NAHL Alumni Update
October 23, 2014
It was another good week for NAHL alumni this past week with several former players earning recognition. Over 60 NAHL alumni are currently playing in the NHL and 390 alumni are playing NCAA Division I hockey. Here is a look at some of those recognized:
Former Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Mathias Dahlstrom was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week. Dahlström, who is a sophomore at Northern Michigan University, allowed just one goal in 43 shots faced (.977 save percentage), while leading Northern Michigan to a season-opening sweep of then-No. 18 Wisconsin. The sophomore from Smedjebacken, Sweden recorded 18 saves in a 2-0 blanking Friday night, his fourth career shutout. Dahlström tallied 24 saves on Saturday and helped NMU kill off all seven Wisconsin power plays en route to a 4-1 victory. Dahlstrom played for Kenai River in the NAHL during the 2010-11 season.
Former Janesville Jets forward Austin Vieth was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week. Vieth, a freshman from Marinette, Wis., scored three goals, collected an assist and was named the tournament's MVP as he led the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks to a third-straight Brice Alaska Goal Rush title. The rookie forward buried his only shot in Alaska's 4-3 win over Air Force, before scoring both the game-tying and game-winning goals in the third period Saturday night against Penn State. Vieth's three goals came on just four shots total, while he finished the weekend with a +2 rating. Vieth played for Janesville in the NAHL during the 2012-13 season.
Former Alexandria Blizzard (now Brookings Blizzard) defenseman Paul LaDue was named the NCHC Defensive Player of the Week. LaDue totaled five points from the blue line to help North Dakota sweep at Colorado College, while limiting the Tigers to three goals on the weekend. In Friday’s 3-1 win, he dished out an assist on the game-winning goal, which also came on the power play, while helping UND go 6-for-7 on the penalty kill. On Saturday he notched a career-high four points on two goals and two assists in a 7-2 victory. Both of his goals came on the power play, as did one assist, while his other helper came short-handed. It was his second career multi-goal game while he led UND with six shots on goal, as well, Saturday. The Kings prospect finished +1 on the weekend with three blocked shots and led a penalty kill unit that went 9-for-11. LaDue played in the NAHL during the 2010-11 season.
Former Bismarck Bobcats goaltender Ryan Massa was named the NCHC Goaltender of the Week. Massa backstopped Nebraska-Omaha to a sweep in its NCHC-opening series at Western Michigan, going 2-0 on the weekend, while compiling a .965 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average in the two games. In Friday’s 5-2 win, he compiled 37 saves, the third-highest total of his career, while helping UNO go 7-for-7 on the penalty kill. The next night, he stopped all 18 shots he faced to pitch his first shutout of the season and third of his career. Massa totaled 55 saves on 57 shots against the Broncos while leading Omaha to a perfect 10-for-10 penalty kill in the series. Massa played in the NAHL for the Bobcats during the 2009-10 season.
Former Chicago Hitmen goaltender Steve Racine was named the Big 10’s 3rd star of the week. The junior goaltender for the University of Michigan stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced (.969 save percentage) as Michigan claimed a win over New Hampshire. He turned aside all 16 New Hampshire shots in the third period to preserve a 2-1 lead. In the process, he earned his 20th career victory, improving to 20-10-4. Racine played for the Hitmen in the NAHL during the 2010-11 season.
In other alumni news former Corpus Christi IceRays goaltender Pheonix Copley has had an impeccable beginning with the Washington Capitals organization. After a strong showing in pre-season play with the Capitals, Copley made his debut with the Hershey Bears on October 13 against the Norfolk Admirals saving 29 of 31 shots en route Hershey’s 5-2 win and Copley’s first win in the AHL. Last weekend, Copley continued his winning ways with a 15-save shutout against the Hartford Wolf Pack in their 1-0 overtime win. Copley played in the NAHL during the 2010-11 season and played in the NAPHL during the season prior to that (2009-10) for the California Titans.
