoine has done things the right way since arriving in Shreveport. He eats right, trains right, practices right, and plays right. He’s a great teammate, and he enjoys competing at everything he does. He’s off to a great start and we are looking forward to the continued development for him and the team over the next few months.”
Runner-up: Hunter Toms, Odessa Jackalopes
Goalie of the Month: Leo Gabriel - Lone Star Brahmas
Bauer Hockey Goaltender of the Month: Leo Gabriel, Lone Star Brahmas
Showing just how lethal he is in net, Leo Gabriel earns the honor as October’s Goaltender of the Month. The 6-foot Minnesota native is a second-year veteran of the Brahmas. So far this season, he has topped his rookie year’s performance and is riding hot in the month of October. The 19-year-old posted a 1.62 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage in his six games in net for the Texas-based team. Gabriel is tied for first among goaltenders with his save percentage in October, stopping 146 out of 156 shots for the Brahmas. From his six victories, he recorded three of his wins in extra minutes. The first one came in shootout fashion against the New Mexico Ice Wolves on Oct. 9, 2026. He stood tall in a five-round shootout for Lone Star. His next extra-minute victory was an overtime thriller with the Oklahoma Warriors on Oct. 16, 2026. His final shootout win for October was just this past weekend as he notched a series sweep in the process against the Corpus Christi IceRays on Oct. 31, 2026.
His defensive dominance in net also spotlighted Gabriel earning his second shutout of the year. He was perfect in net against the Oklahoma Warriors with a 21-save performance on Oct. 17, 2026.
The State of Hockey netminder describes what it means to get the chance to show off his ability in net and how the people around him helped him to have success in October.
“In October, it has been fun to be able to get the chance to play back-to-back games on some of the weekends. Showing up early, getting the extra reps, and being able to work a lot with my goalie coach, Trevor, is a big part of what led to some of the success. I am also able to rely on my family members like my parents, brother, aunts, and my cousins to always have someone there and support me along the way.”
So far this season, Gabriel has not notched a loss on his record. He stands out as one of the top goaltenders in the league with a 1.68 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage from his nine games played in his 2026-27 campaign.
Head coach of the Brahmas, Dan Wildfong, went into detail on how Gabriel has continued to develop as a netminder with the Texas-based team.
“Leo has been the backbone of the Brahmas this season. He has continued to mature in his game and has grown since this time last year with Lone Star. We are excited to continue to cheer Leo on as he looks to secure a college commitment as a Brahma this year.”
Runner-up: Lukas Hoglind, Minot Minotauros
Forward of the Month: Grant Dillard - Janesville Jets
Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Grant Dillard, Janesville Jets
The man who delivered night after night for the Janesville Jets, Grant Dillard, earns distinction thanks to a dominating 18-point month for the Midwest Division club. Dillard is a second-year veteran of the Jets, and this season he has continued his offensive ways into his 2026-27 campaign. The 6-foot righty tallied 10 goals and eight assists over 10 games in October, recording 1.8 points per game on average. The Illinois skater showed up on the scoresheet in every contest for Janesville and produced five multipoint nights for the club. His ability to find twine was evident as the ‘06 forward recorded his first and second NAHL hat tricks this past month. His first hat trick was on Oct. 9, 2026 against the Springfield Jr. Blues, helping to lift his team to a 5-1 victory. The next time he had hats flying was on Oct. 23, 2026 against the Minnesota Mallards. His hat trick tally was scored in game-winning fashion as the contest was tied 3-3 until the final 10 minutes of regulation. Thanks to his three-goal performance, Dillard aided the Jets in their 4-3 road win.
For the month of October, the 20-year-old was effective at critical moments of contests, recording a league-leading three game-winning tallies for the Jets. In addition, when Dillard was on the ice, he was playing a major role in helping to get Janesville on the scoreboard while helping his team prevent their competitor from having opportunities. He posted a +14 rating in October, leading all skaters that month. The 6-foot forward also capitalized on man-advantage opportunities, recording four power-play tallies for the Jets.
Dillard went into detail on how it feels to earn this recognition.
“It means a lot to me. I see it as a reflection of the hard work and dedication that our entire team has put in throughout the month. We’ve had a lot of success as a group, and it’s nice to be recognized individually for what we’ve accomplished together.”
