Easton's Stars of the Week

East Star of the Week: Brandon Daigle - Maine Wild

Maine Wild goalie Brandon Daigle, 18, had a good week minding the net for his club last week. The native of Biddeford, Maine, appeared in two games and stopped a total of 49 of a possible 52 shots. On Thursday, Daigle made a relief appearance in an 8-0 loss against 1 ^st place Cape Cod. After the score was 5-0, Daigle (6’2/185) came in and played well, stopping 19 of 22 shots in the loss. Two nights later, he posted his first shutout of the season as he stopped all 30 shots that came his way in a 4-0 shutout of the Northeast Generals. Daigle moved his save percentage to 90.2% for the season. “Brandon has really been playing well since the start of the new year. He is an extremely hard worker on and off of the ice. I am glad to see his hard work pay off,” said Maine Wild head coach Mike Tenney.

2 ^nd Star: Chris O’Donnell , F, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Mitchell Eldridge , F, Cape Cod Islanders – John Krapian , F, New England Stars

West Star of the Week: Dominick Sacco - New York Aviators

Since joining the Aviators back in January, forward Dominick Sacco, 20, has dominated the league like few have in the history of the NA3EHL. The native of Brooklyn, New York, had another dominated weekend as he led his team to a weekend home sweep of the Wilkes-Barre Miners. Sacco (5’8/159) had 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) and was a +8 in the two wins. On Saturday, he had a hat-trick, including the game-winning goal and two assists in a 6-2 win and on Sunday, he had two goals and three assists in an 8-3 win. For the season, the NA3EHL Forward of the Month for January has 31 points in just eight games played. “Dominick has done here what great players do. He is not only producing, but he is making everyone around him compete at a higher level. The proof is evident in our last five games as you can see Dominick settling in with his teammates,” said New York head coach Mike Stanaway.

2 ^nd Star: Patrick Massey , G, Roc City Royals

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Daniel Backstrom , F, New York Aviators – Cameron Clark , F, Roc City Royals – Christian Cooley , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Chris Gasiewicz , F, Lockport Express – Ryan Logar , F, Lockport Express

East Star of the Week: Mike Jessman - Cape Cod Islanders

In three games at the NA3EHL Showcase, Cape Cod forward Mike Jessman, 20, recorded nine points and was a +1 as the 1 ^st place Islanders went 2-1 at the event. The native of Falmouth, MA, and Islanders leading scorer began his weekend with four assists in a 5-3 win over the Lockport Express on Friday. On Saturday, Jessman (5’7/185) had a goal and an assist in a 5-4 win over the Wilkes-Barre Miners. On the final day of the event, he factored in on all his team’s goals as he had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win. Jessman’s 62 points leads Cape Cod in scoring this season. “Mike is our top scorer and his unselfish play makes all the players around him better. He has been a huge key to our success this season,” said Dan Hodge, President of the Islanders.

2 ^nd Star: Matt Bachman , F, East Coast Minutemen

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brandon Hamner , F, New England Stars – Hunter Ledwith , F, Skylands Kings – Cole Skelly , D, Skylands Kings

West Star of the Week: Daniel Backstrom - New York Aviators

The Aviators had a great Showcase, going 3-0, and forward Daniel Backstrom, 21, exploded for some eye-popping numbers at the event. In the three wins, the native of Helsinki, Finland, had 15 points, which included six goals, nine assists and a +18 rating. On Friday, Backstrom (6’0/190) had two goals and four assists in an 11-0 win over the Northeast Generals. On Saturday, he recorded another two goals and four assists in a 11-3 win over the Maine Wild. On the final day, he had two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist in a 5-4 win over Lockport. For the season, Backstrom ranks 2 ^nd in team scoring with 67 points in 28 games played. “Daniel and his entire line had a dominant performance at the Showcase. We are looking for him to continue to be an impact player as we get ready for the post-season,” said New York head coach Mike Stanaway.

2 ^nd Star: Kyle VanWagner , G, Syracuse Stampede

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Justin Allen , F, Roc City Royals – Mathieu Beaudet , G, Wilkes-Barre Miners – Ryan Flanagan , F, Wilkes-Barre Miners – Chris Gasiewicz , F, Lockport Express – Jared Karas , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Patrick Massey , G, Roc City Royals – Frank Vecchio II , F, Lockport Express – Nate Walker , F, Syracuse Stampede

East Star of the Week: Mason Smith - East Coast Minutemen

East Coast Minutemen forward Mason Smith, 20, had a good weekend for his club, which split a pair of weekend games against Maine and New England. The native of Bryan, TX, had four points (2 goals, 2 assists) and was a +2 in the weekend games. On Saturday, Smith (5’10/190) scored a goal and added two assists in a 7-4 win over the Maine Wild. On Sunday, he recorded one of two East Coast goals in a 7-2 loss against New England. For the season, Smith leads the Minutemen in scoring with 34 points in 33 games played. He also played on the NA3EHL East prospects team earlier in the season. “Mason is a skilled player who had a slow start with a lot of frustration. He's worked hard to get through it and it's paying off for him now with the points he's putting up and the schools that are showing interest in him now. It's good to see him playing to his potential and getting opportunities,” said Minutemen head coach Neil Liston.

2 ^nd Star: Brandon Hamner , F, New England Stars

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Chuck Costello , F, Cape Cod Islanders – Maxime Dordet , F, Cape Cod Islanders – Devyn Levesque , G, New England Stars – Jacob Lilledahl , F, East Coast Minutemen

West Star of the Week: Anthony DePetres - Roc City Royals

Roc City Royals forward Anthony DePetres, 20, added to his point totals over the weekend as the Royals held steady in the race for a playoff spot in the West Division with a road sweep of the Syracuse Stampede. The native of Rochester, NY, had seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) and was +6 in the two wins. On Friday, DePetres (5’7/175) had two goals and two assists in a 6-4 win and on Saturday, he had three assists in a 7-1 win. For the season, DePetres not only leads the Royals in scoring, but his 68 points is currently tops in all of the NA3EHL. “Anthony is a ferocious competitor. He's really fine-tuned his game this year and he is a very disciplined leader,” said Roc City head coach Tom Donnelly.

2 ^nd Star: Ian Stahl , G, Roc City Royals

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Bogdan Khuvatov , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats

East Star of the Week: Matt Moreschi - East Coast Minutemen

East Coast forward Matt Moreschi, 19, helped this team to a weekend split of two games, but was a major factor in both. The native of Malden, MA, totaled six points in two road games and was a +6. On Saturday, Moreschi (5’10/155) had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 in at Northeast against the Generals. On Sunday, he recorded two goals in a 9-5 loss in New England against the Stars. In 19 games played with the Minutemen so far this season, Moreschi has 17 points. He was also a member of the NA3EHL East team at the NA3HL Showcase. “Matt is a very smart player who can see the ice and make things happen. I think that together with the confidence he gained by playing in the NA3HL Showcase in Minnesota has started to show us his potential and some things to come,” said Minutemen head coach Neil Liston.

2 ^nd Star: Dylan Vrees , F, L/A Fighting Spirit

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brett Bittner , F, L/A Fighting Spirit – James Brosnan , F, Cape Cod Islanders – Brandon Daigle , G, Maine Wild - Aaron Deady , F, Cape Cod Islanders – Sam Dedian , D, Maine Wild – Preston Palamara , F, East Coast Minutemen – Kyle Weiss , F, New England Stars

West Star of the Week: Dominick Sacco - New York Aviators

The recent addition of USHL veteran forward Dominick Sacco, 20, paid instant dividends this past weekend for the New York Aviators as they swept a weekend home-and-home set against the Skylands Kings. The native of Brooklyn, NY, put up six points in his first two games with New York this season and was also a +3 on the weekend. Sacco (5’8/159) found the back of the net four times, including the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 7-5 win. On Sunday, he had another goal and an assist in a 4-2 win. “We have a team that has a lot of talent on the offensive side, but with with the recent addition of Dominick to the roster, we instantly become that much better. He showed that he can take over a game with his talent. That type of player will hopefully give us some more success for the rest of the season and into the playoffs,” said Aviators head coach Mike Stanaway.

2 ^nd Star: Marcus McCall , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None

East Star of the Week: Hunter Ledwith - Skylands Kings

The Skylands Kings held steady in the East Division playoff race with a pair of road wins over the weekend against the East Coast Minutemen. Forward Hunter Ledwith, 19, had a huge weekend with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and a +5 rating in the two wins. On Friday, the native of Kinnelon, NJ, recorded two goals and two assists in a 6-3 win. On Saturday, he had a goal and two more assists in a 7-4 win. Ledwith currently is riding an eight-game point streak and ranks 2 ^nd on the team with 53 points. His 26 goals leads the Kings in scoring and ranks 3 ^rd overall in the NA3EHL. “Hunter had an outstanding weekend, helping the team to two wins. I look for Hunter to continue contributing at this level as the team makes a push for playoffs,” said Skylands head coach Alex Shindelman.

2 ^nd Star: Chris O’Donnell , F, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Aiden Critchlow , G, East Coast Minutemen – Cory Decosta , F, Skylands Kings – Ryan Gauvin , F, New England Stars – Mike Jessman , F, Cape Cod Islanders – Mason Smith , F, East Coast Minutemen

West Star of the Week: Sal Stalteri - Lockport Express

Lockport goalie Sal Stalteri, 20, was incredibly busy over the weekend in the weekend road series against the New York Aviators. The native of Woodbridge, ON, helped his club to a weekend split and in the process faced 113 shots in the two games. Out of those 113 shots, Stalteri (5’10/175) made 106 saves, which was good for a 94% save percentage during the series. That included 47 saves in a 4-2 win on Saturday and 59 saves in a 5-1 loss on Sunday. Thanks to his big effort over the weekend, Stalteri brought his season-long save percentage up to 90%. “Sal seems to have really gotten a bit more comfortable here as the season has gone along.  The first game back from break against Roc City was a bit rough, but frankly, both teams looked rusty from the Holiday break.  We have made some roster moves that seem to have help solidify our team and we are playing better in front of our goalies as well.  Sal had an excellent game in New York and we are going to need that kind of goalie play these last dozen games or so to make a hard playoff push,” said Lockport head coach Frank Vecchio.

