NAX January Newsletter
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NAX January Newsletter NAX Alumni Spotlight: This month’s alumni spotlight player is Michael Benning. Michael is in his first season in the AJHL with the Sherwood Park Crusaders after spending the 2017/18 season with the NAX Elite 15s. In 48 games this season the 16-year-old has 6 goals and 41 assists for a total of 47 points. Michael is second in the AJHL among defensemen in scoring, while leading all AJHL rookie defensemen in this category. His 41 assists are good enough for fifth in the league. He was named the Sherwood Park Crusaders player of the month in December totaling 14 assists in 9 games played. After recording 7 assists in 3 games he was named the AJHL Defensive Player of the Week for the week of January 13, 2019. In 29 games last season with the Elite 15s Michael had 14 goals and 35 assists for a total of 49 points, tops among CSSHL Elite 15s defensemen. Michael helped the 15s win the CSSHL Championship, earning the leagues Top Defenseman Award along the way. Benning leads all AJHL rookie defensemen with 47 points this season. Around the Rink: 73 former NAX players currently find themselves on junior or university/college rosters this season with the following breakdown: • 24 AJHL • 11 WHL • 10 U Sports • 8 ACAC • 3 KIJHL/VIJHL/CapJHL • 2 BCHL/ AJFHL/ACHA • 1 NWJHL/MJAHL/ACHA D2/NCAA I/NCAA III 2 NAX Midget Prep forwards made their Junior debuts in January: • Cameron Critch (Camrose Kodiaks/AJHL) • Carter Myrol (Spruce Grove Saints/AJHL) 2 former NAX Elite 15 defenseman scored their first Junior goals in January: • Billy Sowa (Swift Current Broncos/WHL) • Jarod Newell (Tri-City Americans/WHL) Midget Prep defenseman Carter Spenst made his AJHL debut with Whitecourt Wolverines on January 5. Spenst has previously spent time with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. Former NAX Elite 15s forward Cole Carrier made his junior debut (Whitecourt Wolverines/AJHL) and recorded his first goal in a two-goal performance against the Lloydminster Bobcats on January 11. Kyle Crnkovic (Saskatoon Blades/WHL) was named one of the WHLs Three Stars on January 8 after recording a goal and two assists in his first career multi-point game. Crnkovic spent the 2017/18 season with the NAX Midget Prep team. Former NAX Female Prep forward Shae Demale was named Saint Mary’s University Female Athlete of the Week twice in January. Shae currently leads her team with 18 points in 24 games played. Midget Prep defenseman Ethan Edwards has signed a Letter of Intent for the 2019/20 season with the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL. Edwards has played 10 games this season with the Saints, recording 1 assist. Edwards has 17 points in 23 games with the Midget Prep team. February will see a handful of NAX players represent Team Alberta at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Aliya Jomha and Alex Spence were both selected to represent Team Alberta U18 Female in Red Deer, joining Female Prep head coach Cassea Schols, who is an assistant coach for the tournament. Midget Prep players Dylan Guenther, Marc Lajoie, Matt Savoie, and Zac Ostapchuk were named to U16 Team Alberta. Former NAX Bantam Prep players Lochlan Gordon and Brett Hyland will also represent Alberta at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Congratulations to Midget Prep goalie Connor Ungar on joining the AJHLs Okotoks Oilers for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. Ungar has spent the last few games with the Brandon Wheatkings/WHL and earned his first career shutout on January 30. For his efforts Ungar was named the WHLs First Star of The Night. Ungar earned his first career WHL shutout in a victory over the Red Deer Rebels Elite 15s forward Caleb Wyrostok had the opportunity in January to speak on the ‘I Got Mind Tour’. You can read about Caleb’s story here: Wyrostok Joins ‘I Got Mind Tour’. Bantam Prep The Bantam Preps did not play any regular season games in January and shifted their attention to hosting the Western Canadian Crown Elite Bantam Invitational. In its first year, the WCC took place January 17-20th at the River Cree, with the Bantam Preps beating Edge in the third-place game. Congratulation to forward Bowden Singleton who was named to the Tournament Allstar Team. Bantam Prep forward Bowden Singleton (Left) was named to the 2019 Western Canadian Crown Elite Allstar Team. After a quiet January the Bantam Preps play nine games in February with showcases in Delta and Calgary: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Feb. 1 2:35P PT Northern Alberta Delta White Planet Ice Delta Sat, Feb. 2 8:15A PT