The Janesville veteran went on to explain how he was able to earn this accolade thanks to his teammates.
“I think as a team, we’ve done a good job of taking what we’re working on in practice and translating it into games. Personally, I think I’ve done a nice job of finding open space and putting myself in good positions. My teammates and I have been in sync, and we’ve done a good job of creating opportunities for each other. The goal now is to keep building on that and continue having success throughout the season.”
This season, Dillard has registered 21 points in 14 games played. He has tallied a team-leading 12 goals and produced nine helpers for the Wisconsin-based club. The ‘06 forward has made his presence known on the ice night after night, as there has only been one contest this season that Dillard has not shown up on the scoresheet.
Head coach of the Jets, Lennie Childs, explains how valuable Dillard has been to the Janesville organization.
“Grant has been a great leader in our locker room and a dominant force on the ice. He possesses a high IQ and skill that allows him to be a threat while also making guys on the ice better. He plays hard every night and has been a major factor for us to start the season.”
Runner-up: Ferry Netusil, Minnesota Wilderness
Defenseman of the Month: Justin Bartley - Watertown Shamrocks
Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Justin Bartley, Watertown Shamrocks
It was more than puck luck when the 6-foot-3 blueliner was on the ice. Justin Bartley takes home Defenseman of the Month honors after a 10-point September performance. Bartley is a veteran of the South Dakota club, repping the green and white since the inception of the team. The ‘06 captain registered two goals and eight assists in his five games this past month. The Chicago, Illinois, native has shown up on the scoresheet in four of the five contests played, with each of those games being multi-point games for the club. In his second contest of the season, Bartley notched a career-high four points, providing helpers on every Watertown goal in their contest against the Austin Bruins.
His playmaking is evident on the power play as the right-handed defenseman recorded both goals scored this season on the man advantage, with one being a game-winning tally. The Watertown captain leads defensemen in the league with his two points per game average.
Bartley shares more on what it means to earn the monthly honor.
“Earning Defenseman of the Month is super exciting. The NAHL Showcase was a fun event, and it was cool to be able to go 3-0 and put up some points.”
He went on to explain how he attributes his offensive success to his teammates.
“My team is so fun to be around. I look forward to going to the rink every day. We are super driven and aligned with what we want to accomplish as a team. We’ve been clicking on the ice, and I was able to benefit from it this month.”
As Bartley embarks on his final season of junior hockey, his ability from the blue line has been evident since getting to Watertown in his rookie season. During his 2025-26 veteran campaign, the Illinois native laced up in 59 contests across the regular season and postseason, just three games shy of playing in every game. He recorded five goals and produced 30 assists for the Central Division club. His work on the ice earned him the recognition as a Top Prospect for the Selects White team at the annual Top Prospects Tournament. Bartley helped the Selects White take down the USNTDP on day one of the annual event.
The 6-foot-3 defenseman got his first taste of NAHL hockey after being drafted by the Watertown Shamrocks in the 2024 NAHL Entry Draft in the third round. Bartley played in 33 games, registering a goal and 10 assists for the South Dakota-based team.
Head coach of the Shamrocks, Casey Kirley, describes what it means to see the captain go home with this honor.
“It is great that Justin is getting recognized for his outstanding play during September. He has grown immensely as a person, leader, and player over the past three seasons in Watertown. Justin is a fantastic captain who shows up and competes every day. He leads by example on and off the ice, and helps make his teammates better people and players as well.”
Kirley explains more about how Bartley has become a critical piece in Watertown’s success.
He plays a lot of minutes for us in all situations and is able to do so at a high level every night. We are proud of what he’s accomplished right away this season and look forward to watching him continue to grow his game throughout the year.”
Runner-up: Dean Andrews, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Goalie of the Month: Izaak Kalis - Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Bauer Hockey Goaltender of the Month: Izaak Kalis, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Who you gon’ call? Of course, Izaak Kalis, when you need someone to stand tall in the blue paint night after night. The 6-foot State of Hockey netminder showcased an impressive month of September. The 19-year-old featured a league-leading 1.00 goals-against average and a .974 save percentage.
