NAX January Newsletter
NAX Alumni Spotlight: This month’s alumni spotlight player is Jayden Platz. A second-round pick by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Jayden is in his first season with the Tri-City Americans after playing with the Sherwood Park Crusaders last season. In 44 games this season the defenseman has 3 goals, 5 assists and 27 penalty minutes. Jayden spent the 2015/16 season with the NAX Elite 15s, helping the team capture a CSSHL Championship in its inaugural year.
Around the Rink: The Northern Alberta Xtreme are looking to expand our athletic family and add a baseball and golf program. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the program either as a coach or student-athlete please contact NAX Program Director Jason Stewart.
NAX Evaluation Camp registration for next season has officially opened. Dates are as follows: • Bantam – April 10-12, 2020 • Midget – May 8-10, 2020 • Female Prep please contact Jason Stewart
Dynamic Hockey Development summer 2020 camps are now available for registration. These camps are administered by NAX staff and include: • Advanced Shooting Camp • Alberta Cup Preperation Camp • Dynamic Defense Skills Camp • Bantam Prep Camp • Midget/Junior Prep Camp
Tickets are now on sale for the 2020 BDO CSSHL Championships, held March 5-15 in Penticton, BC.
101 former NAX players currently find themselves on junior or university/college rosters this season with the following breakdown: • 34 AJHL • 18 WHL • 11 U Sports • 11 ACAC • 5 CapJHL • 3 ACHA/SJHL • 2 AJFHL/KIJHL/MJHL/MJAHL/NWJHL • 1 BCHL/CCHL2/NCAA Div 1/NCAA Div 3/NEAJBHL/VIJHL
The following NAX players made their junior debuts in January: • Bowden Singleton - Sherwood Park Crusaders/AJHL (Midget Prep) • Evan Arnold - Spruce Grove Saints/AJHL (Midget Prep) • Parker Berge - Regina Pats/WHL (Midget Prep)
Midget Prep forward Nate Danielson won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Nate finished the tournament with two goals and an assist in four games. Former two-year NAX forward Matthew Savoie captained the team at the tournament. Read about Nate’s experience here.
The following NAX Alumni were listed on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings: • Connor McClennon - 43rd among NA Skaters (Winnipeg Ice/WHL) • Carter Savoie - 52nd among NA Skaters (Sherwood Park Crusaders/AJHL) • Michael Benning - 60th among NA Skaters (Sherwood Park Crusaders/AJHL) • Ethan Edwards - 85th among NA Skaters (Spruce Grove Saints/AJHL) • Luke Prokop - 86th among NA Skaters (Calgary Hitmen/WHL) • Carter Souch - 194th among NA Skaters (Edmonton Oil Kings/WHL)
Connor McClennon was named the WHL Player of the Week on January 6th. Connor recorded 11 points in 4 games.
Luke Prokop played in the CHL Top Prospects game in Hamilton on January 16. Luke has 12 points in 46 games this season.
Ethan Edwards, Carter Savoie, and Michael Benning all played in the 2020 CJHL Top Prospects game with Carter and Michael both picking up goals as Team West defeated Team East.
Abby and Alli Soyko have committed to the University of Lethbridge for the 2020/21 season. Both sisters are in their first season at NAX.
Female Prep defenseman Robyn Short has committed to play for the MacEwan Griffins for the 2020/21 season. Robyn is currently in her second season at NAX.
Darwin Lakoduk committed to attend and play NCAA hockey at American International College. Darwin spent two seasons at NAX and currently plays in the BCHL for the Penticton Vees.
NAX staff and student-athletes participated in volunteer skating sessions with students from Robina Baker Elementary School in Devon. The two days of skating provided the staff and student-athletes the opportunity to sign a positive light on skating and hockey for the younger kids in the local community.
Carter Savoie has set an AJHL record on January 25th with his 12th game winning goal of the season. Carter currently has 84 points in 45 games with the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
After playing in a handful of games with the team this season, Midget Prep goaltender Tyler Palmer signed an LOI with the Spruce Grove Saints of the AHJL for the 2020-2021 season. Tyler is currently in his second year at NAX and has a 2.76GAA and .910SV%.
