Omaha 16U defenseman Jenson signs NAHL tender
February 14, 2017
The Omaha AAA Hockey Club of the NAPHL are pleased to announce that 16U defenseman Nikolai Jenson has signed an NAHL tender agreement with the Shreveport Mudbugs of the NAHL’s South Division.
The 16-year-old native of Cold Springs, Minnesota, is in his first year with the Omaha 16U team in the NAPHL. Prior to this season, he played high school hockey for River Lakes High School in Minnesota.
Jenson (6’0/180) has enjoyed an impressive season thus far, tallying 8 goals, 18 assists and 26 total points through 22 games in the NAPHL. He is fourth on his team in points and is second overall in points by defensemen for the entire NAPHL.
“Nikolai is a smooth skating, offensive minded D-man who has good quickness, vision and likes to be active in the other team’s end zone,” said Mudbugs Director of Scouting Mike Grattan. “He also takes pride in his defensive play and has good stopping power when he hits.”
Jenson was also selected to and played in the 2016 NAPHL 16U All-Star Game for Team Dixon.
Associate Head Coach Francis Anzalone believes the Mudbugs have signed a talented young defenseman with impressive on and off ice intangibles. “Obviously, first and foremost, we were drawn to Nikolai’s hockey skill set,” Anzalone said. “He is certainly a young player with a bright future, yet at the same time, he is mature beyond his age in many aspects, most importantly, as a man. We are excited to watch Nikolai’s continued development as his team readies for its league and district playoffs.”
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 NAPHL - plus or minus any trades - which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held on June 6, 2017.
