Jr. Kraken 16U defenseman Hlinka signs NAHL Tender

The NAPHL’s T1ER League is pleased to announce that Seattle Jr. Kraken 16U defenseman Henry Hlinka has signed a NAHL tender agreement for the 2025-26 season with the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the NAHL’s South Division.

Hlinka, 16, recently completed his second season in the T1ER league at the 16U level with the Seattle Jr. Kraken. The Woodinville, WA native appeared in 33 career games, recording 17 points (13 goals, 4 assists). He broke out during the 2024–25 season, averaging a point per game with 16 points in 16 regular-season matchups.

His 16 points led all defensemen at the 16U level, earning him a selection to the All-T1ER First Team, as well as a spot representing the Jr. Kraken at the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament.

Hlinka delivered two standout performances against Biggby Coffee, helping Seattle to wins in both matchups, one in September and another in December. In the September game, the ‘08 blueliner recorded a four-point outing with a hat trick and an assist. He followed it up with a near-identical performance in December, notching another hat trick that included the game-winning goal.

Click here to see a list of T1ER tenders for the 2024-25 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 T1ER - plus or minus any trades - which became active on November 1st. Tendered players are not eligible for the 2025 NAHL Draft.