Meijer AAA 16U forward Piku signs NAHL tender
February 7, 2019
The Meijer AAA hockey organization of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is pleased to announce that 16U forward Branden Piku has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Janesville Jets of the NAHL’s Midwest Division.
The 5’7/145 lbs. native of St. Clair, Michigan, has played in 16 NAPHL games this season for Meijer AAA Hockey’s 16U team and has scored 10 goals and 18 points.
Piku, 16, hit another level at January’s NAPHL Showcase in Troy, Michigan, scoring three goals and adding four assists for seven points in four games, all wins.
“I’m thrilled to sign a tender with such a first class organization,” Piku said. “I’m excited to play in one of the best junior leagues in the world.”
At the beginning of January, Piku made a committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for Lake Superior State University.
“We are excited to have Branden as a part of this organization for next season. Branden is a very talented hockey player, which shows by his Division I commitment to Lake Superior State. Piku will add both skill and grit for the Jets next season,” said Jets head coach Corey Leivermann.
Piku is the third player from the Meijer AAA 16U team who has signed an NAHL tender so far this season.
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.
