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Recent Region 16 News

The Best Thing I Saw This Week

By Craig Peterson 08/23/2019, 8:00am EDT

A trio of alumni leading the way for the NAHL

The 2019 Junior Club World Cup is underway this week in Sochi, Russia, featuring eight of the top amateur junior leagues in the world, including the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). Representatives from Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Austria round out the eight-team tournament.

Last Friday, the NAHL announced its three captains for the All-Star Team assembled with players representing the top Tier-II junior league in the United States. The 24-man roster consists of players from nine different states, but the three chosen to lead the team had one very interesting characteristic in common: Jake Beaune (Livonia Stevenson, 2018), Austin McCarthy (Manistee, 2017) and Nick Trela (Trenton, 2017) are all alumni of Michigan high school hockey. 

Amidst all the vast differences, unique skill sets and diverse personalities of an all-star team compiled of players representing all 24 NAHL organizations from the previous season; the one constant in all the chaos is an amazing coincidence. A significant badge of honor for the players, but also for the world of MI-HS hockey that they continue to represent. 

Beaune was a three-year lettermen at Stevenson, recording 35 goals and 71 points from the blue line, and a captain for the Spartans as a senior. The 6-foot-3 defenseman finished his rookie season of juniors with the 2019 Robertson Cup champion Aberdeen Wings. 

Entering his second NAHL season, McCarthy is slated to be the Topeka Pilots’ captain in 19-20 as well. The Ludington native was a captain for Manistee during his junior season, where he scored 64 goals and 137 points in three seasons. 

A 99-born forward, Trela played his sophomore and junior seasons for Trenton, and scored 10 goals and 20 points in his first season of juniors for the Amarillo Bulls. 

What an unbelievable opportunity for the players to travel to Russia for an international tournament and an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having three former players move on in their careers and earn that opportunity is impressive enough. The story could end right there and it would be a great headline. I don’t know what the odds of having all three of them be named captains is, but I think it’s safe to say they’re pretty slim. What an awesome moment for the players and for high school hockey.

That’s the best thing I’ve seen this week. 

What’s the best thing you’ve seen in high school hockey? Continue the conversation with me on Twitter, would love to hear your thoughts, comments, questions and feedback!

 

 

 

 

 

NAHL Draft Recap

By Craig Peterson 06/07/2019, 8:45pm EDT

Tuesday's Selections See Several MI-HS Players Embarking On New Journey

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) hosted its annual draft on Tuesday, with five Michigan High School alumni selected during the 26-team, 16-round event. Coupled with eight more players who have signed tender agreements, the NAHL continues to be a prominent avenue of player advancement for MI-HS players.

The first alum to be selected 41st overall in the second round, Adam Conquest (Brighton, 2018) is one year removed from his senior season. The 6-foot forward spent the ‘18-19 season in the BCHL, where he scored six goals and 26 points in 46 games as a rookie for the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Austin Adamic (Livonia Stevenson, 2019) was the first senior off the board when Kenai River took him in the fifth round. The ‘00-birth year played three seasons for the Spartans as well as consecutive Fall seasons in the MDHL in addition to representing Team Michigan as a junior and a senior.

Defenseman Joe Borthwick (Detroit Catholic Central, 2019) scored 58 points in two seasons with the Shamrocks, drawing the attention of Minot with the 143rd overall pick in the sixth round. He was the second and final senior to be selected on Tuesday.

He played 48 games for the Redmen between his freshman and sophomores seasons, but Luke Beerman (Marquette, 2019) spent his two most recent seasons with Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota. The former MI-HS player was chosen in the ninth round by expansion team New Mexico.

Sean Detloff (University Liggett, 2018) spent all four seasons with the Knights before playing the ‘18-19 season in the QJAAAHL. Not the most popular route for MI-HS players, but it helped get him chosen in the 12th round by Johnstown. The 6-foot-2 defenseman has some experience in the NAHL already, having played in two regular-season games already.

The five draftees coupled with eight NAHL tenders puts 13 MI-HS new alumni onto teams’ 30-man protected lists heading into the summer.

A pair of senior defensemen in Tim Erkkila (Brighton, 2019) and Brendan Murphy (Saline, 2019) signed with Fairbanks, with Murphy’s deal coming just days before the NAHL Draft.

It was a strong year for MI-HS defensemen as a third senior, Cam Blanton (Trenton, 2019), signed with the 2019 Robertson Cup champions Aberdeen earlier in the year along with a fourth in Anthony Mollica (Jenison, 2019) to Maryland. Forward Bryce Kallen (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2019) also signed with Aberdeen.

