NAHL Announces Bauer Hockey Stars of the Week

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) announced today the Bauer Hockey Divisional Stars of the Week for the week ending November 9, 2025. Only players that are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the Divisional Player of the Week awards.

 

Central Division Star of the Week: Fuji Suzuki, Forward, North Iowa Bulls

Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Fuji Suzuki showed off his offensive prowess on Saturday night against the reigning Robertson Cup champions. The 5-foot-10 righty played a critical role in the Bulls' 5-4 victory over the Bismarck Bobcats. The contest kicked off with the ‘05 forward helping to set up Denis Kuzmenkov’s power-play goal in the first period. Suzuki would even the score in the second frame. with his first short-handed goal of the season. Moving into the third period, North Iowa was playing from behind when Bismarck tallied a goal at the 14:28 minute mark. Less than four minutes later, Suzuki finds the back of the net again to even the game 4-4. With Suzuki helping to force the game into extra minutes, he came in clutch again, helping his teammate, Vitaliy Korolyuk, score in overtime, thanks to his primary assist. The second-year veteran finished his night with a career-high four-point game. He tallied two goals and two assists, playing a role in every goal except one.

​For the year, Suzuki leads his roster with his 20 total points and 1.25 points per game. The 20-year-old from Japan has played on the world stage, skating for Japan’s U20 team, and was one of the top scorers on his team last year.

Head coach of the Bulls, Nick Bruneteau, explains more on the impact of Suzuki on the scoresheet and his ability to be coachable.

“Fuji had a great weekend for us. He found ways to contribute in all areas and was a catalyst in Saturday’s win. He’s an easy player to coach, and plays a mature team-first game. We expect him to continue to produce and lead like he has so far this season.”

2nd Star: Junior Podein, F, Watertown Shamrocks

3rd Star: Mike Malatino, F, North Iowa Bulls

 

East Division Star of the Week: Konner Powell, Forward, Rochester Jr. Americans

Featuring a three-goal weekend for the Jr. Americans, Konner Powell helped to lift Rochester to a sweep over the Northeast Generals. The 5-foot-9 righty from Tennessee secured his first goal of his junior career on Friday night. He found the back of the net late in the second frame, thanks to a set-up by Corson Maguire and Gavin Carr. Heading into Saturday night, the ‘07 forward tallied a career-high two-goal performance. He first found the back of the net in the opening frame at the 11:40 minute mark. He goes on to score his second goal in the middle period in the final minutes of the period. His offensive production was critical in helping Rochester secure points against the Northeast Generals.

The 18-year-old has made an impact on the scoresheet in five out of six games played this season. He currently features three goals and three assists on the season.

2nd Star: Alex Lunski, F, Philadelphia Rebels

3rd Star: Michal Tkac, D, Rochester Jr. Americans

 

Midwest Division Star of the Week: Nathan Tobey, Defenseman, Janesville Jets

The 20-year-old from the Lone Star State, Nathan Tobey, was a critical key in the Jets’ success for the weekend. The 6-foot blueliner kicked off his weekend with an overtime win on Friday night. Tobey found the back of the net on the man advantage in the third period to help keep the Jets in the contest. He then went on to provide an assist on the overtime game-winning goal for Janesville. Heading into Saturday night, the blueliner featured a two-point contest, helping to lift the Jets to a dominant 5-1 victory. Tobey first shows up on the scoresheet when he finds the back of the net quickly in the second period with a power-play goal at the 18:26 minute mark. The Texas native goes on to provide an assist on Joseph Hyten’s power-play goal six minutes later.

The first-year Jet leads blueliners on his roster with 11 total points and three goals. All three of his tallies have been scored on the man advantage. Tobey is the second Janesville Jet to earn Midwest Division Star of the Week honors this season.

Head coach of the Jets, Lennie Childs, dives into detail on Tobey’s development and the maturity he brings to the team.

“Nate is hitting his stride in all facets of his game. He brings a level of maturity that makes him a calming, reliable leader for us on the defensive corps. He has always been a smart and skilled player, and he has added the confidence piece to his game. The points he is getting are a byproduct of his dedication to development and the standard of detail he brings to the ice every day.”

2nd Star: Jackson Ernst, F, Wisconsin Windigo

3rd Star: Luc Bydal, F, Anchorage Wolverines

 

South Division Star of the Week: Ethan Woolcott, Forward, El Paso Rhinos

Making a statement on the scoresheet over the weekend, Ethan Woolcott sports an eight-point performance over two games. The 5-foot-11 lefty hailing from the Golden State, Woolcott kicked off a dominant weekend on Friday night against the Corpus Christi IceRays. The 20-year-old got the scoring started in the first period thanks to a tally at the 14:46 minute mark. The contest featured both teams battling back and forth, and it looked like the IceRays were heading to a 4-3 victory until the last minute of the game. With 32 seconds on the clock, Woolcott and his teammates got to work. El Paso’s Ian Kastamo found the back of the net thanks to a set-up by Woolcott and Chase Nyitray. With the matchup moving into extra minutes, the Rhinos were looking to keep their winning ways alive at their home rink. Ironically, helping his teammate score in the first 32 seconds of overtime, Woolcott notches a primary assist on Tommy Shore’s game-winning goal. The Rhinos would earn a 5-4 overtime victory and head into game two looking to secure another win. On Saturday night, that is when Woolcott featured a career-high performance. The San Diego, California native tallied five assists in the matchup. He notched three assists in the opening frame and went on to secure an assist in each of the following two periods. The Rhinos skate away with a huge 9-3 win.

​The ‘05 skater produced a goal while notching seven assists against the Corpus Christi IceRays. For the season, Woolcott is tied first on his roster with 25 total points on the year. He sits alone at the top with his 19 assists for the season. 

Head coach of the Rhinos, Mike Rivera, explains more about Woolcott’s contributions to the team.

“Wooly has been dynamic for our team all season. He plays in every situation and consistently leads by example with his detailed 200-foot game and offensive contribution. His seven assists this weekend are a testament to how he drives offense, which included a two-zone pass on the tape for Friday’s game winner. It was great to see him point well, and we expect him to continue to be an integral piece of our team this season.”

2nd Star: Troy Hunka, F, El Paso Rhinos

3rd Star: Brock Fairbanks, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves