Northstar 18U forward Croal signs NAHL tender

The Northstar Knights of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) are pleased to announce that 18U forward Cody Croal has signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender agreement with the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL’s Central Division.

Croal, 17, is in his first season of playing in the NAPHL for the Knights. The 5’11/170 lbs. native of North Branch, MN, has appeared in 10 NAPHL so far during the 2020-21 season and recorded 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists).

Prior to playing in the NAPHL for Northstar, Croal spent three seasons playing for North Branch High in Minnesota.

In 2019, he led North Branch to the Class A Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, where the team lost to the eventual Champion, St. Cloud Cathedral. In 73 career high school games, Croal recorded 121 points.

He is the fourth member of the Knights 18U team who has signed an NAHL tender so far this season.

Click here for a list of 2020-21 NAPHL tenders

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 2021 NAHL Draft.