Players of the Week: 12/8

Here's a look at different players of the week for the period ending on December 6. This week, we have a Corpus Christi Icerayz goalie and a Wichita Falls Wildcats Forward winning it in the South Division as the Tornado are looking to climb back up in the South Division as we get near the Christmas break in the North American Hockey League. Also, We have Mathieu Beaudoin of the Texas Stars who was the AHL Player of the Week.

Kevin Nastiuk

Kevin Nastiuk of the Corpus Christi Icerayz was named the leagues goalie of the week after coming up with stopping 55 of 58 shots in a 1-1 week with a win against the Arizona Sundogs and a loss against the Texas Brahmas. In the win against Arizona, A convincing 6-1 win was a big part of trying to get the Icerayz up in the Southern Conference as the Sundogs continue to sit in the Southern Conference where after a 1-1 game at the 8 minute mark.

Nastiuk help out the team which scored 5 unanswered goals, including 2 in 90 seconds late in the 1st period to make it 3-1. Then goals early in the 2nd and 3rd period helped make it 5-1 before Jason Tessier scored his 2nd of the game to cap the 6-1 win on Thursday. On Friday night against Texas, It was a hard luck loss where after a Justin Quenneville goal just 3 minutes in helped out the Icerayz early.

However, the Brahmas came back with a goal just 2 minutes later to tie it at 1-1. Then it became a goalie dual where it stayed 1-1 until a Grant Jacobsen goal early in the 2nd gave the Brahmas a 2-1 lead which turned out to be the game winner goal to help the Brahmas win 2-1.

Despite, stopping 55 of 58 shots in the 2 games and having the 2nd best GAA at 2.37 and a league best SV% at .927. The Icerayz still sit in 7th place in the Southern Conference, because the offense in front of him hasn't helped him out very much as Jereme Tendler leads the team with just 10 goals and is tied with Arizona for having the worst team offense in the Southern Conference.

If Corpus Christi is going to move up in the South, the offense will need to support Nastiuk more often and give him some breathing room to work with and give the team more chances to win against the best in the league.


Aaron Quick

During a rare successful weekend for the Wildcats this season, Aaron Quick scored 3 goals and an assist in a 3 games this week against the Springfield Jr. Blues. On Wednesday, the week began with an assist on a goal by JT Osborn on the PP to bring the Wildcats within a goal of the Jr. Blues that was later tied by Ryan Frost in the opening minute of the 3rd period which got the game to a SO before losing to the Jr. Blues back on Wednesday night.

Then on Saturday came his best night when he scored a hat trick on Saturday which included the game winner early in the 2nd period and an empty netter in the final minutes of the game to make it a 4-1 win over the Wildcats. This week was big on what the Wildcats need to do dig out of the hole their in right now in the South Division. Currently, they are still 10 points back of the Springfield Jr. Blues and Texas Tornado who are tied for 3rd in the South Division.

For Quick, this takes his point total to 13 (5G 8A) this season through 20 games played, but has a -7 Plus/Minus rating and he's hoping to use this as a break out weekend to improve his and the teams season right now.

As for the upcoming schedule, these games were the final home games of the 1st half of the season. A pair of games against the Springfield Jr. Blues on 12/18-19 will be huge towards ending the 1st half of the season with some momentum. However, this weekend, it's an instate clash with the Texas Tornado this weekend, who are on a hot streak by winning 6 of their last 8 which continued with a split of the Topeka Roadrunners last weekend.

For Wichita Falls, to get back in the South Division Race, the Wildcats need to get players like Tyler Lundey and Adam Kuhn who are leading the team in assists with 15 to score some goals to increase the number of scoring threats on the team.

Mathieu Beaudoin

The American Hockey League has announced that Beaudoin has had a great week with a 5 goal week in 3 games this past weekend and helped keep the Texas Stars keep their lead in the West Division.

On the road within the division this weekend, he got the Stars going with a hat trick back on Friday night with a 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Admirals in just a dominating performance from start to finish. Then next up against Chicago, his goal which helped the Stars get to 2-1 against Chicago helped get a comeback rolling where the Stars won the game 5-3 against the Chicago Wolves who themselves have been on a hot streak. Then on Sunday, it was back to Texas as Beaudoin scored the equalizer in the 2nd period which propel ed them to a 4-1 win to complete the 3 game road trip.

