NA3HL press release:
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced its award winners for the 2015-16 season, which include: Most Valuable Player, Forward of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, General Manager of the Year and Organization of the Year, along with its All-NA3HL 1st, 2nd, 3rd and All-Rookie Teams, Community Service, Leadership and Academic Award winners as voted by the league’s coaches and general managers, based upon performance during the 2015-16 regular season.
The awards for the 2015-16 All-Divisional Teams, as well as, divisional awards for MVP, Forward of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Community Service, Leadership and Academic Awards will be announced on April 7, 2016.
2015-16 Most Valuable Player and Forward of the Year: Brett Gravelle, North Iowa Bulls
Gravelle, who hails from Forest Lake, MN led the NA3HL in points with 99 and set an all-time NA3HL record for goals during the regular season with 57. Gravelle (6’0/180) also was selected to and played in the 2016 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament for the Central Division team, where he had three points in three games. In his career in North Iowa Gravelle registered 90 goals and 95 assists for 185 total points. Finally, Gravelle committed to play NCAA hockey at the University of St. Thomas next season.
2015-16 Defenseman of the Year: Adam Orn, North Iowa Bulls
A member of the 2016 NA3HL Central Division Top Prospects team, Orn has amassed 60 points in 83 career NA3HL games and maintained a +78 in that span. The 20-year-old had two assists in three games at the Top Prospects Tournament. Orn was also the NA3HL’s Defenseman of the Month in November and the runner-up for the same award in February. Orn finished tied for 3rd in scoring among all NA3HL Defensemen with 49 points in 46 regular season games. He is committed to play NCAA hockey at St. John’s University.
2015-16 Vaughn Goaltender of the Year: Tommi Ahlgren, North Iowa Bulls
This season Ahlgren broke the NA3HL record for shutouts in a season with eight. A participant at the 2016 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament for the Central Division team, Ahlgren also held a 1.17 GAA and a .958 save percentage for the 21 starts he made this year going 17-2-2. Ahlgren led the NA3HL in almost every goaltending category including shutouts, goals against average and save percentage. In 36 total starts in his North Iowa career, Ahlgren (6’2/180) has a record of 29-3-2-1 with 9 shutouts. His career save percentage is .944 and GAA is 1.55. He is committed to play NCAA hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
2015-16 Rookie of the Year: Tanner Congdon, Great Falls Americans
In his rookie junior season, Congdon, 19, led the playoff-bound Americans in scoring this season with 64 points (23 goals, 41 assists) in 44 games played. The 5’9/165 lbs. native of Anchorage, Alaska also was selected to and played in the 2016 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament for the NA3HL 18U Selects team (black), where he had two points in three games.
2015-16 Coach of the Year: Justin Quenneville, Metro Jets
Quenneville led the Jets to the East Division regular season title and #2 overall seed in the playoffs with a 40-5-2 record. In addition, seven players made college commitments during the 2015-16 season and nine more were called up at one point during the season to the NAHL. For the past two years, Quenneville had led the Jets to the Silver Cup Championship Tournament.
2015-16 General Manager of the Year: Chris Flaugher, St. Louis Jr. Blues
The Jr. Blues won the 2015-16 Midwest Division title this season with the league’s 3rd best record at 35-8-4. Flaugher did this with the league’s youngest team, who also qualified for the NA3HL’s Silver Cup Championship. Two players have signed NAHL tenders, while four more were called up to the NAHL this season.
2015-16 Organization(s) of the Year (tie): Metro Jets & North Iowa Bulls
Thanks to success on the ice, in the community and player commitment and advancement, the Metro Jets and North Iowa Bulls have been named co-winners of the NA3HL Organization of the Year. The Jets won 40 games, won the East Division regular season and playoff titles. In addition, they had seven players make college commitments and another nine were called up at some point to the NAHL this season. The Bulls, who won their third Silver Cup Championship in the last four years, led the NA3HL once again in attendance and won the Central Division regular season and playoff titles. They also had the league’s best record at 42-2-3, along with setting a new NA3HL record with 13 shutouts during the regular season. In addition, during the 2015-16 alone, six players made commitments to NCAA schools.