2 ^nd Star: Zach Roth , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Justin Andriaccio , F, Lockport Express – Scott Hansen , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Raymond Rowe , D, Syracuse Stampede – Nate Walker , F, Syracuse Stampede

East Star of the Week: Trevor Trudeau - Northeast Generals

The Northeast Generals opened 2016 with a big 3-2 win against the East Coast Minutemen on Sunday. In goal for the Generals was Trevor Trudeau, 20, who also recently played for the NA3EHL East Division prospects team at the NA3HL Showcase. The native of Rockland, MA, made 36 saves in Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Minutemen. In 13 games played this season, Trudeau (5’9/160) has a 3-9-1 record with a 5.08 goals against average and an 88.4% save percentage. “Trevor has been the backbone of our team from Day one.  He is constantly facing over 50 shots and has never complained.  After going 2-0 for the NA3EHL East prospects team Trevor is locked in and looking to help us make a run at the last playoff spot,” said Northeast head coach Bryan Erikson.

2 ^nd Star: Derric Trudeau , F, Northeast Generals

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None

West Star of the Week: Brandon Corey - Roc City Royals

It was a wild weekend in Roc City this past weekend as the Royals and the Express combined for 30 goals in two offensive games. Royals forward Brandon Corey, 18, led the way offensively with eight points and a +4 rating in two games. On Saturday, the native of Spencerport, NY, had a goal and four assists in a wild 10-8 win. On Sunday, Corey (5’6/145) had two goals and an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss. In just 14 games played this season, Corey has 30 points. “Brandon plays hard every shift and is a pure goal scorer. He and his linemates know how and when to set each other up. They are often unstoppable,” said Royals head coach Tom Donnelly.

2 ^nd Star: Mark Friol , F, Lockport Express

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jared Tam-Grimshaw , F, Roc City Royals – Frank Vecchio II , F, Lockport Express

East Star of the Week: Cory Decosta - Skylands Kings

Skylands Kings leading scorer and forward Cory Decosta, 20, had another impressive weekend as the Kings picked up two more valuable home wins over the East Coast Minutemen. The native of Parsippany, NJ, helped the Kings stay in the 4 ^th and final playoff spot in the East Division with a five-point effort in the two wins, which included three goals, two assists and a +4 rating. On Saturday, Decosta (5’10/180) had a hat-trick, which included the game-winning goal, in a 5-1 win over the Minutemen. On Sunday, Decosta picked up two assists in a 6-1 win. For the season, his 48 points leads the team in scoring and ranks 6 ^th overall in the NA3EHL. Decosta will be playing on the East Division Top Prospects team at the NA3HL Showcase beginning Thursday. “Cory continuous to elevate his game and is becoming a dominant force every time he steps on the ice,” said Kings head coach Alex Shindelman.

2 ^nd Star: Mitchell Fehd , F, New England Stars

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Mike Jessman , F, Cape Cod Islanders

West Star of the Week: Brandon Corey - Roc City Royals

The Roc City Royals strengthened their playoff positioning this past weekend with a pair of wins over Syracuse and New York, which kept them in 3 ^rd place in the West Division. Forward Brandon Corey, 18, had a big weekend as the native of Spencerport, NY, totaled six points in the two wins, which included five goals, one assist and a +4 rating. On Friday, Corey (5’6/145) recorded a hat-trick, which included the game-winning goal, and added an assist in a 5-3 win. On Sunday, he scored two more goals in a 4-2 road win at New York against the Aviators. In just 12 games played so far this season, Corey has 22 points, which includes a team-leading 17 goals. "Brandon is experiencing a lot of success recently because of his hard work and the chemistry between he and Anthony Depetres. He is very difficult to defend because of his desire to get to opponents nets," said Royals head coach Tom Donnelly.

2 ^nd Star: Dylan Plsek , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Ian Stahl , G, Roc City Royals

East Star of the Week: Chuck Costello - Cape Cod Islanders

The Cape Cod Islanders continued to roll and increased their lead in the East Division with two more wins last weekend, which moved their winning streak to nine straight games. Forward Chuck Costello, 19, came through in a big way for the Islanders during the weekend as he recorded four points (2 goals, 2 assists) during the two wins. On Friday, the native of Philadelphia, PA, scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in a 4-1 win on the road against the East Coast Minutemen. The next night, Costello (6’1/180) had another game-winning goal and an assist in a 4-1 win on the road against the L/A Fighting Spirit. In 26 games this season, Costello leads the Islanders in scoring with 42 points. “Chuck is a fast skating, offensively gifted player that opposing teams have to game plan against. In two games this past weekend, the two goals he scored proved crucial to our team’s success, as they were both game-winning goals.  When he finds his way onto the score sheet our team typically gets two points,” said Cape Cod head coach Jay Punsky.

