NAHL Announces Bauer Hockey Stars of the Week
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) today announced the Divisional Stars of the Week presented by Bauer Hockey for the week ending October 6th, 2024. Only players that are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the Divisional Players of the Week award.
Central Division Star of the Week: Damon Cunningham, Goalie, Aberdeen Wings
Sturgeon County, Alberta native Damon Cunningham couldn’t have asked for a better start to his NAHL career so far this season. The 04’ netminder has gone undefeated in his first four starts, with two of those wins coming this weekend in Aberdeen’s sweep of the Watertown Shamrocks. Friday night, Cunningham played all 60 minutes, allowing just two goals on 34 Watertown shots sent his way. He one-upped himself the following evening matchup, not allowing a goal on 27 shots to earn his first career shutout as a Wing. On the weekend, Damon finished 2-0 with a goals against average of 1.00 and a .967 save percentage.
“Damon has come in and been on a mission,” said Aberdeen head coach Scott Langer. “He has great details to his game and a work ethic to go with it. Damon gives us a chance to win when he is in the net.”
2nd Star: Jesse Juhola, F, Minot Minotauros
3rd Star: Leonid Bulgakov, F, Aberdeen Wings
East Division Star of the Week: Shane Kozlina, Forward, Maine Nordiques
Early into his second full season wearing a Nordiques sweater, Maine forward Shane Kozlina has been showing all signs of his offensive dominanace in the East Division. In a pair of matchups against the Johnstown Tomahawks this weekend, the Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania native tallied a trio of goals and a pair of assists. On Friday, Kozlina recorded a hat trick including a crucial eventual game winning goal late in the third period.
“Speaking to Shane after an average TEAM showcase performance, we asked him to embrace his “poster boy” season,” said Maine head coach Nick Skerlick. “Be the spark and don’t wait for a teammate to get us going. Nutrition, off ice, and rest are a premium right now in order to be the best player/person he can be as I do believe he can top the division in scoring this season. Next season he will be an underclassmen waiting to earn a coach’s trust. With his continued preparation yielding incredible effort, such as this past weekend, Shane will have a special special season before heading to school.”
2nd Star: Niko Tournas, F, Danbury Hat Tricks
3rd Star: Tyler Stern, F, Maryland Black Bears
Midwest Division Star of the Week: Mitchell McCusker, Goalie, Kenai River Brown Bears
The Kenai River Brown Bears have had a very strong start to the 24-25’ campaign, leading the Midwest Division in points; a piece of that success can be attributed to having rookie netminder Mitchell McCusker between the pipes. McCusker opened up the three game series allowing a pair of goals on 25 shots faced. The Alpharetta, Georgia native followed up his Friday night performance with an even stronger one on Saturday, allowing just one goal on 34 shots faced in a 2-1 shootout victory. On top of those 33 saves, Mitchell shut down all three Janesville skaters in the shootout. He finished the weekend with a 1.42 goals against average and .949 save percentage.
“Mitchell played a crucial role in our team’s success this past weekend,” said Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw. “In each game, he was a difference maker with timely saves, routine saves, and some big ones when we needed them. He has been such a vital piece to our team to start the season, and we look forward to him continuing to work on his craft as the season moves forward.”
2nd Star: Toby Carlson, F, Anchorage Wolverines
3rd Star: Niko Laus, F, Springfield Jr. Blues
South Division Star of the Week: Stepan Kuznetsov, Forward, Corpus Christi IceRays
The Corpus Christi IceRays continue to stay hot in the South Division and so does their veteran forward Stepan Kuznetsov. The Biloxi, Mississippi native leads the IceRays in points and currently sits second accross the entire NAHL in scoring with 14 points. This weekend in a three-game series against the New Mexico Ice Wolves, Kuznetsov tallied a pair of pair of points each night. His strongest performance came on Saturday, logging the game tying goal late in regulation before scoring the shootout winner past netminder Jackson Fuller.
“We are so happy for Kuzy, he’s worked so hard this off season,” said Corpus Christi head coach Sylvain Cloutier. “He’s finally getting rewarded for all his hard work.”
2nd Star: Jack Spicer, G, Lone Star Brahmas
3rd Star: Nikita Volsky, G, Corpus Christi IceRays
