New Jersey 18U forward Konovalov signs NAHL tender
December 18, 2017
The New Jersey Jr. Titans of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Alex Konovalov has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the New Jersey Titans of the NAHL’s East Division.
Konovalov, 17 is a native of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and is currently playing with the Titans' 18U team of the NAPHL and AYHL. In a combined 24 games this season, he has 14 goals and 20 assists, totaling for 34 points. In 17 NAPHL games this season, he has 25 points.
Konovalov was also an NAPHL 16U All-Star last season, playing in the All-Star Game and recorded 40 points in 22 games played.
His experience with the organization was attributed as a reason for signing the tender agreement with New Jersey.
"I've been playing for the Titans for two years now, and I decided to stay for another year because I liked the way coach (George) Haviland ran things. The way he facilitates our development to become two-way players helped me grow into a complete hockey player," said the 17-year-old forward. "Signing with the NAHL team is a no-brainer as a local guy, it's an opportunity to play at the next level in my home state and working with coach (Craig) Doremus will be a pleasure. Between the way the organization is run, the way they develop their players and their winning mentality were all contributing factors towards signing with the Titans."
Titans head coach Craig Doremus talked about signing Konovalov (5’11/175) and what the forward can bring to the table next season.
"We are excited to sign Alex to a tender agreement, as he's had two strong years with the Titans' program and continued to progress as a player," Doremus said. "Alex has demonstrated a desire to want to continue to grow and learn as a player. We think he has the ability to be an elite offensive player and we are excited to have him continue to be part of our program moving forward. We look forward to watching Alex and the rest of the Titans' midget teams continue this year as they head towards the stretch run of the regular season and march towards the 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 5, 2018.