For Beaudoin, this takes his point total for the season to 15 points (6G 9A). Even though the Stars don't have a single dangerous goal scorer. Everyone has been contributing to help the team win, especially on defense where they have just given up 50 goals in 27 games which is the best team defense in the AHL right now.

As for the upcoming schedule, 6 of their next 8 will be at home with trips to Grand Rapids and Syracuse that are a part of it. The Stars also face Rockford twice, Peoria on 12/9, 2 games against the Houston Aeros and a game against San Antonio on 12/27.

The Stars can make a statement be developing a strong home ice advantage that can make it a very hard place to play in the later part of the season. Another part of the home ice is the crowds where the team is averaging over 5000 fans a game so far this season, which is in the top 10 of the AHL.


Other Players getting Players of the Week!

North American Hockey League

North Division: John Fritsche of the Alpena Ice Diggers

Central Division: Ryan Bohrer of the North Iowa Outlaws

West Division: Mark Pustin of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Goalie: Marco Wieser of the Alpena Ice Diggers


United States Hockey League

Forward: Reed Seckel of the Green Bay Gamblers

Defensemen: Jared Beers of the Cedar Rapids Roughriders

Goalies: Carsen Chubak of the Tri-City Storm


Western Hockey League

Johnny Lazo of the Tri-City Americans


Ontario Hockey League

Alex Hutchings of the Barrie Colts


Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Player: Samson Mahbod of the P.E.I. Rockets

Goalie: Nathan Dunnett of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar


Central Hockey League

Player: Louis Dumont of the Mississippi Riverkings

League Players of the Week: 11/30

Another week in the CHL and both the Player of the Week and Goalie of the Week are both from Texas Teams once again. This week, Justin Bowers of the Allen Americans and Andy Franck of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees won the weekly honors as both teams look to close in the Odessa Jackalopes in the Southern Conference.

Justin Bowers, Allen Americans

Bowers notched 4 points in 4 games this week with him seeing the club win 3 of the 4 games this week. After having scored the game winner and added another assist against the League Leaders Odessa Jackalopes.

He also had a goal against the Texas Brahmas in a 4-3 win back on 11/28 and had 2 goals in a 4-2 win over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on November 29. He has multiple points in 6 of the last 7 games and is also on a 3 game goal scoring streak. On the season, Bowers is leading the team with 25 points (7G 18A) and also leads the team in assists with 18.

Andy Franck, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

Franck had a busy week in net where he stopped 149 shots in his 3 games for the Killer Bees this week. He had wins against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs and the Amarillo Gorillas while just coming short in an OTL against the Odessa Jackalopes.

His best night came on Wednesday night against Bossier-Shreveport where he made 47 saves which has been the 2nd most in any league game this season, which was just one short of Joel Martin of Odessa who had 48 in a game against the Corpus Christi Icerayz back on October 30. In 14 games played this season for the Killer Bees, he has a 2.66 GAA and a .925 SV%. He also has a 6-3-3 record right now.

Jared Williams, Texas Tornado

In addition to the CHL, Jared Williams of the Texas Tornado was awarded the South Division Player of the Week in the North American Hockey League.

Jared had a great week for the Tornado scoring 6 points in a 2 game sweep over the Wichita Falls Wildcats with 2 goals and 4 assists. Included in that group was a 2 goal game where he scored the game winner early in the 3rd period just 15 seconds into the 3rd period. After a bad start to the season, the Tornado are starting to pick up the pace as the Tornado are now up to 3rd place with the Springfield Jr. Blues.

It's going to be a tough ride up as the Tornado have to catch up with the Topeka Roadrunners and St. Louis Bandits who are among the favorites to win the South Division and challenge for the Robertson Cup Championship this season. If the Tornado are going to look better and to challenge the Roadrunners and Bandits who have won the Robertson Cup the last 3 seasons.

