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 15th, 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: Alex Rivolta, Goaltender, Wisconsin Woodsmen

Alex Rivolta and the Wisconsin Woodsmen completed a weekend sweep of the Peoria Mustangs in a pivotal 5 vs. 6 Central matchup, with the ‘06 netminder standing tall in both games to improve his season record to 9-2.

Friday night was a true test for Rivolta, as the Mustangs peppered him with 47 shots, the second of only two games this season where he’s faced 40+ attempts. He rose to the challenge, shutting down Peoria’s powerplay, which went 0-for-6, including a massive five-minute major kill in the first period.

Saturday, Wisconsin cruised to a 6-2 victory, but Rivolta remained a wall in net, stopping 35 of 38 shots to secure the win and complete the sweep.

The Kirkwood, Missouri native finished the weekend with 80 saves on 85 shots, posting a stellar .941 save percentage and delivering a dominant showing for the Woodsmen.

2nd Star: Lonnie Land, F, St. Louis Jr. Blues

3rd Star: Parker Holloway, F, Wisconsin Woodsmen

East Division Star of the Week: Louis Allanson, Forward, Norwich Sea Captains

The Norwich Sea Captains made some serious noise in the East Division, completing a weekend sweep over the Buzz. The team was on fire, scoring 14 goals while allowing just five, proving they could rise to the occasion in a challenging weekend.

Second-year forward Louis Allanson set the tone on Friday, helping the Sea Captains cruise to an 8-3 victory. The ‘06 forward assisted on the team’s third goal before finding the back of the net on the powerplay for the fifth, helping fuel the Sea Captains’ momentum.

Allanson carried that energy into Saturday’s 6-2 win, recording another two-point outing by scoring the team’s second goal and assisting on the third, capping off the sweep.

With four points over the weekend, Allanson notched back-to-back multi-point efforts for the first time this season.

2nd Star: Will Zinnen, G, Long Beach Sharks

3rd Star: Jake Wilkerson, D, Norwich Sea Captains

Frontier Division Star of the Week: AJ Prioli , Forward, Great Falls Americans

The Great Falls Americans were unstoppable in the Frontier, completing a weekend sweep with wins over Gillette and Badlands.

‘05 forward AJ Prioli led the way offensively, continuing a dominant season, averaging 2.04 points-per-game. On Friday, the Americans overwhelmed the Wild at home in an 11-0 victory. The Weymouth, Massachusetts native notched his second hat trick of the season, including two powerplay goals, and added two assists for a five-point night.

Saturday brought a tighter contest against the Sabres, but Prioli still made his mark with two assists in a 3-1 victory, capping a seven-point weekend and solidifying his place as the Americans’ third-leading scorer.

2nd Star: Cameron Kimmerly, F, Helena Bighorns

3rd Star: Max Krueger, F, Sheridan Hawks

South Division Star of the Week: Ben Humphreys, Forward, Texas Brahmas

The Texas Brahmas extended their win streak to eight with back-to-back road victories over the West Texas Wranglers, fueled by a standout series from NA3HL rookie Ben Humphreys.

Game one was Humphreys’ best performance of the season, as he notched a hat trick and two assists in a 7-1 win. Special teams were a key factor, with one goal and both assists coming on the powerplay, showcasing his impact on the man advantage.

Humphreys continued his hot weekend in game two, contributing two points with a goal and an assist in the Brahmas’ 5-0 shutout.

With seven points over the weekend, the Spokane, Washington native now has 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 40 games.

2nd Star: Hunzeker Piersimoni, F, New Mexico Ice Wolves

3rd Star: Joshua Reaska, F, Texas Brahmas

Southeast Division Star of the Week: Brody Neish , Forward, Louisiana Drillers 

The Louisiana Drillers remain the only team in the league without a regulation loss, sweeping the Pelham Prowlers during their Mardi Gras Celebration weekend, and Brody Neish was at the center of it all.

The NA3HL’s all-time leading scorer got the weekend started in style, posting four points in game one of a 12-0 drubbing, with two goals, including a powerplay strike, and two assists spread across the first two periods..

Game two saw Neish shift to playmaker mode, dishing out three assists, including two in the first and another in the third that set up Draydin Johnson for a shorthanded goal.

The weekend finale was a showstopper, as the Wichita, Kansas native scored a season-high five goals in an 11-1 victory. Neish tallied two in the first, one in the second, and finished with two more in the third, capping an incredible weekend performance.

2nd Star: Hatcher Horton, F, Atlanta Capitals  

3rd Star: Kristopher Pope, F, Texas RoadRunners

West Division Star of the Week: Ty Smith, Forward, Granite City Lumberjacks

The Granite City Lumberjacks shook up the West Division with a huge weekend sweep of the Alexandria Blizzard, vaulting into a tie for first place in the division.

Ty Smith has been having a breakout season for the Jacks, leading the team in points, and this weekend proved why he’s a true force to be reckoned with. The ‘06 forward extended his point streak to 10 games and has scored two or more goals in each of the last four outings.

In game one of the series on home ice, Smith was all over the scoresheet in the 6–1 win, setting up the first and third goals, scoring the fifth, and finishing with a late powerplay goal to seal the victory.

Game two was a career night for Smith, as he scored a season-high four goals in a 7-4 victory to complete the sweep. The Chaska, Minnesota native tallied two goals in the first and two more in the third, with one goal in each pair coming on the powerplay, showcasing his dominance throughout the series.

2nd Star: Brady Johnson, F, Minnesota Moose

3rd Star: Micah Saxon, F, Granite City Lumberjacks