Tyler wasn’t the only Midget Prep student-athlete to sign an AJHL LOI that day as forward Dylan Leslie did so with the Whitecourt Wolverines. Dylan has 18 points in 22 games with NAX this season and has played in 5 games with the Wolverines, recording 1 goal.
Forward Kaleb Ergang of the Whitecourt Wolverines picked up eight points (2G, 6A) to earn the honour of AJHL Player of the Week on January 27. Kaleb, who played with the Xtreme from 2015-2017, has 48 points in 45 AJHL games this season.
Brooklyn Palmer scored her first USports goal for the University of Lethbridge on January 27, 2020. Brooklyn spent the 2017-18 season with the NAX Female Prep team.
Bantam Prep
January was a the most successful month of the season so far for the Bantam Prep teams as they went 8-0 including winning the Western Canadian Crown Elite Bantam Invitational, outscoring their opponents 46-14 in both league and tournament play. With a record of 13W-3L-3OTW- 2OTL the team sits in fourth place in the CSSHL. In practice the team worked on neutral zone a lot and walked through variations of in-zone penalty kill to limit guess work and increase communication. As well they worked on powerplay and general preparedness including being ready for practice.
Here’s how the month of January played out for the Bantam Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION
Sat, Jan. 11 3:15P CT Northern Alberta 8 Rink 2 RINK Training Centre
Sun, Jan. 12 10:00A CT Northern Alberta 5 Rink 4 Southdale Community Centre
The Bantam Preps play a total of 10 games in February as they gear up for playoffs in March: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCARTION SITE
Sat, Feb. 1 12:45P MT Notre Dame 2 Northern Alberta 7 River Cree Twin Rinks North
Sun, Feb. 2 8:45A MT Notre Dame 5 Northern Alberta 10 River Cree Twin Rinks South
Sat, Feb. 8 10:30A MT Edge Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks South
Sun, Feb. 9 1:00P MT Northern Alberta Edge Edge School Kyle Stuart Arena
Thu, Feb. 13 6:30P MT Rink Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks South
Fri, Feb. 14 5:45P MT Rink Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks North
Fri, Feb. 21 6:15P MT OHA Edmonton Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks South
Sun, Feb. 23 2:30P MT Northern Alberta OHA Edmonton Royal Glenora Club -
Fri, Feb. 28 8:00P CT Delta Green Northern Alberta Duncan McNeill Arena -
Sat, Feb. 29 4:30P CT Northern Alberta Delta White Duncan McNeill Arena -
Elite 15s:
The Elite 15s sit in first place in the CSSHL with a record of 23W-6L-2OTW-0OTL. February will see the team host the second annual Western Canadian Crown Elite Midget Invitational, a tournament the team won in its inaugural year last season.
At practice, the team came back and spent the first week trying to review and refresh themselves regarding team play.
Penalty kill adjustments included being aggressive and unified on that aggression, staying strong side on pucks, and attacking on triggers. Powerplay adjustments included threatening the net more to create chaos.
Another major focus was in the offensive zone, teaching all five guys on the ice to do their job at any given moment. When jobs get cheated players begin watching others, playing on the perimeter, isolating their teammates and themselves, and failing to reload above pucks. The goal is to create more inside ice pressure, reload above pucks, and threaten the net more often.
Neutral zone support has been an issue of late. Urgency and sprinting to support make a major impact on the team’s transition offence. Gaining time and space from defenders gives players eyes and hands the ability and time to make plays. More fluent movements were added to the neutral zone, so players can carry more speed and defensemen should have decisive and more consistent looks.
As well, the coach for Bowling Green University of the NCAA attended a practice at the end of the month.
Here’s how the month of January played out for the Elite 15s: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION SITE
Fri, Jan. 10 6:00P MT OHA Edmonton 2 Northern Alberta 7 River Cree Twin Rinks North
Sat, Jan. 11 5:30P MT Northern Alberta 5 OHA Edmonton 2 Royal Glenora Club -
Sun, Jan. 19 11:00A MT Notre Dame 6 Northern Alberta 2 Kinsmen Twin Arenas -
The Elite 15s play seven league games in February: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION SITE
Sat, Feb. 1 1:00P MT Edge 0 Northern Alberta 4 River Cree Twin Rinks South
Sun, Feb. 2 12:00P OHA Edmonton 1 Northern Alberta 2 OT River Cree Twin Rinks South
MT
Thu, Feb. 6 6:00P MT Rink Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks North
Fri, Feb. 7 6:00P MT Rink Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks South
Fri, Feb. 21 7:30P PT Northern Okanagan Okanagan Hockey Training Centre -
Alberta
Sat, Feb. 22 6:30P PT Northern Okanagan Okanagan Hockey Training Centre -
Alberta
Sun, Feb. 23 8:00A PT Pursuit Northern Alberta Okanagan Hockey Training Centre -
Female Prep:
The Female Prep team sits in fourth place in the CSSHL with a record of 8W-8L-0-0.