2 ^nd Star: Josh Mead , F, Skylands Kings

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brian Glover , D, New England Stars - Matt Jerome , F, Maine Wild - Mason Smith , F, East Coast Minutemen – Kyle Weiss , F, New England Stars

West Star of the Week: Jared Karas - Jersey Shore Wildcats

It was a busy weekend for the West Division-leading Jersey Shore Wildcats as they picked up four more wins during the week. They were led once again by their leading scorer Jared Karas. The 20-year-old native from Port Matilda, PA, had seven points during the week in the four wins, which included five goals, two assists and a +6 rating. It also included scoring the game-winning goal in three of the four wins during the week. Karas (6’0/180) began the week with two assists in a come-from-behind 5-4 win in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. He then had two goals, including the game-winner, in a 5-4 win over the Skylands Kings on Friday. On Saturday, Karas had the game-winning goal in a 3-0 shutout over the Syracuse Stampede and on Sunday, he scored twice more, including the game-winning goal in a 5-0 shutout of the Stampede. Karas currently leads the NA3EHL in scoring with 62 points in just 27 games played. "Jared's development is paying off and Jared is one of those players who are not afraid of going the extra mile either in the gym or on the ice after practices to keep improving his game and the details with a Team 1st attitude. The key for him and the rest of his teammates is to keep focusing on the structure of the program and good things will happen. We are into about half the season now and a few NCAA Colleges are starting to get some serious interest in him and others as well, and not only it's a good sign, but also what the program is all about," said Wildcats head coach Eric Brule.

2 ^nd Star: Chris Gasiewicz , F, Lockport Express

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Scott Albertoni , G, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Ryan Logar , F, Lockport Express – Raymond Rowe , D, Syracuse Stampede

East Star of the Week: Steve Mathews - Cape Cod Islanders

The Cape Cod Islanders had just a single game this past week, which resulted in a 10-2 win on Sunday against the East Coast Minutemen. 18-year-old forward Steven Mathews (6’0/210) came up big in the game as the native of Warwick, RI recorded a hat-trick in the win. Mathews was also a +4 in the game. In 17 games played this season, he has recorded 14 points. "Steve is a poised 20-year-old veteran who has scored some big goals for us thus far. His positive attitude and ability to convert plays in clutch situations has helped our club come from behind to win games over the past two weeks. It's nice to see him get some league wide recognition. Hopefully this will translate into some attention from college scouts, as Steve is a player I can see contributing to a team at the next level," said Cape Cod head coach Jay Punsky.

2 ^nd Star: Mike Jessman , F, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Mason Smith , F, East Coast Minutemen

West Star of the Week: Conor Landrigan - Wilkes-Barre Miners

Although Wilkes-Barre Miners forward Conor Landrigan, 19, has been with the team for just three games, he has made his impact felt. The native of New Tripoli, PA, had a huge week for the Miners as they split a weekend series against the Roc City Royals. Landrigran (6’0/180) totaled nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in the two games and was also a +7. On Saturday, he had two goals and two assists in a 9-4 loss and on Sunday, he had five assists in a 9-3 win. In just three games with the Miners so far this season, Landrigan has 12 points. “It says a lot about Conor that just came back to our team despite being in last place right now. He could have had his choice of other teams, but that spoke volumes about his commitment level to us. He brings a great skill set to the ice and is a big partn of our success moving forward as a team,” said Miners head coach Ray Welsh.

2 ^nd Star: Anthony DePetres , F, Roc City Royals

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Ryan Flanagan , F, Wilkes-Barre Miners

East Star of the Week: Mike Jessman - Cape Cod Islanders

The Cape Cod Islanders have rolled to six straight wins and eight of their last nine, thanks in part to another winning weekend as they took care of the Skylands Kings in a weekend series at home. Islanders forward Mike Jessman, 20, was a huge factor in the two wins as the forward from Falmouth, MA, had seven points and was +5 in the two wins. On Saturday, Jessman (5’7/185) had three assists in a 5-3 win and on Sunday, he recorded four goals in a 10-7 win. For the season, Jessman is 2 ^nd on the team in scoring with 34 points in just 23 games played. "Mike has really stepped up his game as of late. He and his linemates create so many offensive opportunities that they are hard to game plan for. Mike has become a great leader on and off the ice and our team is benefiting from his leadership,” said Cape Cod head coach Jay Punsky.

2 ^nd Star: Jake Latham , F, New England Stars

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Hunter McTague , D, New England Stars – Alex O’Dowd , F, Northeast Generals

West Star of the Week: Christian Cooley - Jersey Shore Wildcats

In three road games this past weekend, Jersey Shore Wildcats forward Christian Cooley, 18, was able to rack up five points and a +1 rating as the Wildcats won two of three games. The native of St. Louis, MO, had a big outing with two goals and two assists in a 9-3 win over Roc City and also had an assist in a 5-3 loss at Syracuse. In 23 games played this year, Cooley (6’4/180) has 35 points. "Christian is one of our younger players who came a long way from when he got here with us early this season in late August. He is the perfect example of a player we are comfortable to have coming from a mid-low background but with very high level of potential and has the full drive to reach it in combination with all resources available for him. He is probably one of the most improved player so far on the team from skill, physical strength to System / Hockey IQ development with and without the puck since day one among others as well. He is certainly heading out the right direction for his future,” said Wildcats head coach Eric Brule.

