Multiple #TPHTrained Athletes Named to 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Rosters

Yesterday the North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced the rosters that will represent each team at the 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. Ten #TPHTrained alumni made these rosters and will compete in this event next month at the New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Below is our alumni by roster:

Central

Jed Pietila /// Michigan Hockey Advancement

East

Cannon Green /// 8 Week Program, Detroit CoE

South

Matt Hutton /// Nashville Jr Predators

Ryan Dickinson /// 8 Week Program, Detroit CoE, OHL Cup

Richie Parent /// Tri-State Spartans, Indy CoE

Nick Trela /// 8 Week Program

Selects Blue

Carson Riddle /// Detroit CoE, OHL Cup, World Selects Invite

Selects Blue

Tiernan Shoudy /// 8 Week Program

Selects Red

Samuel Brennan /// 8 Week Program, World Selects Invite

Grant Hindman /// 8 Week Program


About NAHL Top Prospects

The NAHL Top Prospects Tournament is one of the most highly-scouted events in junior hockey.  Last season, over 220 scouts attended the event, which featured almost every NHL team and NCAA Division I school. It continues to be an important part of the NAHL event model, which includes the NAHL Showcase in September and the NAHL Robertson Cup National Championship in May.
The number of players each NAHL team is sending to the tournament, in which teams from the four NAHL divisions: Central, East, Midwest and South and two NAHL Selects teams, was based on each team’s winning percentage within their group as of January 21, 2020. Each team is comprised of 18 players (10 forwards, 6 defensemen, 2 goalies).
One of the things the NAHL does better than any other junior league is seeing their players earn an NCAA opportunity while playing and being showcased in the NAHL. To date, 175 players have already made an NCAA commitment during the 2019-20 season. The NAHL Top Prospects Tournament plays a big role in that success, with over half of the players who played in last year’s Top Prospects Tournament, earning an NCAA opportunity following their participation in the event. The event continues to provide the hundreds of NHL and NCAA scouts in attendance with a look at the best, uncommitted players the NAHL has to offer, as well as, some potential NHL Draft picks.

2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament Schedule (all times eastern)

Monday, February 17th 
12:00pm: South vs. NAHL Selects Red
2:30pm: Midwest vs. East
5:00pm: Central vs. NAHL Selects Blue
Tuesday, February 18th 
10:00am: NAHL Selects Red vs. Midwest
12:30pm: East vs. NAHL Selects Blue
3:00pm: South vs. Central

KESTNER HEADING TO THE ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

oledo, OH) – Forward Josh Kestner has been selected to represent the Toledo Walleye at the 2020 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Toyota on Wednesday, January 22 at 8 p.m. ET at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The complete roster follows this release.

Kestner is heading to the All-Star contest as Toledo’s leader in goals scored with 17 and also its top point producer at 38 through only 32 games played. His 38 points are tied for fifth among all ECHL players. The 26-year-old has had at least one point in 28 of the 32 games he has played in his first season with Toledo. Kestner is currently on a run with 10 points (4G, 6A) over a seven game point streak, his second seven game point streak this year. Earlier this season, he posted a season high 11 game point streak from October 19 through November 15. The Huntsville, Alabama native currently ranks third on the Walleye with a plus 13 rating.

Following the format established last season in Toledo, the Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic will feature a 3-on-3 tournament with four teams competing for the top spot. The host Wichita Thunder will make up two of the four teams and face-off against the other two teams made up of All-Star players from the Eastern and Western Conference. These four teams will compete in a 3-on-3 tournament with rally scoring in order to crown a winner. The 2020 Kansas Star Casino/ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place in between rounds of the tournament, with results counting towards the cumulative score.

There have been 68 players from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 52 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The rosters for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Stars were determined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters and members of the media.

 

Eastern Conference All-Stars

G – Parker Milner, South Carolina Stingrays

D – Michael Brodzinski, Orlando Solar Bears

D – Joseph Duszak, Newfoundland Growlers

D – T.J. Melancon, Brampton Beast

D – Logan Roe, Florida Everblades

F –Roman Ammirato, Norfolk Admirals

F – Ralph Cuddemi, Reading Royals

F – Jake Elmer, Maine Mariners

F – Tommy Marchin, Atlanta Gladiators

F – Robbie Payne, Adirondack Thunder

F – Liam Pecararo, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

F – Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Worcester Railers

F – Brendan Warren, Jacksonville Icemen

 

Western Conference All-Stars

G – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Cincinnati Cyclones

D – Brady Norrish, Idaho Steelheads

D – Taylor Richart, Utah Grizzlies

D – Justin Woods, Kansas City Mavericks

F – Cam Brown, Wheeling Nailers

F – Josh Kestner, Toledo Walleye

F – J.J. Piccinich, Tulsa Oilers

F – Peter Quenneville, Rapid City Rush

F – Dylan Sadowy, Kalamazoo Wings

F – Tyler Sheehy, Allen Americans

F – Shawn St-Amant, Fort Wayne Komets

F – Spencer Watson, Indy Fuel

 

The Wichita Thunder will host a draft party on Wednesday where the team will be split into Team Bolts and Team Hammers for the All-Star Classic.

In partnership with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, four members of the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team will participate in the All-Star Classic as part of the PWHPA’s barnstorming “Dream Gap Tour” that is visiting several cities in Canada and the United States.

Taking part in the All-Star festivities will be three members of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal squad – Dani Cameranesi, Kali Flanagan and Gigi Marvin – along with 3-Time World Champion Annie Pankowski. Each player will be assigned to one of the four All-Star Classic teams, as well as participating in the Kansas Star Casino/ECHL All-Star Skills Competition.

The 13th class of the ECHL Hall of Fame will be officially inducted at a banquet, presented by BFL CANADA and Sutton Special Risk, on Tuesday, January 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, the Official Host Hotel of the 2020 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic.

For more information on the Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic and to purchase tickets, please visit www.echlallstarclassic.com.

Michael Mancinelli Commits to Arizona State University

Congratulations to Michael Mancinelli for committing to Arizona State University. Michael is an alum of the TPH Center of Excellence program in Detroit. Again, congratulations and best of luck for the remainder of your USHL season and your transition to the college game.

Statistics

Knies, Miller, and Stein to compete in the 2019 World Junior A Challenge

USA hockey announced this week the U.S. Junior Select Team for 2019 World Junior A Challenge coming up December 7-15 in Dawson Creek, B.C. Of the 21 players announced, three are names we are very familiar with. Mitch Miller, Matt Knies, and Logan Stein will be a part of a very strong Team USA.

Miller currently plays for the Tri-City Storm (USHL) and is TPH Center of Excellence alumni for our Detroit location. Knies is a teammate in Tri-City and competed in the World Selects Invite with Total Package Hockey. Stein, currently with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL), played TPH Thunder AAA through 16U.

Mitch Miller

Matt Knies

Logan Stein