Press Release
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its monthly
player awards for the month of September. The Combat Hockey NAHL
Forward of the Month is Jono Davis from the Wenatchee Wild. The Combat Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month is Mark Evan Auk from the Port Huron Fighting Falcons. The Brian’s Custom Sports NAHL Goaltender of the Month is Drew Weigman from
the Brookings Blizzard. Only players who are nominated by their
respective teams are considered for the NAHL monthly awards.
Combat Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Jono Davis, Wenatchee Wild
Wenatchee Wild forward Jono Davis, 20, had a September to
remember as he helped the Wild to a perfect 8-0-0 record during the
month. The native of La Verne, California, led all NAHL players in
scoring in the month of September as he registered 14 points during the
month (8 goals, 6 assists) in eight games played. Davis (5’8/155)
scored at least a point in seven of the eight games he played in during
the month and had four multi-point games. Davis leads the NAHL in
several categories including, goals (8), points (14), plus/minus (+10)
and game winning goals (3). Davis is currently riding a five-game point
streak. “Jono plays exactly how we want to play… quick, fast-paced and
smart,” said Wild head coach Bliss Littler. “He has world-class speed
and can finish his scoring chances. He is an experienced leader at this
level and is a player who will get a chance to play at the NCAA
Division I level.”
“I think when it comes to my success in September, it is because of a
great set of teammates I have around me,” said Davis. “I think the
team is really close right now and everyone has a role and knows what
they need to do in order for us to be successful. We worked hard this
summer to come into camp in shape and ready to go. The NAHL Showcase
went really well for us and the support from my teammates, the coaches
and the staff in Wenatchee has been the best.”
Runner-Up: Luc Boby, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Lawrence Cornellier, Odessa Jackalopes – Nick Horne, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Jackson Leef, Texas Tornado – Devin Loe, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Lucas Oliver, Minot Minotauros – Kyle Sharkey, Topeka RoadRunners - Brett Skibba, Springfield Jr. Blues – Rudy Sulmonte, Corpus Christi IceRays – Austin Vieth, Janesville Jets – Thomas Williams, Brookings Blizzard.
Combat Hockey NAHL Defenseman of the Month: Mark Evan Auk, Port Huron Fighting Falcons
For a team that is leading the North Division with an 8-2-0
record, one may not expect their leading scorer to be the second
youngest player on the team and also a defenseman. However, that’s
exactly what Port Huron Fighting Falcons defenseman Mark Evan Auk, 17,
did during the month of September. The native of Gross Point Park,
Michigan, recorded eight points from the blueline (2 goals, 6 assists)
in 10 games played during the month. His eight points leads the
Fighting Falcons in scoring and is second among NAHL defensemen. Auk
(6’0/170) leads all NAHL defensemen in shots with 24 and is 2nd in
plus/minus rating with a +6. “We knew Mark had a lot of skill coming
from playing high school hockey in Michigan, but you are never really
sure until he is put in a game situation,” said Port Huron head coach
Steve Shannon. “We have tried to make sure that he is playing two-way
hockey, but his offensive abilities have shined through. He takes good
care of the puck and continues to be a very pleasant surprise for us
this season.”
“It has been the best year so far for me in hockey wise and I have
learned a lot in just the couple of months that I have been here,” said
Auk. “At this level, mistakes can really cost you so I have tried to
make smart decisions with and without the puck. I think we have a smart
and experienced team. We get better as the game goes along and I think
that has played into our success thus far.”
Runner-Up: Josh Hartley, Wenatchee Wild
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brett Beauvais, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings – Jake Clifford, Minot Minotauros – Cody Dixon, Springfield Jr. Blues – Nick Hinz, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Bryan Kronberger, Janesville Jets – Tyler Minx, Odessa Jackalopes – Anthony Mousseau, Texas Tornado – Brandon Parker, Brookings Blizzard - Phil Pietroniro, Corpus Christi IceRays.
Brian’s Custom Sports NAHL Goaltender of the Month: Drew Weigman, Brookings Blizzard
Brookings Blizzard goaltender Drew Weigman, 18, has been named
the Brian’s Custom Sports NAHL Goaltender of the Month for September.
The native of Arnold, Maryland, made his NAHL debut in Blaine at the
NAHL Showcase, which turned out to be a 29-save performance in a 4-2 win
over the Johnstown Tomahawks. As Brookings tried to finalize their
search for a #1 goalie the remainder of the month, Weigman (6-1/185) got
his chance this past weekend in a home-and-home series with their
rival, the Aberdeen Wings. Weigman stopped 71 of a combined 73 shots in
a weekend sweep, which included a shutout on Saturday, in which he made
37 saves. For the month, Weigman posted a perfect 3-0-0 record with a
1.00 goals against average and stopped 101 of 104 total shots for a
97.1% save percentage. “Drew has earned the #1 spot and has played even
better since we gave him that role,” said Blizzard head coach Cory
Laylin. “He continually comes up with the big saves and important times
in the game. Sometimes you need your goalie to make saves to change
the momentum of games and that’s what Drew has allowed us to do.”
“I knew it was going to be a battle with three goalies here to start
the season, so I tried to focus as best I could in practice and in
games,” said Weigman. “That first game of the NAHL Showcase was played
in front of a lot of fans and scouts, so I just tried to focus and stop
the puck. I think the weekend against Aberdeen was a bit different,
especially on Saturday night at their place. It was a crazy atmosphere
and something I had never seen. I knew if I could team my team in the
game and whether the storm we would have a good chance at success and
that’s what happened.”
Runner-Up: Spencer Viele, Topeka RoadRunners
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brock Kautz, Janesville Jets – Hunter Leisner, Texas Tornado – Matt Leon, Springfield Jr. Blues – Max Milosek, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Robert Nichols, Wenatchee Wild – Steve Perry, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Ryan Ruck, Minot Minotauros.
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
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