NAX October Newsletter
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NAX October Newsletter NAX Alumni Spotlight: This month’s alumni spotlight player is Josh Prokop. After being selected in the 5th round, 92nd overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft by the Swift Current Broncos, Josh joined NAX for the 2015/16 season winning the CSSHL League Championship with the Elite 15s. The following year he would lead the Midget Prep division in scoring with 57 points in 30 games. This success allowed Josh to join the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL as a 17-year-old last year, producing 36 points in 48 games in his rookie season. After beginning the season with the Vipers Josh signed with the Calgary Hitmen, joining his brother and former NAX Midget Prep defenseman Luke Prokop. On the season Josh has 8 points in 12 games, including a 2 goal, 1 assist performance that earned him the WHL’s Third Star of the night on October 17. (Photo courtesy of the WHL and Calgary Hitmen) Around the Rink: NAX would like to congratulate a trio of former Midget Prep players as Connor McClennon (Kootenay Ice/WHL), Kyle Crnkovic (Saskatoon Blades/WHL), and Luke Prokop (Calgary Hitmen/WHL) will become the first Xtreme athletes to represent Team Canada at the international level from November 3-10 in Saint John and Quispamsis, N.B. at the World Under- 17 Hockey Challenge. Luke Prokop, Connor McClennon, and Kyle Crnkovic will represent Team Canada in November at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. 15 former NAX players scored their first career junior/university goals in the months of September/October: • Breydon Berthold (Okotoks Oilers/AJHL) • Carter Savoie (Sherwood Park Crusaders/AJHL) • Connor McLennon (Kootenay Ice/WHL) • Elizabeth Lang (Calgary Dinos/U Sports) • Ethan Leyer (Bonnyville Pontiacs) • Ethan Mack (Lloydminster Bobcats/AJHL) • Harrison Tucker (Nanaimo Buccaneers/VIJHL) • Jaxsen Wyatt (Spruce Grove Saints/AJHL) • Luke Prokop (Calgary Hitmen/WHL) • Mike Benning (Sherwood Park Crusaders/AJHL) • Nathan Morgan (Grande Prairie Storm/AJHL) • Riley Fiddler-Schultz (Calgary Hitmen/WHL) • Rylind Mackinnon (UBC Thunderbirds/U Sports) • Shae Demale (Saint Mary's University/U Sports) • Ty Whitford (Drayton Valley/AJHL) 71 former NAX players currently find themselves on junior or university/college rosters this season with the following breakdown: • 21 AJHL • 13 WHL • 10 U Sports • 8 ACAC • 3 KIJHL/VIJHL • 2 BCHL/CapJHL/AJFHL/ACHA • 1 NWJHL/MJAHL/ACHA D2/NCAA I/NCAA III Skating coach Brian Shackel was hard at work during the month of October as he ran testing with all four teams. The initial results in agility, acceleration, and overall speed will be compared to final test results at the end of the year so our student-athletes are able to see the improvements they make over the course of the season. Congratulations to third year Female Prep forward Maggie Peterson on committing to the University of Windsor Lancers female hockey team for the 2019/20 season. Maggie has a total of 11 points in 45 career regular season and playoff games with NAX. Maggie Peterson has committed to the University of Windsor for the 2019/20 season. Bantam Prep October saw the Bantam Preps play five games, all in Calgary, including a four-game showcase. Here’s how the month of October played out for the Bantam Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Oct. 19 3:30P Delta Green 4 Northern Alberta 2 Edge School Sat, Oct. 20 8:00A Burnaby 6 Northern Alberta 5 Edge School Sat, Oct. 20 8:30P West Van 5 Northern Alberta 1 Edge School Sun, Oct. 21 10:45A St. George's 7 Northern Alberta 4 Edge School Sun, Oct. 28 1:00P Northern Alberta 4 Edge 3 Edge School SO November sees the Bantam Preps play just four games, all on the road: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Nov. 23 5:00P PT Northern Alberta Okanagan Charlie Purdey Arena Sat, Nov. 24 10:30A PT Northern Alberta Pacific Coast Westhills Arena Sat, Nov. 24 8:30P PT Northern Alberta Yale Westhills Arena Sun, Nov. 25 10:30A PT Northern Alberta Pursuit Charlie Purdey Arena Elite 15s: The Elite 15s sit atop their CSSHL division with a record of 11-0-1 and a league best goal differential of plus 50. The month of October included their first showcase in Calgary and their home opener against cross-town rival OHA Edmonton. The focus for the team in practices has been generating in-zone offence, specifically with three lanes of shooting. The forwards have focused on cycles, scissoring to create lanes, staying wide on the breakout, and finding soft spots, while the defense has