A Hockey Rink Rebel along the Guadalupe

Here's an interesting story that I helped out with a little bit by sending some of the info and keeping up playoffs. It was done by JT Garza of the San Antonio Express News. It covers his move from Michigan to Texas back in 2008. The honors he's won this season, the disappointment about missing out on the NAHL Robertson Cup Tournament and heading to Northern Michigan University for his college career.

From JT Garza of the San Antonio Express News: www.mysanantonio.com

Erik Higby racked up quite an assortment of honors this season in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

A forward for the Topeka Roadrunners, Higby was named MVP and Forward of the Year in the 19-team league for junior players. He also won the league's scoring title with 80 points and 27 goals.

He was also the league's nominee for the 2010 USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year Award.

This kind of hockey recognition rarely goes to a player from South Texas.

"It doesn't feel like a big deal to me," said Higby, 20, of New Braunfels. "When you hear it, it's exciting. but it doesn't mean anything for next year.

A transplant from Michigan, Higby will attend Northern Michigan on a half scholarship and majors in Sports Management. When he finishes at the university, he hopes to stay close to hockey regardless of whether he's playing.

"I figured if I can't go any further in hockey, I want to coach and teach as many kids as possible to get into the sport," he said.

Higby's family moved from Michigan to New Braunfels in 2008 from their hometown of Warren, Michigan., after his mother, Maria, sold her textbooks shop business.

She is a currently is a property manager and his father, Mike, is a housing contractor.

His father got him into hockey, starting in rec. leagues. Higby quickly grasped playing on the ice, and by the age of 15, he was playing in the Midwest Elite Hockey League.

"Coaches played players a year older and a year younger then me, so I was able to play with kids around my age and have fun," Higby said.

The NAHL prepares players 20 and under for College Careers. Each team has 20 to 25 players, who are drafted from a pool of high school students.

The Roadrunners season came to an end in late April after losing to the three-time NAHL Champion, the St. Louis Bandits in the South Division Final of the Robertson Cup. It was the 2nd straight year that Higby lost to the Bandits in the South Division Final.

In this year's series against the Bandits, he had two assists and no goals in the five game set.

"Everybody was down," Higby said. "I was disappointed in myself for the way I played."

He would trade all of his individual accomplishments this year to win a championship because "I'm a team player.

Higby is back in town getting ready to enjoy his summer by working with his father in the Housing Business.

"I'm gone 8 months out of the year, so I miss him, "Higby said. "I would call him evey day to see how he was doing, and now i'm excited to work and spend time with him."

Higby will leave for Northern Michigan on August 15, but he plans on making his time in South Texas well Spent.

"I'm going to be working, go to the gym to better myself, and see all my family and friends," said Higby.

Topeka's Erik Higby named NAHL Player of the Year

New Braunfels, Texas Native and Topeka Roadrunners forward Erik Higby has already committed to Northern Michigan University, and won the League's Scoring Title. He's now been named the League's Player of the Year for the 2009-2010 season.

To many people this was no surprise as the Roadrunners forward had a big breakout year going from 37 points (11G 23A) to an impressive 80 points and showing the CCHA a glimpse of what to expect when he arrives at Northern Michigan University next year along with Texas Natives C.J. Ludwig & Ryan Daugherty next season.

Despite the disappointing playoff run where he had just 5 assists in the playoffs, the Roadrunners went toe-to-toe with the Bandits where the first 4 games were back-and-forth. However, Game 5 went bad when the Bandits scored 4 goals in the 2nd period to eventually doom the Roadrunners season. This won't take away from the big things he's looking forward to when he joins the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).

After winning the League's Player of the Year, he will represent the North American Hockey League for the USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year Award for the entire nation.

From the NAHL Website: www.nahl.com

From Wenatchee, Washington: The North American Hockey League (NAHL) announced tonight at the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament banquet that Topeka Roadrunners forward Erik Higby has been named its Most Valuable Player for the 2009-2010 season, as selected by the league's coaches and Team GMs.

Higby was also selected as the NAHL's Nominee for the 2010 USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year Award, named Forward of the Year and to the All-NAHL Team for this season.

