North American Hockey League
Events calendar boasts strong scouting presence A
By Matt Mackinder
nother season has arrived for the North American
Hockey League (NAHL) and its two sponsored circuits - the North American 3 Hockey League (3HL) and North Ameri-
can Prospects Hockey League (PHL). Now in its 36th year of operation, the NAHL con-
tinues to prove that players who toil in the league do, in fact, get the development and exposure needed to move on to higher levels of hockey, from the NCAA ranks to the NHL. A huge reason for the league’s recent success in
that department has been the advent and growth of its heavily scouted showcases and tournaments, which draw the attention of hundreds of college and professional scouts year in and year out. “Our events calendar really has evolved into some-
thing special, and our goal every season is to make it bigger and better for the benefit of all the players, as well as the scouts and coaches in attendance,” said NAHL commissioner and president Mark Franken- feld, who also serves as president of the 3HL. “That really speaks to our overall mission, and the feedback at all levels has been outstanding.” The NAHL (Tier II Junior A), along with the 3HL (Tier III Junior A) and PHL (Midget AAA), will again
participate in a handful of showcases and all-star fes- tivals this season, with the recently concluded Sep- tember kickoff event in Blaine, Minn., opening the floodgates. California will play host to one of those
showcases next month, as Sharks Ice-San Jose will welcome western teams from the PHL’s two divisions (18U and 16U) from Oct. 19-22. The Pikes Peak Miners (18U, 16U teams) and Utah Regulators (18U) are members of the PHL. The PHL will also host showcases
in Fox Valley, Ill. (Nov. 9-12), again in Blaine (Nov. 30-Dec. 3, held in conjunction with the first of two 3HL showcases of the season), Dallas (Dec. 27-30) and Troy, Mich. (Jan. 18-21). The PHL Championship Tournament
Series returns to Troy over Presidents’ Day Weekend (Feb. 15-18). The event will be held in conjunction with the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament (Feb. 18-20) and the season’s second 3HL showcase (Feb. 17-20). The events
schedule will come to a close at the
NAHL’s Robertson Cup Championship Tournament,
NAHL.com
where the 3HL and PHL will also hold their respec- tive Top Prospects Tournaments. In the end, it’s all about getting the participating
players in front of as many junior, pro and college teams throughout the year. “What these events are designed to do is expose all the players by bringing everyone to- gether under one roof in our unique vertical exposure model and let them compete, showcase and per- form their skills in front of all the NCAA coaches and NHL scouts in attendance,” Fran- kenfeld said. And the results are proof
positive, as close to 200 players who played in the NAHL last season or during
the 2010-11 season, including a handful from Colorado, will suit up for NCAA programs this fall.
Frankenfeld is counting on that college commit- ment list to outdo itself once again this time around. “The NAHL, along with the 3HL and PHL, exists
exclusively for developing, exposing and promoting its players on to college and professional hockey,” he said. “We had a record high in the commitment category last year and are striving to repeat - and hopefully even beat - that milestone this season.”
CORubberHockey.com
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