Madison 18U forward Hanthorn signs NAHL tender
April 14, 2017
The Amarillo Bulls of the North American Hockey League have announced they have tendered forward Jakob Hanthorn from the Madison Capitols of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL). The Janesville, Wisconsin native hopes that will help him make the jump in 2017-18.
“My dad gave me the idea to come down here for as long as I did, and to get use to everything,” said Hanthorn. “I didn’t know if that was a possibility or not, so I asked and I got the opportunity to come down here to Amarillo.”
“I think being down here watching the games and practicing will really give me an edge on the systems going into next year. It always helps to learn that stuff before-hand. Just to get physical and mental reps always helps.”
Hanthorn played in 47 games for the Capitols over two seasons where he collected seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 36 penalty minutes. He also was selected to and played in the 2016 NAPHL 18U All-Star Game. The 6'1/181 lbs. right shooting power forward said he chose the Bulls because he wanted to try something completely different.
“It’s far away from home and not what I am use to,” he said. “I’ve been very impressed with the fans here in Amarillo and I think it can do nothing but help my game.”
Hanthorn is the type of player that won’t take long for the Bulls fans to get to know, and plays that hard nose style they come to expect in the Texas Panhandle.
“I’m definitely a gritty player and like to go into the corners,” he said. “I like to go in front of the net. That’s my favorite place to be.”
As Jake Hanthorn prepares for his first season of junior hockey this fall, he looks back and remembers one special coach that has helped him along the way.
“Garrett Suter who was the U18 AAA Coach in Madison and now is the Head Coach of the Madison Capitols in the USHL inspired me to keep going, working hard and driving to be the best that I can be,” he said. “It’s really helped me through the years and keep on moving on up.”
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 became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on June 6, 2017.