His 2026-27 campaign kicked off with a 41-save performance against the Janesville Jets on September 19, 2026. The ‘07 netminder notched his first win of the year while posting a .953 save percentage in that lone contest. His numbers following that performance just got better with each game he played between the pipes for the month of September. Kalis got his next start on September 23, 2026, at the NAHL Showcase, where he turned aside 26 out of 27 shots on net against the Bismarck Bobcats. The Little Falls, Minnesota, native earned his team the win while notching a .963 save percentage.
Kalis would go on to find a way to top his two previous performances with a 47-save shutout against the USNTDP on Saturday night. The U17 team had almost double the number of shots on goal as the Ice Dogs; however, Kalis ability in net kept Fairbanks in the hunt to earn and eventually secure a victory. The 6-foot goaltender was faced with 117 shots in the month, and Kalis turned aside 114 of them. The 19-year-old ranks in the top five of the NAHL, facing on average 39 shots a game.
The State of Hockey netminder shares what it means to receive this award.
“I think it’s very special to earn this award! It's a great way to start the season, and it feels great to do it representing the Ice Dogs! I think we had success keeping the puck out of our net in September, because of the dedication that everyone has to the team. Our team carries a lot of trust in each other along with a positive attitude every day. This ultimately leads to team success in all aspects!”
Head coach of the Ice Dogs, Dakota Bell, shares how the NAHL and Fairbanks organization has a proven track record of producing Division I caliber players.
“Izaak winning NAHL Goaltender of the Month is a tremendous accomplishment. Our league has been a goalie factory for NCAA Division I and pro hockey for years now, so this award undoubtedly carries a little extra meaning as the competition for it is strong. Fairbanks has a track record of producing elite goaltending talent, and this is a great start to Izaak being the next in line.”
He goes on to share how big of an accomplishment this is for the ‘07 netminder.
“Winning this award in September is no easy task, as games this time of year tend to be more open and higher scoring as coaches work to put their systems in place and get their teams up to speed. Izaak shut the door repeatedly in September and has helped our team get off to a solid start despite being one of the youngest in the NAHL.”
Bell states his gratitude for his organization in helping Kalis.
“Our goalie coach Adam Carlson has done a great job in getting Izaak ready for anything that may come his way, and our scouts did a great job identifying his talent a few years back. Izaak is a tremendous young man who has a bright future ahead of him, and we are glad that he is getting this recognition early in the season.”
Runner-up: Michael Iliff, Maryland Black Bears
Forward of the Month: Vincenzo Capano - Lone Star Brahmas
Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Vincenzo Capano, Lone Star Brahmas
They call him Captain America for a reason in Brahmaland! The second-year veteran, Vincenzo Capano, leads all skaters in the NAHL with his 15 points in September. The 6-foot righty found twine four times and recorded 11 assists in his seven games played for the South Division club. The Army-West Point commit has shown up on the scoresheet in five of his seven games played this season, with each of those contests being multi-point nights. In just the short span of his 2026-27 campaign, he has had more multi-point nights than he did in the 2025-26 regular season.
The Garden State forward recorded one game-winning tally, one power-play tally and a shootout goal for the Brahmas in September. His offensive ability on the ice has been crucial in lifting his team to success night after night. Capano’s career-high performance came in his second game of the season against the Amarillo Wranglers. The 6-foot forward scored two goals and registered two assists in the Brahmas 4-3 overtime victory on September 12, 2026. He battled in the third period to even the score and went on to find twine in overtime fashion for the Brahmas in the contest.
Capano describes what it means to earn the honor and how he attributes the team to his success.
“It’s definitely an honor to win this award. I think it’s a correlation to our success so far as a team. I think relying on my teammates and linemates has made me the most successful. They make playing with them really easy and fun.”
The ‘06 forward is a second-year veteran of the Lone Star Brahmas. In his rookie campaign with the South Division club, Capano recorded 33 points across the regular season and postseason. He tallied 15 goals and notched 18 assists in that span. In addition to his offensive scoring ways, the New Jersey native was a mainstay member on the ice for the Brahmas night after night. Capano was just two games shy of playing every regular season contest in his 2025-26 campaign. In that season, he also recorded five game-winning goals and five power-play tallies for Lone Star.
Head coach of the Brahmas, Dan Wildfong, explains how Capano has impressed him so far this season.
“Vinny has been our best player so far. He has been unbelievable on the ice and is seeing the ice really well. He is playing at a Division I level in juniors.”
Runner-up: Logan Poulin, Northeast Generals