The team is at a point where they understand the way they want to play, it's a matter of being consistent with their efforts and level of execution to advance plays.
They have experienced success when they are aggressive on pucks and willing to make second or third efforts on plays. They have improved around opposing teams blue paint connecting on many loose puck battles. Their improved puck movement has allowed them to use the width of the ice (weak side defensemen or forward) much more in gameplay.
Their recent growth and improvements were best shown at the end of January/start of February at the 2020 Female World Sport School Challenge in Winnipeg as the team went 4-1, capturing bronze. Abby Soyko and Andie Proulx were to the tournament’s First Allstar Team.
Here’s how the month of January played out for the Female Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Sat, Jan. 18 4:45P MT Northern Alberta 4 Banff 0 Banff Recreation Centre
The Female Preps play seven league games in February: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION SITE
Fri, Feb. 7 6:45P MT Northern Alberta Delta Edge School Rink 2
Sat, Feb. 8 2:30P MT Shawnigan Northern Alberta Edge School Kyle Stuart Arena
Sun, Feb. 9 10:45A MT Northern Alberta Pursuit Edge School Rink 2
Fri, Feb. 21 1:00P Banff Northern Alberta Dale Fisher Arena -
Sun, Feb. 23 1:15P MT Northern Alberta Edge Edge School Kyle Stuart Arena
Fri, Feb. 28 7:00P PT Okanagan Northern Alberta Planet Ice Delta Canadian
Sat, Feb. 29 12:45P PT Northern Alberta Delta Planet Ice Delta Canadian
Midget Prep:
The Midget Preps continue to sit in. first place in the CSSHL with a record 25W-2L-1OTW- 0OTL. To begin the second half of the season the Midget Prep team, with a handful of Elite 15s, took on Detroit Victory Honda in an exhibition game, coming away with a 4-2 win. In practice the team worked on a lot of transition play, power play breakout and set up, penalty kill, and defensive zone responsibilities. The goalies worked with Allen York and Dave Rathjen on positional play, tracking, post play, sharp angle play, and puck handling.
Here’s how the month of January played out for the Midget Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOC SITE
Fri, Jan. 10 6:30P MT Rink 3 Northern Alberta 2 River Cree Twin Rinks South
Fri, Jan. 17 8:15P MT OHA Edmonton 4 Northern Alberta 6 River Cree Twin Rinks South
Sat, Jan. 18 5:00P MT Edge 4 Northern Alberta 5 River Cree Twin Rinks South
Thu, Jan. 30 4:15P MT Northern Alberta 4 IHA 0 WinSport -
Fri, Jan. 31 1:45P MT Northern Alberta 10 IHA 2 WinSport -
The Midget Preps play 10 league games in February: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION SITE
Sat, Feb. 1 2:15P MT Northern Alberta 9 OHA Edmonton 3 Royal Glenora Club -
Sun, Feb. 2 1:00P MT OHA Edmonton 1 Northern Alberta 4 River Cree Twin Rinks North
Fri, Feb. 7 12:30P CT Delta Northern Alberta RINK Training Centre -
Sat, Feb. 8 6:15P CT Northern Alberta Burnaby RINK Training Centre -
Sun, Feb. 9 10:30A CT Yale Northern Alberta RINK Training Centre -
Fri, Feb. 14 6:30P MT Banff Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks North
Sat, Feb. 15 1:00P MT Banff Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks South
Sun, Feb. 16 1:00P MT Edge Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks South
Sat, Feb. 22 1:15P MT Northern Alberta Edge Edge School Kyle Stuart Arena
Sun, Feb. 23 3:45P MT Northern Alberta Banff Banff Recreation Centre -