NA3HL Announces Bethel University Stars of the Week

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is pleased to announce the Divisional Stars of the Week for the week ending February 8TH, sponsored by Bethel University. This weekly award recognizes the top-performing players from each of the league’s six divisions, as nominated by their head coaches, for their outstanding contributions on the ice. 

Central Division Star of the Week: Felix Wadströmer, Forward, Rochester Grizzlies

The Rochester Grizzlies stayed on track this weekend, securing their second consecutive weekend sweep with home wins over the Peoria Mustangs to officially punch their ticket to the Fraser Cup Playoffs. The Grizzlies got a major boost from Felix Wadströmer, who stepped up in a big way over the weekend.

Now in his second season with the Grizzlies, the Swedish forward has taken a big step forward from his rookie campaign, already surpassing last year’s point total. That growth was on full display this weekend, as Wadströmer recorded seven points over the two games.

Game one was a quieter outing, with Wadströmer picking up a powerplay assist, but he more than made up for it in game two. After Rochester fell behind early in the first period, the ‘05 forward tied the game at 1-1 and never looked back. He erupted in the second period, scoring four times and finishing the night with five goals in an outstanding performance.

The five-goal outburst marked Wadströmer's best showing of the season, as he entered Saturday night with just nine goals on the year.

Head Coach Marty Raymond credited Wadströmer's approach all weekend long, saying: “Felix played the right way throughout the weekend and was rewarded on Saturday with a phenomenal performance resulting in his 5 goals. He deserves this award and our entire Organization is thrilled for his success.”

2nd Star: Mitch Nappier, D, St. Louis Jr. Blues

3rd Star: Brandon Slasor, F, Wisconsin Woodsmen

East Division Star of the Week: Gustav Martinsson, Forward, Long Beach Sharks

The Long Beach Sharks made a statement this past week, sweeping the Buzz at home to reclaim first place in the East Division.

In his first season of junior hockey, Gustav Martinsson is putting together an impressive rookie campaign. The ‘06 Swedish forward is averaging just under a point per game and has earned a spot representing the Sharks at the 2026 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament in Plymouth, Michigan.

Martinsson stepped up in a big way during the midweek series, playing a key role in the Sharks’ two-game sweep. In Wednesday’s afternoon matinee, he recorded his first two-goal performance of the season as Long Beach skated to a 7-3 victory. Along with the pair of goals, he added an assist for a three-point afternoon.

Thursday’s matchup was a much tighter contest, with the Sharks holding on for a 2–1 win. In the back-and-forth battle, Martinsson came through on the powerplay, scoring the game-winning goal just under five minutes into the second period. The tally marked his fourth game-winner of the season, continuing a strong rookie year for the Swedish forward.

After the series, Head Coach Jeff Tory highlighted just how important Martinsson has been to the lineup saying: “Gustav is a leader for our team in every aspect of the game. He is such a well-rounded player that can change a game at any moment both offensively and defensively for us. He’s our go-to guy in every situation and does a tremendous job for us every shift, every game.”

2nd Star: Ryder Pisiak, F, Long Beach Sharks

3rd Star: Liam Fish, G, New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings

Frontier Division Star of the Week: Ethan Miller, Forward, Great Falls Americans

Since joining the Americans in mid-October, Ethan Miller has been nothing short of stellar, currently leading Great Falls in goals and ranking second overall in team scoring. This weekend, he showed just how dangerous he can be, driving the Americans’ offense in wins over the Bozeman Icedogs and Butte Irish.

Friday’s matchup with the Icedogs was a nailbiter, but Miller was unstoppable, scoring all three goals to complete his third hat trick of the season in a 3-2 victory.

Saturday was an even more dominant showing for Great Falls, as the team went on a goal-scoring spree with Miller leading the charge. Carrying the momentum from Friday, he turned up the heat, scoring four goals, two in the first period and two in the second, while adding an assist for a five-point night. With four goals, this marks his second game of the season with four goals in a single outing.

After an eight-point weekend, the ‘05 forward has 58 points in 26 games, averaging 2.23 points per game, and keeps proving why he’s one of the most electric players for the Americans this season.

On Ethan’s impact and big weekend for the Americans, Head Coach Greg Sears said: “Ethan has been a great addition to our team since joining in October. He’s proven to be a key part of our lineup and consistently comes through in the moments that matter. With the playoffs approaching, his ability to create offense and make plays at crucial times has been a huge asset, and we’re excited to see where he takes it from here.”

2nd Star: Dean Schlarman, F, Yellowstone Quake

3rd Star: Rhylan Olson, F, Badlands Sabres

South Division Star of the Week: Gavin Erickson, Goaltender, Texas Brahmas

The Texas Brahmas had quite the thrilling weekend, completing a dramatic road sweep over the New Mexico Ice Wolves.