Other League

United States Hockey League

Forward: Brock Montpetit Waterloo Blackhawks
Defensemen: Dan Sova Waterloo Blackhawks
Goaltender: C.J. Motte Waterloo Blackahwks


North American Hockey League

North Division: John Fritsche Alpena Ice Diggers
Central Division: Nick Jensen Bismarck Bobcats
West Division: Jess Jubinville Wenatchee Wild
Goalie: Mike Taffe Fairbanks Ice Dogs

American Hockey League

Josh Hennessy of the Binghamton Senators

Western Hockey League
Dustin Sylvster of the Kootenay Ice

Ontario Hockey League
Ryan Spooner of the Peterborough Petes

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Phillippe Cornet of the Rouyn-Nornda Huskies
Charles-Oliver Roussel of the Shawinigan Cataractes

League Players of the Week

Central Hockey League

For the 2nd straight week, the Central Hockey League's Player and Goalie of the Week come from the same team.

This time is the Tulsa Oilers as goalie Kevin Armstrong and forward T.J. Craig win the weekly honors for the week of November 9 thru 15 as the Oilers contuine their strong start to the CHL Season as they sit in 2nd place in the CHL Northern Conference just behind defending Northern Conference Champion Colorado Eagles. Last week, it was Mike Brown and Joe Guenther for the Amarillo Gorillas to sweep both awards.

For T.J. Armstrong, a strong week on the PP where he scored 3 of his 4 goals which takes his season total to 9 goals, in addidtion to 9 assists (18 points total ) which takes him to 2nd in the team scoring with 18 points, also in the top 5 is teammate Rob Hisey whos the current overall leader in league scoring with 24 points (10G 14A).

This Weeks Stats
Games played: 3
Goals: 6
Assists: 3
points: 9
Plus/Mines: +3

Recent Players of the Week
10/19/09: Joe Guenther, Amarillo Gorillas
10/26/09: Jeff Pierce, Odessa Jackalopes
11/2/09: Rob Hisey, Tulsa Oilers
11/9/09: Philippe Plante, Odessa Jackalopes

Kevin Armstrong won the goaltender of the week by winning all 3 starts against the Mississippi Riverkings twice and the Rapid City Rush. He best night came on Tuesday against Mississippi where he turned away 36 saves in a 6-5 win. The Goalie from Winnipeg, Manitoba after that game against Mississippi where he gave up just 3 goals in the other 2 games against the Rush back on Friday and the Riverkings on Saturday.

Both T.J. Craig and Kevin Armstrong will receieve a gift pack from Oakley

This Weeks Stats
Games Played: 3
Record: 3-0-0
GAA: 2.67
SV%: .916
Saves: 87 of 95

Previous Goaltender of the Week
10/19/09: Mike Brown, Amarillo Gorillas
10/26/09: Ray Jean, Mississippi Riverkings
11/2/09: Doug Groenestege, Missouri Mavericks
11/9/09: Jean-Philippe Levasseur, Laredo Bucks

American Hockey League: Tyler Eckford of the Lowell Devils

Story: www.theahl.com/eckford-gets-player-of-the-week-nod-p138839

United States Hockey League
Forward: Brodie Reid, Lincoln Stars
Defensemen: Andrej Sustr, Youngstown Phantoms
Goalie: Troy Grosenick

Story: www.ushl.com/news/story.cfm?id=2832

North American Hockey League
North Division: Collin Saint-Onge, Marquette Rangers
South Division: Bryce Johnson, Topeka Roadrunners
Central Division: Bryce Mckenzie, Bismarck Bobcats
West Division: Nardo Nagtzaam, Alaska Avalanche
Goalies: Chris Kamal, Alexandria Blizzard

Story: www.nahl.com/potw.cfm

Western Hockey League
Matt Calvert, Brandon Wheat Kings

Story: www.whl.ca/wheat-kings-matt-clvert-named-boston-pizza-whl-player-of-the-week-p138835

Ontario Hockey League
Ethan Werek, Kingston Frontenacs

Story: www.ontariohockeyleague.com/frontenacs-ethan-werek-named-boston-pizza-ohl-player-of-the-week-p138856

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Philippe Cornet, Rouyn-Nornda Huskies

Story: www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=232&id_nouvele=2279

League Players of the Week

Both the Central Hockey League Player and the Goaltender are from the State of Texas this week as Odessa Jackalopes Defensmen Philippe Plante. As for the CHL Goaltender, Jean-Philippe Levasseur from the Laredo Bucks won the goaltender of the week.