The 2018 Mr. Hockey recipient Sam Evola (Detroit Country Day, 2019) was another early signing in the season, when he tendered with Minot.

Catholic Central senior forwards Carter Korpi and Mitch Morris tendered with Bismarck and Johnstown respectively, as the teammates could soon become opponents next season.

Junior John Druskinis (Hartland, 2020) is getting a jumpstart on the process, as he’s the lone underclassman to earn a tender. He could follow in the footsteps of Gabe Potyk (Lake Orion, 2019) last season and Griffen Sanom (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2018) the year before that, as recent underclassmen to leave early and play in the NAHL.

There are lots of avenues available to MI-HS players post-graduation and the North American League seems to be the most fruitful option out there for them at this time. Obviously, there are other routes worth exploring, as we’ve mentioned the select few who compete in the USHL but also other Canadian junior options that are growing in popularity and success rates. We’ll continue to dive deeper into those opportunities as the summer carries on.

 

 

 

 

 

NAHL Draft Recap

By Craig Peterson 06/07/2019, 8:45pm EDT

Tuesday's Selections See Several Players Embarking On New Journey

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) hosted its annual draft on Tuesday, with five Michigan High School alumni selected during the 26-team, 16-round event. Coupled with eight more players who have signed tender agreements, the NAHL continues to be a prominent avenue of player advancement for MI-HS players.

The first alum to be selected 41st overall in the second round, Adam Conquest (Brighton, 2018) is one year removed from his senior season. The 6-foot forward spent the ‘18-19 season in the BCHL, where he scored six goals and 26 points in 46 games as a rookie for the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Austin Adamic (Livonia Stevenson, 2019) was the first senior off the board when Kenai River took him in the fifth round. The ‘00-birth year played three seasons for the Spartans as well as consecutive Fall seasons in the MDHL in addition to representing Team Michigan as a junior and a senior.

Defenseman Joe Borthwick (Detroit Catholic Central, 2019) scored 58 points in two seasons with the Shamrocks, drawing the attention of Minot with the 143rd overall pick in the sixth round. He was the second and final senior to be selected on Tuesday.

He played 48 games for the Redmen between his freshman and sophomores seasons, but Luke Beerman (Marquette, 2019) spent his two most recent seasons with Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota. The former MI-HS player was chosen in the ninth round by expansion team New Mexico.

Sean Detloff (University Liggett, 2018) spent all four seasons with the Knights before playing the ‘18-19 season in the QJAAAHL. Not the most popular route for MI-HS players, but it helped get him chosen in the 12th round by Johnstown. The 6-foot-2 defenseman has some experience in the NAHL already, having played in two regular-season games already.

The five draftees coupled with eight NAHL tenders puts 13 MI-HS new alumni onto teams’ 30-man protected lists heading into the summer.

A pair of senior defensemen in Tim Erkkila (Brighton, 2019) and Brendan Murphy (Saline, 2019) signed with Fairbanks, with Murphy’s deal coming just days before the NAHL Draft.

It was a strong year for MI-HS defensemen as a third senior, Cam Blanton (Trenton, 2019), signed with the 2019 Robertson Cup champions Aberdeen earlier in the year along with a fourth in Anthony Mollica (Jenison, 2019) to Maryland. Forward Bryce Kallen (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2019) also signed with Aberdeen.

The 2018 Mr. Hockey recipient Sam Evola (Detroit Country Day, 2019) was another early signing in the season, when he tendered with Minot.

Catholic Central senior forwards Carter Korpi and Mitch Morris tendered with Bismarck and Johnstown respectively, as the teammates could soon become opponents next season.

Junior John Druskinis (Hartland, 2020) is getting a jumpstart on the process, as he’s the lone underclassman to earn a tender. He could follow in the footsteps of Gabe Potyk (Lake Orion, 2019) last season and Griffen Sanom (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2018) the year before that, as recent underclassmen to leave early and play in the NAHL.

There are lots of avenues available to MI-HS players post-graduation and the North American League seems to be the most fruitful option out there for them at this time. Obviously, there are other routes worth exploring, as we’ve mentioned the select few who compete in the USHL but also other Canadian junior options that are growing in popularity and success rates. We’ll continue to dive deeper into those opportunities as the summer carries on.

 

 

 

 

 

  • State Bound!

  • By Craig Peterson 03/03/2019, 10:30am EST
  • All 24 Regional Champions heading to the state tournament
  • Read More