Serving as the Brahmas’ go-to netminder, rookie goaltender Gavin Erickson did not disappoint, improving his season record to 17-4 after standing tall between the pipes in both victories.

On Friday night, Texas took game one by a score of 5-1 despite being outshot 36-28, thanks in large part to Erickson’s effort. He was tested more as the game went on, facing eight shots in the first period, 12 in the second, and a game-high 16 in the third. He finished the night with 35 saves, allowing just one goal for an impressive .972 save percentage.

Game two was a wild one, ultimately decided in a shootout. The Brahmas trailed 2-1 for most of the night before Patrick Garvey tied the game with just 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation. Erickson was once again heavily tested, turning aside 31 shots through regulation and overtime. In the shootout, he shut the door completely, making all three saves to secure the win for Texas.

After facing a total of 67 shots on the weekend, the ’07 netminder turned aside 64 of them for a series save percentage of .955 and a 1.50 goals-against average.

On Gavin Erickson’s continued excellence between the pipes, Head Coach Michael Rooney said: "Gavin has been a stud for us all year long. This past weekend was just another glimpse into why he’s the best goalie in this league. On Friday, he shut the door with some timely saves, allowing us to stretch our lead and made it hard for New Mexico to gain a momentum. Saturday was a different story, his play kept us in the game all the way to end of regulation. And once again, he proceeded to stonewall a talented offensive team on the road in a shootout. For this team it was only a matter of time to see him earn the Star of the Week honor. He is a true competitor and his dedication to his craft is something that anyone can admire. He’s came to this team looking to be a difference maker and that’s exactly what he’s done. His mental resilience is one of his best attributes. He comes in prepared, focused, and ready to do what it takes to get better and win each night. Which makes him extremely reliable and not only the best goalie in the South division but throughout the entire league."

2nd Star: Guhnar Hillman, F, Austin Ice Bats

3rd Star: Kenny Cadwallader, F, El Paso Rhinos

Southeast Division Star of the Week: Emerson LaRoche, Forward, Louisiana Drillers 

The Louisiana Drillers keep on rolling, cruising past the Texas RoadRunners and Bayou State Rougarou for a three-win weekend.

One of seven ‘07s on the Drillers roster, rookie forward Emerson LaRoche has made a seamless transition to the junior level. The Minnetonka, Minnesota native currently sits third on the team in scoring and has already secured an NAHL tender with the Shreveport Mudbugs for the 2026-27 season.

This weekend, LaRoche delivered another strong performance, piling up 10 points across three games, with each outing more dominant than the last.

He opened the weekend with a goal on Friday, netting Louisiana’s fifth tally in a 7-2 win over the RoadRunners.

Game two saw LaRoche make an even bigger impact on the scoresheet. He recorded a hat trick, scoring once in the first period and adding back-to-back goals in the second, including a powerplay marker that pushed the Drillers ahead 6-0 in an eventual 9-1 victory. He also chipped in an assist to finish with four points on the night.

LaRoche capped off the weekend with his most dominant performance yet, scoring two goals and adding three assists for a five-point effort.

The rookie’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Head Coach Chris Francis reflected on the impressive season LaRoche has put together so far: "Emerson has had an incredible rookie season with our team. He’s always finding ways to make plays and his offensive instincts are really impressive. To put up the points he has in his first year of junior hockey speaks volumes, not just for this Star of the Week honor, but also for earning his NAHL tender with the Mudbugs. We’re looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop this season.”

2nd Star: Jared Lang, G, Bayou State Rougarou 

3rd Star: Jaylen Fluhr, F, Atlanta Capitals  

West Division Star of the Week: Maxim Lazo, Forward, Alexandria Blizzard

The Alexandria Blizzard had a big weekend in the West Division, dropping a tough overtime game to the Moose on Friday before bouncing back in a dominant fashion on Saturday.

The standout player for Alexandria was Maxim Lazo, a recent addition to the Blizzard after being acquired from the Wisconsin Woodsmen in late January. The Slovakian forward made an immediate impact, showing why he will be a key piece for Alexandria as the postseason approaches.

Despite the overtime loss in game one, Lazo left his mark on the scoresheet, scoring three of Alexandria’s four goals for his third hat trick of the season. His first goal came on the powerplay, putting the Blizzard on the board after trailing 2–0, and he added two more to keep the team within striking distance.

On Saturday, Lazo and the Blizzard came out ready to battle in front of the home crowd. He turned in another multi-goal effort and contributed on special teams, scoring on the power play and setting up Caleb Waller, reinforcing his value as the postseason nears.

Head Coach Jeff Crouse highlighted Lazo’s strong start with the team, saying: “Max has been a great addition since the trade. He’s using his size and speed, meshes well with his teammates, and brings a fantastic attitude. Coaching him has been a real pleasure.”

2nd Star: Ty Smith, F, Granite City Lumberjacks

3rd Star: Caleb Waller, F, Alexandria Blizzard