Northeast defenseman Smith signs NAHL tender
November 20, 2019
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The Northeast Generals of the North American Prospects Hockey League’s East Division are pleased to announce that 18U defenseman Adam Smith has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Northeast Generals NAHL team of the East Division.
It is the first ever tender signed by an NAPHL Generals player, who are in their first season competing in the NAPHL.
Smith, 17, came to the Generals after having played for current 18U Head Coach Eric Progen at the Valley Forge Minutemen, who were also members of the NAPHL at the time. The 6’0/195 lbs. native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has appeared in six NAPHL games with the 18U Generals so far this season and recorded four points (1 goal, 3 assists).
“Adam is a strong kid with tremendous character. He thinks the game at a high level and works hard to improve himself everyday. I’m excited to see him get this opportunity to play at the next level,” said Progen.
Overall in his NAPHL career, which extends back to the 2017-18 season, Smith has 35 career gmaes and posted 10 points. He made his NAHL debut earlier this season with the NAHL’s Generals back on November 16th.
“Adam came to one of our open camps as an underage player and I was reluctant to have him take part as he was five years younger that most of the players. He got out there and just started crushing kids and my nerves quickly turned to intrigue and we talked about what he needed to work on,” said Generals GM Bryan Erikson.” Then he came the following year and was more impressive, but still a tad raw for the league. A year ago he came to our Ohio camp and broke his Tibia, and two hours later camp he came back for his exit interview in an air cast. Eric has done a tremendous job helping Adam develop. He will be a huge asset to our NAHL defensive corps next year.”
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 2, 2020.