NAHL on ice - Junior Hockey News

Published: Tuesday, 11 Sep 2012

By: Randy Russon

Talk about the ultimate in one-stop shopping. Blaine, Minnesota is where it's at this week for more than 500 players from 24 North American Hockey League teams and the Schwan Super Rink will be a virtual showcase of various levels of talent for scouts from the college and professional ranks to evaluate up-close-and-personal.

Many of the players are seasoned junior hockey veterans and for those born in 1992 and who do not have a college commitment for 2013-14, this is the beginning of their final season of junior eligibility while at the crossroads of their careers.

From a pro standpoint, scouts from National Hockey League teams will arrive in Blaine with active files on players they have previously seen while ready to open new files on prospects they may have heard about but never seen up close.

For the good NHL scout, an event like this 10th annual NAHL Showcase Tournament means considerable entries into what they call their future files. It means projecting where, for an example, an undrafted 1992 or 1993 player may advance to in a year or two. The good scout isn't just thinking the annual NHL draft. He's thinking that a 1992 or 1993 birth year player will get a Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association commitment in a year or two and then be on the NHL free agent market four or five or six years down the road.

One former NAHLer who fits that profile is goalie Cal Heeter.

Heeter, a 1988 birth year, played in the NAHL from 2006 until 2008, spending time with both Wichita Falls and St. Louis. He then went on to play four seasons at the Division 1, NCAA level at Ohio State University. Never drafted by the NHL, Heeter was a prize free agent this past spring and signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia Flyers worth a cool $1.85 million.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and his scouting staff watched Heeter develop through two seasons in the NAHL and four more at Ohio State, as did other NHL GMs and scouts. In the end, Philadelphia made the best offer and Heeter is now a Flyer.

It's a possible scenario that awaits countless current NAHLers.

Some will make it to the NCAA ranks and beyond, others won't. Point is, the NAHL Showcase Tournament serves as a one-stop gathering for scouts to watch any NAHL player they may be interested in. It's like, an NHL or NCAA scout sees a player he likes at the NAHL Showcase and then makes a point of tracking him from there on in.

As one NCAA coach simply told me: "It doesn't matter if it's this week at the Showcase or next week or next month or the month after in Sault Ste. Marie or Flint or Port Huron or Johnstown or Jamestown...a player should know that there is always -- always -- a scout from somewhere in the stands who is watching."

Back to Heeter and how he went from the NAHL to NCAA to signing an NHL deal with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent, an NHL scouting contact of mine told me that there are a number of veteran and incoming NAHL players who he already has files on.

Whether the scout in question has files on players that he views as draft picks for 2013 or 2014 or as potential free agents ranging anywhere from four to six years down the road, the list he shared with me was both revealing and in-depth.

For example, the file of my old scouting friend contains the names of first-year juniors such as Michigan Warriors defenceman Corey Schueneman and two skaters from Soo Eagles who were also born in 1995: defenceman Alex Robert and forward Michael Sabatini. Also listed are a pair of big, 1994 birth year forwards who are Coulee Region Chill prospects: Hunter Anderson and Zach Doerring. Then there's a net worth of rookie goalies led by 1993 birth year Chris Truehl of the Johnstown Tomahawks.

Schueneman, who is a United States Hockey League draft pick of Muskegon Lumberjacks, already has a future Division 1, NCAA commitment from Western Michigan University.

Also notable on the scout's list are two 1994 birth year defenders who are in their second NAHL season: Derek O'Flynn of Michigan and Alex Archibald of Port Huron Fighting Falcons.

I then asked my NHL scouting contact how many current NAHL players he has on his "future watch" list.

"About 40 or 50 who really stand out," he said. "And after this week, I'll have another 20 or 25. And keep an eye on those players from the North Division when they head up your way."

Consider it done, man.

Author: Randy Russon

Russon brings a a lifetime of media experience to the JuniorHockey.com staff.

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Discuss:

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 10:19am

John Trenchard says:

I can see why the N.H.L. Scout would have Chris Truehl on his list as he just about won the game for Johnstown against PH on Sunday afternoon. Quite a few big saves he matched Milosek save for save.

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 11:20am

Jim Donahue says:

John, but Truehl still lost and didn't get picked up by the Eagles.

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 11:44am

John Trenchard says:

Jim, you are right but Anthony Stolarz got cut by 2 teams last year before he made Corpus Christi and even though they Corpus Christi didnt make the playoffs Stolarz got drafted to the NHL by Philadelphia. So much for your logic. It doesnt change the fact that Truehl played a very good game and going by this article there is an NHL scout who likes him.