been focused on surfing, connection to the play, and eliminating stick handling to get pucks north. A busy month will see the 15s play in their first tournament of the year as they travel to Kelowna November 22-25. The Elite 15s sit atop their CSSHL division with a record of 11-0-1 and a league best goal differential of plus 50. Here’s how the month of October played out for the Elite 15s: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Oct. 12 3:30P Delta 6 Northern Alberta 5 Edge School SO Sat, Oct. 13 8:15A Northern Alberta 6 Pacific Coast 0 Edge School Sat, Oct. 13 3:45P St. George's 1 Northern Alberta 4 Edge School Sun, Oct. 14 8:15A Northern Alberta 8 West Van 0 Edge School Thu, Oct. 18 6:45P Northern Alberta 5 Edge 1 Edge School Fri, Oct. 26 4:45P OHA Edmonton 2 Northern Alberta 7 River Cree Twin Rinks Sat, Oct. 27 12:15P Edge 3 Northern Alberta 5 River Cree Twin Rinks The Elite 15s play eight league games in the month of November highlighted by trips to Winnipeg and Delta: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Nov. 2 4:00P CT Northern Alberta Rink Southdale Community Centre Sat, Nov. 3 4:00P CT Northern Alberta Rink Southdale Community Centre Fri, Nov. 9 7:15P MT Northern Alberta OHA Edmonton Royal Glenora Club Fri, Nov. 16 12:00P PT St. George's Northern Alberta Planet Ice Delta Sat, Nov. 17 8:00A PT Northern Alberta Burnaby Planet Ice Delta Sat, Nov. 17 5:00P PT Delta Northern Alberta Planet Ice Delta Sun, Nov. 18 8:00A PT Northern Alberta Pacific Coast Planet Ice Delta Fri, Nov. 30 7:15P MT Northern Alberta OHA Edmonton Royal Glenora Club Female Prep: October was a slow month for the female team with just five games, but the team put a lot of work into practice on growing their game. Focal points in practice included special teams, offensive zone entries, and skills. The focus of the powerplay was constantly being a shooting threat and creating three lanes of offence, while the penalty kill worked on the arrow head technique, and creating relentless pressure on the opposing team. Offensive zone entries focused on creating layers of support, with both width and depth. The skills coaches taught low and high scoring options on the powerplay, net front play in the defensive zone, and puck protection of jab steps. The team heads into a very busy November playing a total of 10 league games. Eight of these games will be split up with showcases in Delta and Winnipeg. It is imperative that the girls pre plan for the road academically and have good communication with their teachers. Self-care, rest, hydration, nutrition and time management, will be extremely important during this month. Here’s how the month of October played out for the Female Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Oct. 5 1:45P Okanagan 4 Northern Alberta 2 Okanagan Hockey Training Centre Sat, Oct. 6 8:15A Northern Alberta 3 Delta 1 South Okanagan Events Centre Sat, Oct. 6 5:15P Shawnigan 1 Northern Alberta 2 South Okanagan Events Centre Sun, Oct. 7 10:30A Northern Alberta 0 Pursuit 7 Okanagan Hockey Training Centre Wed, Oct. 24 11:00A Edge 3 Northern Alberta 0 River Cree The month of November will be extremely busy for the Female Preps as they play 10 games including trips to Delta and Winnipeg: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Nov. 2 1:05P PT Northern Alberta Pursuit Planet Ice Delta Sat, Nov. 3 11:05A PT Shawnigan Northern Alberta Planet Ice Delta Sat, Nov. 3 6:05P PT Northern Alberta Delta Planet Ice Delta Sun, Nov. 4 9:00A PT Okanagan Northern Alberta Planet Ice Delta Fri, Nov. 16 8:00A CT Delta Northern Alberta Bell MTS Iceplex Fri, Nov. 16 3:30P CT Northern Alberta Okanagan Bell MTS Iceplex Sat, Nov. 17 3:30P CT Pursuit Northern Alberta Bell MTS Iceplex Sun, Nov. 18 10:30A CT Northern Alberta Shawnigan Bell MTS Iceplex Sat, Nov. 24 3:15P MT Banff Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Sun, Nov. 25 1:45P MT Banff Northern Alberta River Cree Twin Rinks Midget Prep: Currently sitting in fourth place with a record of 8-2-2, the Midget Prep team enters their “grind months,” closing out October and starting November with three travel weekends in a row. The next two weekends will be a true test for the team playing against some good academies. The boys have been working hard on the ice and in the gym. A lot of our focus the past couple weeks have been on in zone attacks as well as offensive rush attacks. One area as a team we can approve on is capitalizing on our chances and getting bodies in-front of their goalie. Here’s how the month of October played out for the Midget Preps: DATE TIME AWAY HOME LOCATION Fri, Oct.