Northern Alberta Delta Green Planet Ice Delta Sat, Feb. 2 2:45P PT Northern Alberta Burnaby Planet Ice Delta Sun, Feb. 3 12:15P PT Northern Alberta West Van Planet Ice Delta Sat, Feb. 9 4:00P CT Northern Alberta Notre Dame Duncan McNeill Arena Sun, Feb. 10 1:00P CT Northern Alberta Notre Dame Duncan McNeill Arena Fri, Feb. 22 3:30P MT Pursuit Northern Alberta Edge School Sat, Feb. 23 8:00A MT Okanagan Northern Alberta Edge School Sat, Feb. 23 8:30P MT Yale Northern Alberta Edge School Sun, Feb. 24 10:45A MT Shawnigan Northern Alberta Edge School Elite 15s: The Elite 15s did not play any regular season games in January but made one trip down south to Fernie for some exhibition games, 3on3 pond hockey, and the opportunity to take in some BC Junior B action. Thank you to Shari and Mark Palmer for housing the team and staff for the weekend! The Elite 15s spent a weekend in Fernie that kicked off with an outdoor rink 3on3 tournament. With exams taking priority in January and limited bodies at practice the team was able to use January as an individual skills development month with lots of small group/individual skills drills. Heading into February the Elite 15s are riding a nine-game winning streak and sit in third place with a record of 21-4-1. With 43 points they sit 7 back of first place but have 4 games in hand. The lone week off in February for the 15s will be filled with the team hosting the inaugural Western Canadian Crown Elite 15s Invitational at the Kinsmen Twin Arenas from February 14- 17. The Elite 15s play eight league games in February highlighted by a showcase in Winnipeg: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Sat, Feb. 2 1:30P MT Edge Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Sun, Feb. 3 12:15P MT Northern Alberta Edge Edge School Fri, Feb. 8 11:15A CT Okanagan Northern Alberta Southdale Community Centre Sat, Feb. 9 8:15A CT Northern Alberta Yale Southdale Community Centre Sat, Feb. 9 3:30P CT Pacific Coast Northern Alberta Southdale Community Centre Sun, Feb. 10 8:15A CT Northern Alberta St. George's Southdale Community Centre Sat, Feb. 23 12:15P MT Prairie Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Sun, Feb. 24 8:15A MT Prairie Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Female Prep: The Female Preps kick-off February with The Female World Sport School Challenge in Winnipeg, January 31-February 3. The 16-team tournament will see scouts from numerous Canadian and American universities in attendance or watching live on Hockey TV. Female Prep head coach Cassea Schols (middle) had the opportunity to speak before the Edmonton Oil Kings game on January 25th at their ‘Girls Rock Night’. Here’s how the month of January played out for the Female Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Sat, Jan. 12 6:00P MT Northern Alberta 0 St. Mary's 2 Edge School Sun, Jan. 13 8:00A MT Northern Alberta 2 St. Mary's 4 Edge School The Female Preps will play five games in February, including a home showcase weekend: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Feb. 8 2:45P MT Northern Alberta Shawnigan River Cree Twin Rinks Sat, Feb. 9 11:15A MT Okanagan Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Sat, Feb. 9 5:15P MT Northern Alberta Pursuit River Cree Twin Rinks Sun, Feb. 10 8:00A MT Delta Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Tue, Feb. 19 2:00P MT Northern Alberta Edge Edge School Midget Prep: Like the Elite 15s January was used as an individual skills development month with lots of small group/individual skills drills, as well as combined practices with the 15s. With a lighter load in January the Preps will face a busier February, highlighted by the 2019 World Sport School Challenge, to be held February 14-17 in Vaughan, Ontario. The four-day event will be hosted by The Hill Academy and features seven Hockey Canada Sport School programs that will have teams competing at the event. Here’s how the month of January played out for the Midget Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Jan. 11 12:00P MT Rink 6 Northern Alberta 4 Dale Fisher Arena Sat, Jan. 12 5:00P MT Rink 3 Northern Alberta 2 Dale Fisher Arena Sun, Jan. 13 10:00A MT Rink 4 Northern Alberta 3 Dale Fisher Arena The Midget Preps play seven league games in February: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Tue, Feb. 5 7:15P MT Northern Alberta OHA Edmonton Royal Glenora Club Fri, Feb. 8 10:30A MT Northern Alberta Edge Banff Recreation Centre Sat, Feb. 9 3:30P MT Northern Alberta Banff Banff Recreation Centre Sun, Feb. 10 3:15P MT Northern Alberta IHA Banff Recreation Centre Fri, Feb. 22 1:45P MT OHA Edmonton Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Sat, Feb.