2015-16 Apex Learning Virtual School Academic Achievement Award: Chandler Brown, Point Mallard Ducks
Had a 4.2 GPA and a 30 ACT. A student at Vestavia Hills School in Birmingham, Alabama, an elite educational institution. Brown has full academic scholarships to both the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Brown did all this while also commuting an hour and a half each day to also play for the Ducks, where he recorded eight points in 34 games played this season.
2015-16 Community Service Award: Sam Maddox, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Sam was named team captain for the 2015-16 Season based on his work ethic dedication to the team along with his time he put into the local community. Even though Sam was still in high school and with the demands of being a student and junior hockey player, he took time out of his busy schedule to give time to the Affton Hockey Learn-to-Play program. Sam would help first year players learn to skate and be a positive mentor for them. Sam would be a cheerful face for the young players to look at and help make their time on the ice more fun. Along with the Learn to Play, Sam put in time with the Sunday Night Lights. which is a program designed for children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The program recreates a Friday night high school football game under the stadium lights on Sunday nights. Sam gives up his extra time to help out with the children that need extra help to forget what battles they are going through in life. Additionally, Sam is signed up to help out with the Special Olympics in April. For an 18-year-old student and junior hockey player, there isn’t much time to spare and Sam takes it upon himself to make time for those who need an older person to look up to. Sam’s dedication to helping others, work ethic, and love for the game is why he was named Captain for the team and is a young man with great character.
2015-16 Leadership Award: Joe Power Wayvon, Peoria Mustangs
Joe just completed his 4th season as a member of the Peoria Mustangs. Additionally, Joe completed the 2013-14 season as a member of Bradley University’s ACHA team. The decision to play with Bradley for a season ensured a highly focused freshman academic year at Bradley. Throughout Joe’s career as a Mustang, Joe has been a strong leader and positive influence on all of his teammates. In particular, Joe has consistently taken time to counsel and work with the rookies and younger players on the team to help to guide their growth and development on the team. Joe has been an Assistant Captain for the Mustangs the last two seasons and has completed this responsibility in a highly professional and effective way. Joe’s team leadership is primarily demonstrated through his consistently high work ethic in every practice, off-ice workout and game. He strives to always be the hardest worker on, and off the ice. Joe has been a strong and constant example for every one of his teammates over the past five seasons. Finally, Joe has shown that Junior Hockey and a full-time College commitment is possible. Joe has been a full time student in every one of his years with the Mustangs and he is now in his junior year at Bradley University’s Foster College of Business as an accounting major.
2015-16 All-NA3HL 1st Team
Forward: Brett Gravelle, North Iowa Bulls
Forward: Kevin Shand, Metro Jets
Forward: Peter Henderson, Wisconsin Whalers
Defense: Adam Orn, North Iowa Bulls
Defense: Corey Siwula, West Michigan Wolves
Goalie: Tommi Ahlgren, North Iowa Bulls
2015-16 All-NA3HL 2nd Team
Forward: Austin Jackson, North Iowa Bulls
Forward: Chris Nicolai, Billings Bulls
Forward: Ricards Bernhards, Great Falls Americans
Defense: Nick Thompson, Bozeman Icedogs
Defense: Jared Bromberg, La Crosse Freeze
Goalie: Stephen Frank, Bozeman Icedogs
2015-16 All-NA3HL 3rd Team
Forward: Justin Dunn, Point Mallard Ducks
Forward: Mathias Tellstrom, Metro Jets
Forward: Ryan Dunner, Texas Jr. Brahmas
Defense: Matt Runyon, Yellowstone Quake
Defense: Joe Nolan, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Goalie: Max McConnell, Wisconsin Whalers
2015-16 All-NA3HL Rookie 1st Team
Forward: Tanner Congdon, Great Falls Americans
Forward: Marshall Barnes, North Iowa Bulls
Forward: Ben Ratner, Wisconsin Whalers
Defense: Nick Thompson, Bozeman Icedogs
Defense: Joe Nolan, St. Louis Jr. Blues
Goalie: Max McConnell, Wisconsin Whalers
2015-16 All-NA3HL Rookie 2nd Team
Forward: Arturas Laukaitis, Atlanta Capitals
Forward: Ricky Kwapich, Toledo Cherokee
Forward: Ryan Daugherty, Helena Bighorns
Defense: Matt Runyon, Yellowstone Quake
Defense: George Hansen, Texas Jr. Brahmas
Goalie: Brandon Perrone, Texas Jr. Brahmas