2 ^nd Star: Justin Durkee , F, Lockport Express

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Aidan Connelly , D, Roc City Royals – Dylan Plsek , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Ian Stahl , G, Roc City Royals – Sal Stalteri , G, Lockport Express – Kyle VanWagner , G, Syracuse Stampede - Nate Walker , F, Syracuse Stampede

East Star of the Week: Cory Decosta - Skylands Kings

For the second consecutive week, Skylands Kings forward Cory Decosta is the East Division Star of the Week. Decosta, 20, had another big weekend as he recorded 10 points to help the Kings pick up two wins in three road games against the Northeast Generals. On Friday, the native of Parsippany, NJ, had four assists in a 7-3 win. On Saturday, Decosta (5’10/180) had two goals, including the overtime-winner, and two assists in a 4-3 win. On Sunday, he had two goals in a 7-6 loss. For the season, Decosta has 35 points in just 17 games played and his 2 ^nd on the team in scoring. He was also a +7 during the weekend. "Cory continues to be a dominant player at this level and he played great in all three games this weekend. He continues to be a consistent producer every weekend and he really helped with our team’s success,” said Skylands head coach Alex Shindelman.

2 ^nd Star: Noel Fisher , F, Maine Wild

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Mike Jessman , F, Cape Cod Islanders – Hunter Ledwith , F, Skylands Kings – Devyn Levesque , G, New England Stars – Shayne Plummer , F, Maine Wild – Eric Szeker , D, Cape Cod Islanders

West Star of the Week: Hunter Soden - Syracuse Stampede

Syracuse Stampede forward Hunter Soden, 19, helped his team to two wins in three home games against the Wilkes-Barre Miners this past weekend. The native of Pequannock, NJ, had eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) and was a +5 in the two wins. On Friday night, Soden (5’10/165) had two goals and three assists in an 8-0 win over the Miners. On Sunday, he recorded the game-winning goal in the 3 ^rd period and added two assists in a 6-5 win. For the season, Soden is 3 ^rd in scoring for the Stampede with 14 points in 21 games played. "Hunter played very well for us this past weekend as we adjusted our line-up. Hunter is a hard working player that is juggling full time college at Morrisville as well as putting in his time with us on a daily basis.  He is a kid that is always early to the rink and will fill any role he is asked to be in,” said Syracuse head coach Mike Beavis.

2 ^nd Star: Frederic Ampleman , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Daniel Backstrom , F, New York Aviators – Christian Cooley , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Jordan Pocobello , F, Lockport Express – Kyle VanWagner , G, Syracuse Stampede - Frank Vecchio II , F, Lockport Express – Jimmy Warrick , F, New York Aviators

East Star of the Week: Cory Decosta - Skylands Kings

Sklyands Kings forward Cory Decosta led his club to a weekend road sweep of the Wilkes-Barre Miners last week. The native of Parsippany, NJ, totaled six points in the two wins and was an astounding +9. On Friday night, Decosta (5’10/180) had two assists in a 4-2 win and on Saturday, he had four goals, including the game-winning goal in a 7-3 win. In just 14 games played this season, Decosta is 2 ^nd on the team in scoring with 25 points. "Cory is a great teammate and leads by example with his play. He had a big night on Saturday and sealed the series for us. He's been a dynamic player that can make a difference on any given night,” said Patrick Choules, Director of the Skylands Kings.

2 ^nd Star: Aaron Deady , F, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Ryan Gauvin , F, New England Stars – Hunter Ledwith , F, Skylands Kings – Dominic Lomanno , G, New England Stars

West Star of the Week: Stephen Mundinger - New York Aviators

Although he played in just one game this past weekend, New York Aviators goalie Stephen Mundinger, 20, made it count. The native of Smithtown, NY, backstopped the Aviators to a 4-2 home win over Jersey Shore on Friday night and in the process, handed the Wildcats their first loss of the season and just their second regulation loss in the last two years. Mundinger (6’7/210) stopped 42 of 44 shots that came his way in the win. His 94.6% save percentage is currently 4 ^th among all NA3EHL goaltenders and his 574 saves and 12 wins lead the league. “Stephen yet again stepped up for our team in a big way.  He never gets rattled and his composure helped his team to a win,” said New York head coach Mike Stanaway.

