Team Illinois' U16 team, along with its U18 squad and the Minnesota Blades' Bantam team, celebrated NAHL Future Prospects Tournament championships.
Another year, another rousing success for the North American Hockey League as it hosted its first Sherwood/NAHL Future Prospects Tournament of the season last week in conjunction with the sixth annual Sherwood/NAHL Showcase Tournament.
Fifty-six of the best Midget and Bantam teams converged on the eight-sheet Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., from Sept. 18-21, and, as anticipated, the competition and unparalleled scouting presence didn’t disappoint.
“The fact that we expanded our tournament this year and still had to turn away so many top programs says a lot about what the hockey community thinks about this event,” said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld.
“All the feedback we received from the participating teams and the hundreds of college and NHL scouts was nothing but positive and we’re already looking forward to raising the bar for next year.”
On the ice, Team Illinois struck big, winning both the Midget Major and Midget Minor divisions, with the hometown Minnesota Blades skating to the Bantam championship.
“Those are outstanding programs,” said Frankenfeld, “and don’t think there’s any question we’ll be hearing more from a lot of these players down the road.”
Team Illinois’ U18 squad posted a perfect 6-0 record in Minnesota, including a 6-2 triumph over the San Jose Jr. Sharks in the championship game.
Bryan Son and Jason McAloon led TI’s scoring attack with seven points apiece, and Corey Morbeck was named the GDI Top Goaltender after posting a 3-0 record to compliment a 1.33 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
In the U16 Division, Team Illinois also finished flawless at 6-0, blanking the Pittsburgh Hornets in the finale, 6-0. Michael Vilardo stole the show offensively, striking for eight goals for 15 points. Wes Anderson was named the GDI Top Goaltender after posting a 3-0 record to go along with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .881 save percentage.
The Minnesota Blades also posted perfection in Minneapolis, going 5-0 culminating in a 5-3 triumph over the Phoenix Firebirds in the championship game. Grant Besse led the Blades with 14 points on five goals, with Anders Franke and Ian West splitting the GDI Top Goaltender honors.
OT Sports, the Official Jersey Supplier of the NAHL, awarded a set of practice jerseys to all three winning teams.
Southern Sports Supply provided a pair of gloves to the three divisions’ Top Defensemen: Team Illinois’ Dan Weissenhofer (U18), TI’s Geoff Fortman (U16) and Minnesota’s Kristian Manthey.
Each All-Tournament Team member was awarded a hockey bag compliments of Warrior Hockey (see All-Tournament Teams below).
“This was a great tournament,” said Orange County Hockey Club U16 co-coach Ken Moyseyev. “It was well run, tons of scouts, a great hockey environment.
“Scouts were able to see players 14-years-old and up. What more can you ask for? I saw scouts from the NHL to Junior B; it was amazing.”
Phoenix coach Todd Collins echoed those sentiments.
“This was a very well run tournament with fabulous competition,” said Collins. “We’ll definitely be back.”
All-Tournament Teams
Midget Major
F - Sam Cimino, San Jose Jr. Sharks
F - Anthony Coles, Team Illinois
F - Nick Lappin, Team Illinois
D - Ben Paulides, San Jose Jr. Sharks
D - Dan Weissenhofer, Team Illinois
G - Corey Morbeck, Team Illinois
Midget Minor
F - Michael Vilardo, Team Illinois
F - Luke Stickel Pittsburgh
F - Lane King, Team Illinois
D - Kevin Zugec, Pittsburgh Hornets
D - Geoff Fortman, Team Illinois
G - Wes Anderson, Team Illinois
Bantam
F - Jason Smith, Phoenix Firebirds
F - Grant Besse, Minnesota Blades
F - Michael Hughes, Minnesota Blades
D - Miers Moore, Phoenix Firebirds
D - Kristian Manthey, Minnesota Blades
G - Anders Franke/Ian West, Minnesota Blades