NAPHL Alumni Update

January 9, 2020

Brown Bears forward Peter Morgan, 19, has transformed his game since arriving in Kenai River back in late October and has resulted in his best month to date in December. The 5’6/155 lbs. native of Sarasota, Florida, posted 12 points in just seven games during the month, which included eight goals, four assists and a +11 rating. Morgan, who is also an NAPHL grad, recorded at least a point in all seven games and had three multi-point games during the month. For the season, Morgan has 30 points in 34 games played and 29 points in 25 games since joining the Brown Bears. “I had a great experience playing in the NAPHL and it really helped me develop and prepare to play in the NAHL. We had some special teams down in Tampa with a great coach in Vinny Prospal, so it was special to be a part of that group that played in the NAPHL,” said Morgan.

 

Topeka Pilots defenseman Luc Salem, 20, had a big month of December, helping his team to a 6-1-1 record during the month. The 5’10/175 lbs. native of Santa Monica, California, and NAPHL grad, recorded nine points in eight games during the month. That included three goals, six assists and a +6 rating. Salem recorded at least a point in six of the nine games and had four multi-point games. For the season, Salem is fourth in team scoring with 24 points in 36 games played. His 24 points ranks tied for 3rd among all NAHL defensemen in scoring this season. “Growing up in California, you were used to playing just teams in your area, but playing in the NAPHL opened up a whole new level of competition and it really opened my eyes to the level of exposure and what types of other teams and programs were out there. It really gave me a glimpse of what juniors and the NAHL was going to be like,” said Salem.

 

Wilkie led the NCHC and tied for the NCAA lead with nine points in six December games, while his eight goals in the month were two more than any other NCAA player. His 1.33 goals per game were also tops nationally among players with more than two games played in December, while his 1.50 points per game tied for fourth in the NCHC. The Florida Panthers draft pick tallied at least one goal in four of his six games, including two game-winning goals, and had multiple points in half his December contests. Wilkie finished December with an NCHC-leading 29 shots on goal and posted a +3 plus/minus, helping the Tigers to a 3-3-0 record during the final month of 2019. In 16 games this season, he leads the NCHC with 13 goals and leads the NCAA with 0.81 goals per game, while his 20 points rank fifth in the NCHC.

 

Kaczperski was nothing short of spectacular during the month of December, earning consecutive MAC Goaltending Goalie of the Week honors on December 9 and 16 for his performances. He ended the month ranked first in the league in both GAA (0.67) and save percentage (.979), going a perfect 3-0.

 

Former NAPHL goaltender Joel Hofer (Pursuit of Excellence, 2015-17) was named Best Goaltender and tournament all-star at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, leading Team Canada to the Gold Medal. Hofer assumed the starter's reins for Team Canada partway through the tourney and never looked back en route to a gold-medal win on January 5th. He put up five wins, including one by shutout, and boasted a .932 save percentage and 1.60 GAA. Hofer will return to the Western Hockey League, where he bricks up the net for the Portland Winterhawks. There, he sports a 20-4-2 record with gaudy numbers -- 1.81 GAA and .937 save percentage.

 

The American Hockey League announced that Iowa Wild forward Sam Anas has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 5, 2020. Anas recorded a trio of three-point games last week, finishing with one goal and eight assists in three Iowa victories. Anas opened the week with a goal and two assists on Tuesday as the Wild pulled out a 5-4 victory over Texas in a New Year’s Eve matchup. On Friday, he assisted on three goals in Iowa’s 5-1 win over Rockford, and on Saturday he chipped in three more assists as the Wild defeated Chicago, 5-1. Seven of Anas’s eight assists during the week came on the power play, as Iowa went 9-for-12 (75.0 percent) with the man advantage.