The 20 year old forward from New Braunfels, Texas won the NAHL Regular Season Scoring Title with 80 points which includes 27 goals. His +37 rating also lead the league during the regular season.

"Erik is a special type of player," said Roadrunners Head Coach Scott Langer. "His vision and abilities on the ice are tremendous, but what really sets him apart is the way he goes about his business; he's focused, determined, intelligent, he quietly leads by example."

Higby, who participated in January's NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, has committed to North Michigan University (CCHA) for next season. His on-ice performance, earned NAHL South Player of the Week three times this season.

"Erik's production on the scoresheet is what the casual fan first sees, but it's his demeanor with his teammates and with the public that sets him apart," Langer said.

Higby's point total and 53 assists (2nd in the NAHL) also set team records for the Roadrunners, who finished 1st in the South Division in the Regular Season. The Playoffs ended on a sour note that the team lost 5-0 to the Bandits in the 5th Deciding Game in the South Division Championship that would have gotten the Roadrunners to the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament that begins Tuesday.

"For a player who led the league in scoring and rewrote pages of the team's record book, he's quite humble," said Langer. "He does all these things and is a solid citizen off the ice. What more can a coach or an organization ask for?"

Also named to the All-NAHL Team were:

Fairbanks Ice Dogs F Michael Juola

Wenatchee Wild F Jeff Jubinville

Albert Lea Thunder D Derek Docken

Alaska Avalanche D Jake Parenteau

Wenatchee Wild G Brandon Jeager


Here's a look at some of the other Award Winners from last night.

NAHL Defensemen of the Year
Derek Docken, Albert Lea Thunder

In 56 games with the Albert Lea Thunder this season, Docken totaled 24 points on 5 goals and was also a +23, The 19 year old from Northfield, Minn. He has also secured a scholarship to the University of Alaska-Anchorange in the WCHA.


NAHL Goalie of the Year
Brandon Jeager, Wenatchee Wild

A 19 year old from Champlin, Minn, Jeager fashioned a 22-3-1 record in 29 games played to compliment a NAHL Best GAA of 1.83 and a SV% of .928 in the Regular Season for the West Division Champions and NAHL Robertson Cup Hosts.


NAHL Rookie of the Year
Tanner Kero, Marquette Rangers

In his first Junior A Season, Kelo lead the NAHL with 32 goals while totalling 51 points in 57 games for the North Division Regular Season Champions Rangers. The 17 year old from Hancock, Michigan, has also signed a scholarship to Michigan Tech University in the WCHA.


NAHL Coach of the Year
Dane Litke, Janesville Jets

In the team's first season, Litke guided the expansion Janesville Jets to a 3rd place finish in the NAHL North Division with a 29-23-6 record. His team leading scorer also committed a Division 1 Scholarship for next season.


NAHL GM of the Year
Scott Langer, Topeka Roadrunners

Langer was the architect behind the Roadrunners South Division Regular Season Title, guiding the team to a 44-9-5 record, good for 93 points and tieing the Wenatchee Wild for the best overall regular season record. Under his watch, six Roadrunners players have committed to Division 1 Schools to date and orchestrated Topeka's Successful bid to host the 2011 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament.

NAHL Team of the Year
Wenatchee Wild

In its second season, the Wild drew both a league high average attendance of 3,417 and total attendance of 99,108. On the Ice, it finished with the best overall regular season record in the NAHL, with a 45-10-3 mark, good for 93 points. In addition, nine of its players have committed to Division 1 Schools to date. They also have won the West Division in both of their years in the league.


NAHL Academic Achievement
Robb Haider, Alaska Avalanche

Haider graduated Magna Cum Laude from South Anchorage High School, where he was also a member of the National Honor Society. The Anchorage Native was honored each semester with the School's All Academic Achievement award and achieved a perfect 4.0 GAA. On the Ice for the Avalanche, he had 32 points (13G 19A) in 54 games played as Alaska finished 2nd in the West Division in the Regular season before losing to Fairbanks in the West Division Semifinals.


