Sioux Falls 18U forward Zahradka signs NAHL tender
November 8, 2018
The Sioux Falls Power of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Tyler Zahradka has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Northeast Generals of the NAHL’s East Division.
Zahradka, 17, is the second Sioux Falls forward to sign a tender with the Northeast Generals in as may years. Last year the Generals signed John Jaworski from the Power.
The 6’1/180 lbs. native of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is playing his second season with the Power. Zahradka has had success on the ice with 9 points in the last 9 games this year after battling injury at start of the year. In 2017-18, Zahradka had 51 points in 57 games with the 16U Power team of the NAPHL.
“Tyler really took off the second half of last year and caught my attention. He came to our Minnesota Camp and was a standout player. We ended up deciding to have Tyler go back for a year at the 18U level with Sioux Falls in the NAPHL and play a huge role to continuing to develop. Tyler has a high hockey IQ and competes every shift. He is a leader on and off the ice. He has a lethal shot that forces opponents to focus on him, opening up other teammates allowing him to create other scoring chances. I am very excited to welcome Tyler to the Generals organization and excited to watch him compete for us next year while working hard for a NCAA Division 1 commitment,” said Generals Director of Player Personnel Cory Hunt.
“I chose the Northeast Generals because of the great coaching staff and I believe it will excel my development to the next level. I feel like it it’s a great fit for me,” said Zahradka. “I believe my strengths as a player are my shooting ability and hockey I.Q. as well as my work ethic and being a great team player. My short term goal is to improve everyday and try to help my team to the best of my ability. My long term goal will be to play Division 1 college hockey and receive a quality education. I want to thank the Northeast Generals for believing in me and I am excited to play in the 2019-20 season.”
Zahradka is the second player from the Sioux Falls 18U team to sign an NAHL tender.
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 4, 2019.