2 ^nd Star: Tim Evans , G, Syracuse Stampede

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Daniel Backstrom , F, New York Aviators - Raymond Falso , F, Syracuse Stampede – Zach Roth , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Anthony Tomassi , D, Lockport Express – Frank Vecchio II , F, Lockport Express

East Star of the Week: Jake Latham - New England Stars

Veteran forward Jake Latham, 20, led the New England Stars to a pair of wins this past week. The native of Nashua, NH, recorded points in two wins over the East Coast Minutemen on Wednesday and the Northeast Generals on Saturday.  Latham (5’8/160) totaled five points in the two wins and was +3. On Wednesday, Latham had an assist in a 5-2 road win against East Coast. On Saturday, he had a hat-trick, including the game-winning goal, and added an assist for a four-point game in a 6-2 home win over the Generals. In 11 games so far this season, Latham has 16 points, including three game-winning goals. "Jake worked hard in the corners, won many one-on-one battles, used his linemates and all three of them had a great weekend. Through their hard work, Jake was able to get a hat-trick versus Northeast and it was very nice to see him rewarded," said New England head coach Darryl Green.

2 ^nd Star: Claes Endre , G, L/A Fighting Spirit

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Anthony Gianelli , F, Cape Cod  Islanders – Brady McNulty , D, L/A Fighting Spirit

West Star of the Week: Ryan Flanagan - Wilkes-Barre Miners

Although the Wilkes-Barre Miners lost three games this weekend in Roc City, forward Ryan Flanagan stood out in the losses. The native of Yatesville, PA, recorded eight points and registered at least a point in all three of the games. On Friday, Flanagan (5’11/180) had four goals in and an assist in a close 6-5 loss. On Saturday, Flanagan had an assist in a 7-3 loss and on Sunday, he scored two of the three Miners goals in a 6-3 loss. He was also even on the weekend in +/-. For the season, Flanagan is 7 ^th in NA3EHL scoring with 28 points in 16 games played.

2 ^nd Star: Anthony DePetres , F, Roc City Royals

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Brandon Corey , F, Roc City Royals - Raymond Falso , F, Syracuse Stampede - Kyle VanWagner , G, Syracuse Stampede

East Star of the Week: Eric Szeker - Cape Cod Islanders

Cape Cod defenseman Eric Szeker, 20, was a big part of another successful weekend for the Islanders.  The native of Allentown, NJ, totaled six points and a +6 rating in three games as the Islanders went 2-1 on the weekend. After going without a point in a close 1-0 loss against the L/A Fighting Spirit on Friday, Szeker (6’1/195) had five assists as was +5 in a 10-2 home win against the Maine Wild on Saturday. On Sunday, Szeker added another assist and was +2 in a 7-2 win over the East Coast Minutemen. In 16 games played so far this year, Szeker has 13 points. “Eric has been our best all around defenseman for over the past three seasons. This year he was named our team captain. He has been a great leader both on and off the ice. He plays in every situation and is a huge reason why we have had success so far this season. His 13 points pale in comparison to his +16 rating,” said Islanders head coach Jay Punsky.

2 ^nd Star: None

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): None

West Star of the Week: Eric Hewitt - New York Aviators

The New York Aviators kept pace in the West Division with two more home wins over Roc City this past weekend. Defenseman Eric Hewitt, 20, was a big contributor as the native of Saginaw, MI, had five points and was a +7 in the two wins. On Saturday, Hewitt (5’9/161) had an assist and was +4 in an 8-1 win over the Royals. On Sunday, he scored two goals, including the overtime-winner, and added two assists in a 5-4 win. In 16 games played this season, Hewitt has 15 points, which ranks 4 ^th among NA3EHL defensemen. “Eric is one of those players that makes us a different team when he is in the lineup. He obviously has tremendous skill to go along with his physical play, but his competitiveness is on a completely different level. That competitiveness helped get our team a little better every day,” said New York head coach Mike Stanaway.

2 ^nd Star: Bogdan Khvatov , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Raymond Falso , F, Syracuse Stampede – Chris Gasiewicz , F, Lockport Express – Jared Karas , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Raymond Rowe , D, Syracuse Stampede – Frank Vecchio II , F, Lockport Express – Jimmy Warrick , F, New York Aviators

East Star of the Week: Kevin Perry - Northeast Generals

Northeast Generals forward Kevin Perry, 18, helped his team to two wins and three games over the weekend as the Generals beat the Maine Wild and split a series with the Skylands Kings. In the three games, Perry (6’0/195) had nine points, which included seven goals. On Friday, the native of Hull, MA had a hat-trick, including the game-winning goal, and an assist in a 4-3 win over the Wild. After being held scoreless on Saturday, Perry then had four goals and an assist in a 6-2 win over the Kings on Sunday. Perry currently leads the Generals in scoring with 18 points in 13 games played. “Kevin was a force this past weekend.  On Friday he had three goals including the game winner with :10 seconds left. On Sunday he carried the team after a tough loss by scoring four goals and adding an assist.  He continues to impress with his leadership on and off of the ice,” said Generals head coach Bryan Erikson.