NAHL Community Service Award
Mitch Torrel, Wenatchee Wild

Torrel contributed over 96 hours of community service work during the regular season, including leading a charge of a reading campaign with his team, which covered over 70 classrooms. The Air Force Academy Recruit from Monticello, Minn. Native was also recognized in March for his heroics in alerting the fire department and helping evacuating residents from a burning senior citizen facility. For the Wild this season, Torrel had 20 points in 43 games played which included 15 goals. So far in the post-season he's played in 4 games where he had no points.

NAHL Scoring Champion Erik Higby to play for NMU

The North American Hockey League Scoring Champion Erik Higby has decided earlier this week that he will play College Hockey for Northern Michigan University (NMU) which is a part of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

The native of New Braunfels, Texas is looking to prove critics wrong as he felt like he was under the radar for most of his hockey career with a strong NAHL Playoff Run and getting a chance to play for a Northern Michigan Team that got to the CCHA Conference Semifinals before losing to a very exciting double OT game to St. Cloud State back on March 27.

He's had a strong 2 year career in the NAHL where he has averaged a point a game in the NAHL (114 GP 114 PTS) (38G 76A).

In the playoffs, he's looking to get back to the NAHL Robertson Cup Tournament for the 2nd straight year after getting their with the Mahoning Valley Phantoms just missing out on the League Championship Game as the team finished 3rd as an OT Loss against the Wenatchee Wild knocked them out of contention for the Championship last year.

He's hoping to use his experience from last year to get the Roadrunners to the Robertson Cup, and having a shot at a championship before his junior career ends.

Here's a list of Southwest Based Players that have committed to different NCAA Division 1 Teams during the 2009-2010 season from both the USHL & NAHL.

Players that play for the Wichita Falls Wildcats & Texas Tornado are on this list as well, even if they not Southwest Natives. Good luck to all the players that are moving on to careers in the NCAA starting next year.


United States Hockey League

Chase Grant, Oklahoma City, OK. (Fargo Force/Minnesota State)

Johnnie Searfoss, Colleyville, TX. (Fargo Force/Nebraska-Omaha)

Blake Coleman, Plano, TX. (Indiana Ice/Miami (OH) University)

Jacob Fallon, Southlake, TX. (Indiana Ice/Michigan University)

Ryan Daugherty, Allen, TX. (Omaha Lancers/Northern Michigan University)

C.J. Ludwig, Little Elm, TX. (Omaha Lancers/Northern Michigan University)


North American Hockey League

Erik Higby, New Braunfels, TX. (Topeka Roadrunners/Northern Michigan University)

Zach Ledford, Folsom, Cali. (Wichita Falls Wildcats/Bentley University)


From the North American Hockey League Website: www.nahl.com

Topeka Roadrunners forward have announced that forward Erik Higby has committed to Northern Michigan University (CCHA) for next season.

He's the eighth player who competed in January's Sherwood/NAHL Top Prospects Tournament to commit to a Division 1 School after the Event.

"It feels great", Higby said of his decision to attend NMU. "Getting College figured out was heavy on my mind. Now I can just concentrate on the rest of the season."

Higby, from New Braunfels, Texas, was the NAHL's Scoring Champion in the regular season, tallying 80 points on 27 goals in 57 games. He also led the league in +/- rating with a +36 rating.

"He's earned it, no question", Roadrunners head Coach Scott Langer said of Erik Higby's college commitment. "I'm just surprised it didn't happen sooner. It's gratifying to see a player reach his goals with persistence and hard work."

"As an organization, we're very proud of what Erik's done. He's proven himself to be a true Roadrunner."

Higby, 20, plans on pursuing a degree in Sports Management at Northern Michigan. His long-term is to stay involved in hockey after his playing days are over.

"I'm relieved, really", he said. "It's taken a lot of stress off me".

The other top prospects players who have committed to Division 1 Schools after the event are: Bismarck Bobcats Forwards (Canisius College) and Casey Kleisinger (Air Force Academy); Fairbanks Ice Dogs defensemen Josh Nelson (Minnesota State); Janesville Jets forward Rui Encarnacao (University of Connecticut); Owatonna Express forward Cory Thorson (St. Cloud State University); and defenseman Jake Sloat (Bowling Green State University); and Wenatchee Wild Forward Shawn Pauly (Air Force Academy)