NAPHL announces Apex Learning Peak Performers for January
The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) announced its Apex Learning Virtual School Peak Performers for the month of January. The players were selected based upon their performance during games at the fifth and final NAPHL regular season event of the season, which took place in Blaine, Minnesota from January 27-29.
18U Apex Peak Performer (Offense) – Parker Brown, Esmark Stars
The Esmark Stars 18U team needed a big push in the final regular season event of the year as they answered the call, posting a 3-1 record to secure the #7 seed during the upcoming Dixon Cup Playoffs. 18U forward Parker Brown, 18, who is a NAHL tender of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, showed why he is an NAHL prospect as the native of Hanahan, South Carolina, recorded 11 points in four games to lead the Stars. Brown (5’10/150) had points in all four games, which included three multi-point games. Brown was also selected to and played in the NAPHL 18U All-Star Game during the event, where he recorded an assist. His 24 points this season led the Stars 18U team and tanked tied for 6th in the NAPHL 18U Division.
#2 Star: Joe Winkelmann, CarShield AAA
#3 Star: Zach Purcell, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders
18U Apex Peak Performer (Defense) – Jackson Millar, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders
Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 18U defenseman Jackson Millar, 17, led all 18U defensemen in scoring during the regular season thanks to his final effort at the event in Blaine, where the native of Westminster, Colorado, recorded six points in four games to help Rocky Mountain to a perfect 4-0 record at the event and 3rd place finish in the standings. Millar (6’5/195) who is a tender of the NAHL’s Minot Minotauros and also has an NCAA Division I commitment to Colorado College, had two multi-point games and was also selected to and played in the NAPHL 18U All-Star Game. His 19 points was the best for any NAPHL 18U defenseman this season.
#2 Star: Nick Urbani, Valley Forge Minutemen
#3 Star: Ethan Prout, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders
18U Apex Peak Performer (Goaltender) – Jack Caruso, CarShield AAA
While the CarShield AAA 18U team possesses the #1 offense in the league, it was their defense that led them to the NAPHL 18U regular season title thanks to a perfect 4-0 record during the event in Blaine. CarShield gave up just two goals during the entire event and goaltender Jack Caruso, 18, was perfect in both of his starts. The 5’11/165 lbs. native of St. Louis, Missouri, ended up posting two shutouts in both starts during the event, which included 15 saves in a shutout win over Arizona and 15 saves in a shutout of Dallas. For the season, Caruso posted an 8-1-1 record with a 1.49 goals against average and a 92.1% save percentage.
#2 Star: Andrew Miller, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders
#3 Star: James Downie, Meijer AAA
16U Apex Peak Performer (Offense) – Arun Cibrario, Arizona Bobcats
Arizona Bobcats 16U forward Arun Cibrario, 16, helped his club to a perfect 4-0 record at the latest event in Blaine, MN, which helped the Bobcats secure the #6 seed heading into the Gold Division of the Dixon Cup Playoffs. The 5’10/161 lbs. native of Phoenix, Arizona, recorded nine points in four games, which included five goals and four assists. Cibrario scored the game-winning goal in Arizona’s first two wins and had three multi-point games, including a four point effort in a win over Pursuit of Excellence.
#2 Star: Skylar Miller, Arizona Bobcats
#3 Star: Leo Bacallao, Madison Capitols
16U Apex Peak Performer (Defense) – Dylan Herzog, Everett Silvertips Elite
Everett Silvertips Elite defenseman Dylan Herzog, 17, led his club to a 3-0-1 record at the final regular season event in Blaine and helped his team secure the 2017-18 16U regular season title with a 15-1-1 overall record. The 6’1/190 lbs. native of Auburn, Washington, recorded five points in the four games, which included three goals and two assists. Herzog also was selected to and played in the 2017-18 NAPHL 16U All-Star Game during the event. His best game came in a 2-0 win over the Washington Little Capitals, where he scored both goals.
#2 Star: Andrew Ramsey, Arizona Bobcats
#3 Star: Max Ruoho, Madison Capitols
16U Apex Peak Performer (Goaltender) – Craig Perry, Esmark Stars
Securing the #2 seed in the 16U Division for the regular season was the Esmark Stars, who put together a perfect 4-0 record during the event. Helping the cause was 16U goaltender Craig Perry, 16, was literally perfect during the event in Blaine as he won and posted shutouts in both of his starts. The 5’8/140 lbs. native of Export, Pennsylvania, made 16 saves in a shutout of Valley Forge and 24 saves in a shutout of Rocky Mountain. Perry also was selected to and played in the 2017-18 NAPHL 16U All-Star Game during the event.
#2 Star: Michael Morelli, Meijer AAA
#3 Star: Austin Schwab, Everett Silvertips Elite
The NAPHL is comprised of five regular-season events leading up to its Championship Tournament in which the top teams in each division compete for a league championship. The sixth and final NAPHL event of the 2017-18 season will be the 2018 Dixon Cup Championship, featuring all 18U and 16U teams, taking place from February 16-19, 2018 at the Troy Sports Center in Troy, MI.