Lansing 18U duo sign NAHL tenders
January 24, 2014
The Lansing Capitals of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) have announced that two players from the 18U team have signed NAHL tender agreements.
18U goaltender Jacob Gwillim has signed an NAHL tender with the Johnstown Tomahawks, who play in the NAHL’s North Division. 18U forward Trenton Kulczyk has signed an NAHL tender with the Aberdeen Wings, who play in the NAHL’s Central Division.
Gwillim, 16, has been one of the top goalies in the NAPHL this season. The native of Swartz Creek, Michigan put together a remarkable regular season as the 18U Capitals finished 4th in the 18U standings with a 19-5-0 record. Gwillim (6’0/200) finished with a 12-1-0 record. His 12 wins ranked 2nd in the 18U Division this season, while his save percentage of 92.4% ranked 5th and his goals against average of 1.85 ranked 6th. At the most recent NAPHL event in Troy, Gwillim finished with a 3-0 record, a 1.00 goals against average and a 96.5% save percentage.
Last season, Gwillim played in the NAPHL for the Capitals 16U team. In 26 career NAPHL games, Gwillim has a 19-6 record with two shutouts, a 2.20 goals against average and a 91.5% save percentage.
Kulczyk, 17, had his best season to date of his three years spent playing in the NAPHL. In 24 games this season, the native of Schoolcraft, Michigan had 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists), which was a career high. At the last regular season event in Troy, Kulczyk (5’11/173) had five points in five games. His 19 points were tied for 3rd in team scoring. Last season, Kulczyk played for the Lansing 18U team, scoring 13 points and in 2011-12, he played for the Lansing 16U team registering 14 points.
In 64 career NAPHL regular season games, Kulczyk has 46 career points. He has also played in 12 career playoff games with nine points.
Gwillim and Kulczyk join teammate Ronnie Hein (Aberdeen) as players who have signed NAHL tenders this season.
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include two (2) tenders exclusively used on players from the NAPHL - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on June 3, 2014.