2 ^nd Star: Aaron Deady , F, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Aiden Critchlow , G, East Coast Minutemen – Matt Jerome , F, Maine Wild

West Star of the Week: Freddie Schaljo - Jersey Shore Wildcats

The Jersey Shore Wildcats stayed perfect on the season with three wins last week, which included a win over New York and two over Syracuse. Forward Freddie Schaljo, 18, had a good week with six points to lead the Wildcats. On Friday, the native of St. Louis, MO had two assists in a 6-4 win against the New York Aviators. On Saturday, Schaljo (5’11/190) had an assist in a 5-0 win and on Sunday, he had a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win to complete a sweep of Syracuse. “Freddie is one of our young players that keeps improving everyday just like others on the team as well. He is coming from a background where he is used to some improvised hockey, but he has the heart at the right place and we can certainly work with that. This season with the resources and structure in place for his development in combination with the honest work ethic on and off the ice he brings on the table. I am glad to see it is starting to pay off for him and his contribution to the team as well. He came a long way and still has a few things to keep improving on a consistent basis but he is certainly heading out the right direction for his future so far,” said Wildcats head coach Eric Brule.

2 ^nd Star: Ryan Scheide , G, Syracuse Stampede

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Rocco DeRollo , F, Syracuse Stampede – Ryan Logar , F, Lockport Express – Travis Valvo , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats

East Star of the Week: Zach Gagne - Maine Wild

The Maine Wild had a busy and tough schedule at the NA3EHL Showcase this past weekend, but showed very well, which included the play from players like defenseman Zach Gagne. The 19-year-old native of Augusta, ME, was a factor for the team in all three games during the event as he posted eight points and a +3 rating, while the team went 1-2. On Friday, Gagne (6’1/200) had two goals and two assists in an 8-3 win over the Skylands Kings. On Saturday, he posted an assist in a 6-4 loss against the Lockport Express and on Sunday, he had two goals and an assist in a 6-5 loss against Roc City. In 11 games with the Wild this season, Gagne has 11 points, which leads all blueliners. “Zach is our captain and everything starts and ends with him. I was proud to see him have a big weekend from the point he works really hard everyday on and off the ice I am glad to see his hard work pay off,” said Maine head coach Mike Tenney.

2 ^nd Star: Noel Fischer , F, Maine Wild

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): James Brosnan , F, Cape Cod Islanders

West Star of the Week: Andrew Logar - Lockport Express

It was a breakout weekend for Lockport forward Andrew Logar and could not have come at a better time at the NA3EHL Showcase this past weekend. The 18-year-old native of Lewiston, NY, helped the Express to two wins in two games at the event and in the process recorded nine points and a +8 rating. On Saturday, Logar (5’8/160) had a goal and two assists in a 6-4 win over the Maine Wild. On Sunday, Logar had six assists and was a +5 in a 13-3 win over the Northeast Generals. In 12 games so far this season, Logar is 3 ^rd in scoring on the team with 14 points. “Andrew is new to the junior level but I have coached him previously and have watched him develop over the years.  He is very skilled, works hard and seemingly gets more acclimated to the junior game every ice time.  He is a real asset for our program,” said Lockport head coach Frank Vecchio.

2 ^nd Star: Frederic Ampleman , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Rocco DeRollo , F, Syracuse Stampede – Scott Hansen , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Devin Kasperek , D, Lockport Express - Kyle VanWagner , G, Syracuse Stampede

East Star of the Week: Dylan Vrees - L/A Fighting Spirit

The L/A Fighting Spirit are one of two remaining undefeated teams remaining in the NA3EHL. They stayed that way this past weekend with home wins over Cape Cod and Northeast. Forward Dylan Vrees, 19, had a big weekend with seven points in the two wins. The native of Plaistow, NH, had four goals and three assists and was a +4 during the weekend. On Friday, he had the game-winning goal and an assist in a 3-2 win against Cape Cod. On Saturday, Vrees (5’10/180) had five points in an 8-1 win against the Generals. In just five games played this season, Vrees has 11 points. “Dylan is a gifted forward who brings a great compete level everyday. Having both the skill and work ethic, make him one of the top forwards in the league,” said Fighting Spirit head coach Rod Simmons.

2 ^nd Star: James Brosnan , F, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Rick Mulligan , D, East Coast Minutemen

West Star of the Week: Jared Karas - Jersey Shore Wildcats

Jersey Shore forward Jared Karas, 19, had a big weekend to help the undefeated Wildcats to three more wins. The native of Port Matilda, PA, recorded nine points in three wins over the Skylands Kings. He was also a +10 during the weekend. On Friday, Karas (6’0/180) had five points in an 11-3 win. On Saturday, he had two goals, including the game-winner in a 6-3 win. On Sunday, it was a goal and an assist in a 10-1. Karas currently ranks 3 ^rd in the NA3EHL in scoring with 18 points. "Jared is certainly having a solid start this season among others in the organization, not only by putting numbers but mainly by focusing on his right development and by trying to be the best complete player every day with and without the puck as much as possible including his leadership skill even when times are tough. The mission with Jared is to stay focused on that right development to ultimately lead him next season to NCAA hockey," said Wildcats head coach Eric Brule.

