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Kyle Miller St. Cloud Norsemen

Bauer Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Kyle Miller, St. Cloud Norsemen

The third-year St. Cloud Norsemen veteran, Kyle Miller has put on a thriller during February. The San Jose, California native has dished four goals and 11 assists over nine games for the Norsemen. He leads all blueliners in the month with 15 points, while ranking second overall among all skaters with that stat line for February. One of his most impactful games was on February 8 against the Austin Bruins. During the Norsemen’s 2-1 overtime victory, he played a role in both goals. He first assisted in the game-tying goal during the second period and then scored the game-winning shorthanded goal in overtime. In the month he produced a +9 rating and only had one game out of nine in which he did not produce a point. Thanks to his work on the ice, the blueliner produced an average of 1.67 points per game. The 5’9 lefty has continued to help his squad inch closer to being in playoff contention. St. Cloud currently sits in fourth place in the Central Division standings.

Miller shares his gratitude for winning the award and contributes his success on the ice to his teammates.

“It’s an honor to receive this award. I thank my coaches and teammates for pushing me to be great on and off the ice every day. A large amount of my personal success is due to my team’s success as a whole. We won a lot of games in February because of our commitment to playing our style of hockey. As we enter into the most exciting part of the season, I am determined to help lead my team into the playoffs. I love this group and can’t wait to make this final push with them.”

Even though Miller is a defenseman, his offensive dominance is felt by the Norsemen. The 5’9 lefty leads his squad in total points (55), assists (43), and points per game (1.17). Miller ranks third overall for St. Cloud in goals (12) and features the second-best rating (+6). This award marks the second time he has earned Star of the Month honors, with his last recognition happening in September. 

Head coach of the Norsemen, Joe Exter, went into detail about the development of Miller’s game.

“Kyle was excellent throughout February. His play has been consistent all year. The most impressive part is, that as each month passes, he elevates all areas of his game to a higher level. Kyle shows up daily to work and improve with a true pro mindset. This dedication is the driving force behind Kyle being one of the best defensemen in junior hockey.”

Runner-Up: Luke Chappelle, Maine Nordiques

Jackson Fuller New Mexico Ice Wolves

NAHL Goaltender of the Month: Jackson Fuller, New Mexico Ice Wolves

Hailing from the State of Hockey, Jackson Fuller, has served as a keystone piece for Ice Wolves this season. The 6’0 netminder suited up for seven games in February and helped New Mexico walk away with six wins with him between the pipes. Fuller produced two shutouts, with his largest shutout coming on February 7 against the Odessa Jackalopes. Fuller was the winner in the blue paint turning away all 42 shots. His second shutout happened on the last day of the month on February 28. He helped to lift the Ice Wolves to a 2-0 victory over the El Paso Rhinos with his 25-save performance. His performance between the pipes put him as one of the top goaltenders of the month. He features a .942 save percentage and a 1.86 goals against average for February. He faced the second most shots during the month and saved 211 out of the 224 shots. The ‘04 netminder has also only produced one loss between the pipes in his last 11 games for New Mexico. 

Just like the other two award winners, Fuller contributes his success between the pipes to his teammates in front of him. 

“Getting this award is a huge honor. Our team had a great month overall, which led to individual success. Consistently focusing on the little things is what helped our team and myself have a successful month.”

He ranks in the top ten of goaltenders in the league in multiple categories. Fuller ranks eighth overall with his 2.02 goals against average and four shutouts while placing ninth overall with his .925 save percentage. His defensive dominance in the net is felt by the Ice Wolves, because out of the 24 New Mexico’s wins on the season, 19 of them came with Fuller between the pipes. 

Head coach of the Ice Wolves, Kevin Hartzell, explains why Division I programs need to have their eyes on Fuller.

“What can I say, but ‘Where are you Division I colleges!’ This young man has paid his dues. He has played three years of junior hockey. Jackson has fought to play and fought to help his team win games, as all goalies know is required of them. Jackson is a great teammate and a quiet leader. He is consistently consistent! That's an incredible trait for a goalie and is an underappreciated skill he has. He plays the puck really well, simple, smart, and consistent. Every coach knows simple and smart wins in this sport. Jackson, good job to you. He deserves this recognition.” 

Runner-Up: Marko Bilic, Maryland Black Bears

Calle Karlsson Rochester Jr. Americans

Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Calle Karlsson, Rochester Jr. Americans

The 6’1 righty hailing from the hockey-rich nation of Sweden, Calle Karlsson skates his way to the top and earns Forward of the Month honors. The first-year skater led the league with nine goals and 18 points in February. He notched on average two points per game and features a +14 rating for the month. His work on the ice led him to additionally make nine assists in nine games played. Karlsson has logged at least a point in every game this past month and has been on a hot streak of scoring points since January 17. Six out of the nine games played in February were multi-point games. His standout game came on February 8, where he scored two goals and made three assists against the Philadelphia Rebels. In this 6-1 victory, Karlsson played a role in every goal except one during the contest.

Karlsson shares his excitement to win this award and how he contributes some of his success to his teammates. 

“Of course it's fun and this month went well, I feel like my teammates and I have found more and more chemistry during the year and now it's better than it was before! I have to thank them too, but of course, it's cool to be recognized by the league.”

Karlsson's offensive prowess is felt by the Jr. Americans. On the season, the ‘04 skater leads his squad in goals (28) and points (60), while sits second in assists (32) and points per game (1.22). His work on the ice has helped the Jr. Americans continue their success and hunt for the Robertson Cup. This is the first time this season that the Rochester Jr. Americans had a player named to a monthly award.

“Calle has had an exceptional month for us. Since the Christmas break, he's truly been a force on the ice. His increased physicality has significantly enhanced his performance at both ends of the rink. The combination of his size, speed, hockey IQ, and competitiveness is truly impressive, especially since he’s demonstrating this consistently. This makes him a standout player who should be a priority for every college program. Furthermore, Calle is a fantastic teammate who is eager to learn and improve. We believe he has not yet reached his full potential, but he is certainly on the right path. The Player of the Month award is a well-deserved recognition for him!”

Runner-Up: Saxton Tess, Lone Star Brahmas