Philippe Plante: Plante helped keep the Jackalopes on top of the Southern Conference by scoring 4 points on the PP (1G 3A). The standout defensemen had points in all 3 of Odessa wins during the week which totaled 5 points (1G 4A), in addition to his great scoring ability, he also had a +3 rating.

The native of Quebec had a pair of helpers in the win over the Corpus Christi Icerayz on Thursday night, a power play goal and an assist in the win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Friday and he also assisted on a goal in the teams 5th straight win on Saturday night. The great week for Odessa kept the team on top of the Southern Conference and have the leagues best record at 8-1-1 through 10 games.

Recent Players of the Week:
10/19/09: Joe Guenther of the Amarillo Gorillas
10/26/09: Jeff Pierce of the Odessa Jackalopes
11/2/09: Rob Hisey of the Tulsa Oilers

Jean-Philippe Levasseur: Levasseur won the goaltender of the week after posting a pair of wins against the Arizona Sundogs this weekend. The first year Laredo Buck helped them win 2 of the 3 games after being drilled 9-0 back on November 4. The Bucks came back with 1 goal wins with 3-2 and 4-3 wins on Friday and Saturday night.

For the native of Victoriaville, Quebec, he allowed just 5 goals on the week by stopping 54 of 59 shots. He also helped the team to get in a tie for 2nd place in the Conference. He's currently 4-0-1 with a 2.55 GAA and a .909 SV%.

Recent Goalies of the Week
10/19/09: Mike Brown of the Amarillo Gorillas
10/26/09: Ray Jean of the Mississippi Riverkings
11/2/09: Doug Groenestege of the Missouri Mavericks


North American Hockey League:

North Division: Andy Huff of the Traverse City North Stars
South Division: Jared Rickord of the Springfield Jr. Blues
Central Division: Chris Darnell of the Owatonna Express
West Divisoin: Duncan Mckellar of the Wenatchee Wild
Goalie: Paul Moberg of the North Iowa Outlaws

To Read more on the NAHL Players of the Week: www.nahl.com/potw.cfm


United States Hockey League

Forward: Matt White of the Omaha Lancers
Defensemen: Zach Palmquist of the Waterloo Blackhawks
Goalie: Steven Racine of the Omaha Lancers

To Read on the USHL Players of the Week: www.ushl.com/news/story.cfm?id=2817

Major Juniors

Player: Trevor Parkes of the Montreal De Junior
Goalie: James Reid of the Spokane Chiefs

League Players of the Week

Here's a look at the different players of the week.

This week in the season opener, the Amarillo Gorillas seeped both as the team won all 3 of their games last weekend with a 5-0 shutout over the Wichita Thunder, a 2-1 win in their home opener against West Texas Rival Odessa Jackalopes and the Mississippi Riverkings who got to the Northern Conference Final last year 5-2.

CHL Skater of the Week: Amarillo Gorillas Forward Joe Guenther

Guenther helped push the Gorillas into first place in the Southern Conference with a strong 7 point week (2 G, 5 A). The long time veteran had points in all 3 games the Gorillas won and also finished with a plus-minus ranking of +7.

The New York Native saved his best game of the week for Sunday against Mississippi by scoring the game winner and scoring another while tallying 2 assists in the game. He also scored the game winner in the 2-1 victory in the home opener against the Odessa Jackalopes on Saturday


CHL Goalie of the Week: Amarillo Gorillas Goalie Mike Brown

Brown wins the first goaltender of the week of the season by getting wins in both of his starts with wins over Wichita and Odessa. Like Guenther, who won the CHL Player of the week, he's also from New York State allowed just one goal this week by stopping 60 of 61 shots for a very strong .984 SV% and a GAA of 0.50. All he needed was 18 saves in the win over Wichita. However in the win over Mississippi where he stopped 42 saves against Odessa.

NAHL Players of the Week

North Division: Zach Smoot of the Janesville Jets

South Division: Ryan White of the Topeka Roadrunners

Central Division: Alex Altenbernrd of the Alexandria Blizzard

West Division: Jake Parenteau of the Alaska Avalanche

Goalie: Mike Shibrowski of the Owatonna Express