2 ^nd Star: Kyle VanWagner , G, Syracuse Stampede

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Ryan Flanagan , F, Wilkes-Barre Miners – Nick Sanborn , F, Syracuse Stampede – Tim Schiess , G, Lockport Express – Gibson Stuart , D, Lockport Express – Alex Tan , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats

East Star of the Week: Andrew Irving - East Coast Minutemen

Although he played in just one game this past weekend, East Coast defenseman Andrew Irving, 20, made it count. The native of Beverly, MA had two goals in a 3-0 shutout win over the Maine Wild on the road as the Minutemen picked up their second win of the season. Irving (5’11/190) had two goals, including the game-winner and was a +2 in the win. For the season, he has four points in three games played. “Andrew is a two-way player and he sees the ice so well and is a great addition to the team. He works hard, never complains and does the little things to make the entire team successful,” said Minutemen head coach Alex Campbell.

2 ^nd Star: Brady McNulty , D, L/A Fighting Spirit

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Aiden Critchlow , G, East Coast Minutemen – Claes Endre , G, L/A Fighting Spirit – Clayton Pierce , G, Cape Cod Islanders – Nicholas Sandborn , F, Syracuse Stampede – Eric Szeker , D, Cape Cod Islanders – Raymond Rowe , F, Syracuse Stampede

West Star of the Week: Daniel Backstrom - New York Aviators

New York Aviators forward Daniel Backstrom, 20, went off this weekend as the Aviators won two of three road games to remain in 1 ^st place in the West Division. The native of Helsinki, Finland had 10 points and now is tied for the NA3EHL scoring lead with 18 points so far this season. On Friday, Backstrom (6’0/190) assisted on all three New York goals in a 4-3 loss at Lockport. On Saturday, he had a goal and five assists in a 7-2 win at Roc City and on Sunday, he added a goal in a 5-3 win at Roc City. “The play of Danny Backstrom has been nothing short of spectacular. He really continued where he left off last year. He continues to show why he will be such a good NCAA player next season,” said New York head coach Mike Stanaway.

2 ^nd Star: Alec Sanchez , F, Skylands Kings

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Frederic Ampleman , F, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Scott Hansen , D, Jersey Shore Wildcats – Ernest Komarnitskii , F, Skylands Kings – Ryan Logar , F, Lockport Express – Gibson Stuart , D, Lockport Express – Jimmy Warrick , F, New York Aviators

East Star of the Week: Kevin Perry - Northeast Generals

The expansion Northeast Generals picked up their first win last weekend as they defeated the Maine Wild 7-4. 18-year-old forward Kevin Perry (6’0/195) had a breakout game with two goals and an assist. The native of Hull, MA has four points in three games so far this season. “It was great watching Kevin this past week.  He was everywhere.  In addition to his points he had 16 hits, 8 blocked shots and was a plus 3.   That is why he is a Captain as he sets the tone in the locker room and on the ice.  He plays all out on every shift and he was rewarded on Sunday,” said Northeast head coach Bryan Erikson.

2 ^nd Star: Anton Zemba , goalie, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Aiden Critchlow , G, East Coast Minutemen

West Star of the Week: Nick Wilcox - Lockport Express

The Lockport Express got back on track this weekend with a three-game road sweep of the Wilkes-Barre Miners. 18-year-old forward Nick Wilcox had a huge weekend as he brokeout for nine points in the three wins. On Friday, the native of Erie, PA had an assist in a 7-4 win. On Saturday, Wilcox (5’10/180) had a hat-trick and two assists in a 10-1 win. On Sunday, he assisted on three of Lockport’s five goals in a 5-2 win. “Nick has been a great addition and he had a breakout weekend. He has a lot of potential and we are excited about his future with the Express,” said Lockport head coach Frank Vecchio.

2 ^nd Star: Eric Hewitt , D, New York Aviators

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Andrew Logar , F, Lockport Express – Robert Kalata , F, New York Aviators

East Star of the Week: Chuck Costello - Cape Cod Islanders

West Star of the Week: Stephen Mundinger - New York Aviators

It was an impressive debut for the New York Aviators and goalie Stephen Mundinger. The 6’7/210 lbs. goalie from Smithtown, NY, got the start in all three games this past weekend against the Syracuse Stampede and won all three games in impressive fashion. On Friday night, the 20-year-old made 31 saves in a 6-1 win. On Saturday, he made 28 saves in a 3-2 win and on Sunday, he saved his best game of the weekend for last as he stopped all 37 shots that came his way in a 3-0 shutout of Syracuse.  For the weekend, Mundinger stopped 96 of 99 shots. “Stephen is showing early on why he is the best kept secret in junior hockey. As we found out playing against him last year, he is very difficult to score on. We are very happy to have him on our team,” said New York head coach Mike Stanaway.

2 ^nd Star: Daniel Backstrom , F, New York Aviators

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Dylan Jenkins , F, Lockport Express – Ludwig Scott , F, Syracuse Stampede – Kyle VanWagner , G, Syracuse Stampede - Frank Vecchio II , F, Lockport Express