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 1:13pm

Jason Crawford says:

As a Port Huron fan, Truehl did play great and I tip my cap to him. I hope though that Milosek from Port Huron gets some respect for I feel the guy deserves it, he stepped in late last year and carried the team into and thru the playoffs and matched save for save with Truehl like John pointed out vs. Johnstown in the opening game and might I add with a defense that has some growing to do.

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 2:27pm

Jim Donahue says:

Well said gentlemen.

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 2:29pm

Jim Donahue says:

Randy, How do you think the Soo Eagles will do this year?

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 2:54pm

Randy Russon says:

Jim,

I think the Eagles will do well, better than some seem to expect. They have a good coach who is also a tireless general manager and the talent level and depth of the roster looks good to me. I am thinking a playoff spot in the North Division.

Nice to read your posts, Jim, and hope that you continue to post and participate.

Regards,

Randy

posted Sep. 11th, 2012 - 7:05pm

Randy Russon says:

Alex Archibald named North Division Player of the Week
September 11, 2012

Port Huron defenseman Alex Archibald had four points in a weekend sweep of Johnstown to earn North Division Player of the Week honors.

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) today announced the Divisional Players of the Week presented by Combat Hockey for the week ending September 9, 2012. The Divisional Players of the Week is a weekly feature during the 2012-13 regular season that honors the top performing players in each of the four NAHL divisions each week of the regular season as nominated by their respective teams.

North Division Player of the Week: Alex Archibald, defenseman, Port Huron Fighting Falcons.

Archibald, 18, began his second season in the NAHL with the Fighting Falcons with a bang from the blueline as he helped the Fighting Falcons to a weekend sweep of the visiting Johnstown Tomahawks over the weekend. On Saturday, the Port Huron, Michigan, native registered three points, which included the overtime-winning goal as the Fighting Falcons defeated the Tomahawks, 4-3.

Archibald (6’0/175) also recorded two assists in the game as Port Huron stormed back in the 3rd period with three goals to send the game to overtime. On Sunday, he recorded an empty-net goal as was a +2 in a 4-2 win over the Tomahawks. For the weekend, Archibald had two goals and two assists for four points, which currently leads the NAHL, as does his +3 rating.

Runner-Up: Matthew Uvodich, forward, Port Huron Fighting Falcons

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Mark Evan Auk, defenseman, Port Huron Fighting Falcons - Kristaps Bazevics, defenseman, Johnstown Tomahawks – Max Milosek, goaltender, Port Huron Fighting Falcons – Chris Truehl, goaltender, Johnstown Tomahawks.

posted Sep. 12th, 2012 - 5:15am

Dan Loridon Sr. says:

Go get 'em Eagles in Blaine this week!

posted Sep. 12th, 2012 - 5:18am

Dan Loridon Sr. says:

BTW Randy,
I really like your articles. You do a good job on here!

posted Sep. 12th, 2012 - 6:02am

Randy Russon says:

Dan,

Thanks, man.

Regards,

RR

posted Sep. 12th, 2012 - 6:39am

Stephen Heisler says:

Randy is all about the warm milk and cookies.

posted Sep. 12th, 2012 - 7:09am

Randy Russon says:

Warm milk and cookies beats Steve's preferred breakfast of $1 tequila and hard-boiled eggs.

posted Sep. 12th, 2012 - 8:35am

Randy Russon says:

NET CHANGE FOR WARRIORS

Goalie Jordan Uhelski has departed the NAHL's Michigan Warriors for Muskegon of the USHL. Michael Pesendorfer replaces Uhelski as the Warriors no. 2 goalie behind Trevor Gorsuch.

posted Sep. 12th, 2012 - 12:31pm

Randy Russon says:

NAHL: Soo Eagles lose opener in OT

RANDY RUSSON
Sault This Week
www.saultthisweek.com

Soo Eagles made their official North American Hockey League debut on Wednesday morning at the annual Showcase Tournament that is being held this year in Blaine, Minnesota.

The Eagles, formerly of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to Corpus Christi IceRays.

The Eagles led 2-0 until Corpus Christi scored three goals in a span of 5:45 in the third period to take the lead. Jared VanWormer then sent the game into OT when he tied the game 3-3 with a goal at 15:52.

Corpus Christi won it at 0:40 of OT when Perry D'Arrisso beat Eagles goalie Tyler Marble.

Ian McGilvrey, Tom Telesca and Rudy Sulmonte, formerly of the Ontario Hockey League Soo Greyhounds, scored the third-period goals for Corpus Christi.

Eric Rivard and Jayce Douskey, who is formerly of the NOJHL's Sudbury Nickel Barons, had given the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Corpus Christi outshot the Eagles 43-31.

Next action for the Eagles is Thursday at 10 a.m. against the Aberdeen Wings.

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