Knights split with Rink Hockey Academy in Weekend Series
Knights take two against Des Moines, Jump to 25-0
NAPHL moves Northstar Christian Academy to Tier I Conference
NAPHL moves Northstar Christian Academy to Tier I Conference
Last year’s Prep Division Champions to join 18U Tier I Conference effective immediately
Contact: Alex Kyrias
Director of Communications, Sales and Marketing
(469) 252-3800
[email protected]
www.naphl.com
DALLAS, TEXAS – The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced that they have moved the Northstar Christian Academy 18U Prep team from the Prep Division to the Tier I 18U Conference effective immediately.
As a result of the move, any player of the 2019-20 Northstar Christian Academy roster will now be eligible for North American Hockey League (NAHL) teams to utilize an NAPHL tender on.
So far during the 2019-20 season, Northstar Christian Academy had previously played as a guest team in Tier I Conference in September NAPHL Showcase, posting a perfect 5-0 record, and also played Prep Division games in October, posting a 3-0 record. Overall this season, Northstar currently has a perfect 23-0 record.
“Northstar Christian Academy has proven in a very short period of time that they are among the elite 18U teams not only in the NAPHL, but the United States as well, so we felt adding them to the Tier I 18U Conference was necessary to maintain the competitive balance and integrity of the competition,” said NAPHL Director Tony Zasowski. “Northstar Christian Academy is a very well-run organization and we know we will be seeing several of their players advancing onto
the North American Hockey League and beyond.”
During their inaugural season in 2018-19, Northstar Christian Academy won the inaugural NAPHL Prep Division Championship with a 5-0 win over the Pilot Mound Buffaloes to finish the season with a perfect 13-0 record.
“We at Northstar are excited for this elevation to the NAPHL’s Tier 1 Conference in our program’s second year of existence. We look forward to advancing many of our players on to the NAHL for years to come and being a solid member of the league,” said Northstar Hockey Director Rick Randazzo.
The NAPHL has enjoyed a record-breaking amount of advancement, which is highlighted by a large amount of advancement of players to the North American Hockey League (NAHL). No other USA Hockey Midget Tier I league has had more players play in the NAHL over the course of the last three seasons than the NAPHL.
This past season, over 110+ NAPHL alumni played in the NAHL and over 225 NAPHL alumni played in the NCAA. To begin the 2019-20 season, over 80+ NAPHL alumni were on NAHL rosters. During the past three years, 160+ NAPHL players have signed an NAHL tender or been drafted into the NAHL, which is a testament to the success of the NAPHL to NAHL Ladder of Development model.
About the NAPHL
Now in its 11th season in 2019-20, the NAPHL is composed of teams at the 18U, 16U, 15U, and 14U levels from across North America that compete at the Tier I, Tier II and Prep levels. The NAPHL has established itself as the premiere training ground for development and exposure. Not only have players in the NAPHL received recognition from NHL Central Scouting, dozens have received scholarships to NCAA Division I schools and hundreds more have been drafted
and tendered by North American Hockey League (NAHL) and United States Hockey League (USHL) teams. The NAPHL, which is sanctioned by USA Hockey, is designed to maximize the exposure of all the participants through the NAHL's high-profile recruiting events that attract hundreds of college, junior and professional scouts.
Knights Sweep Lancer Showcase, Improve Record to 23-0
3 on 3 Hockey Camp
NorthStar is offering a 3 on 3 hockey camp this summer.
The camp will run June 17 - August 8.
Times, costs and more detailed information will be sent out Friday, April 12.
The camp will conclude with a pizza party and fun activities on the indoor turf at the NorthStar Sports Complex.
Knights Win 40 th and 41 st Games of the season
Knights as the team swept Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 AAA team this past week-end… winning our 40 and 41st games of the season….
Knights Win 40 th and 41 st Games of the season
ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (March 19, 2019) – The NorthStar Christian Academy Knights won their 40 th and 41 st games of the season this past week-end beating Shattuck St. Mary U18 AAA team by scores of 6-1 and 6-2. The wins, combined with 2 earlier wins against Shattuck in Faribault, MN back in December, improved the Knights record to 13 wins and 3 losses (2 in overtime) against the top AAA teams (Madison Capitals, Iowa Wild, Sioux Falls Power and Shattuck) in the region. The Knights overall record improved to 41-10-6, far exceeding all expectations that leadership had for the team’s first season in Alexandria.
Both games saw the Knights jump out to early first period leads and saw the Knights dominate all aspects of the game. All 3 Knights goalies made key saves when tested, and the defense did a great job at limiting second chance opportunities. The Knights offensive power and strong systems allowed for sustained offensive pressure that Shattuck could not handle. The Knights put up 50 plus shots on goal each game while limiting St. Mary’s to under 30 shots in each game. Key scoring by Knights forwards Jackson Vercellono (3 Goals in 2 games) and Jens Richards (4 Goals in 2 games) led the attack while
defenseman Tyler Ryder and John Drury helped set the tone with their physical play.
The Knights wrap up their season with 2 remaining games in Sioux Falls this upcoming week-end.
Junior Knights forward Connor Kemp became the first Knights player to sign a NAHL tender when he signed with the New Mexico Ice Wolves. Senior Co Captain Joey Dosan has also received NAHL tender offers but has yet to sign one as he weighs out his options with the Knights coaching staff.
The Knights expect to have the majority of the roster back for next season as they only lose 5 players due to graduation. The players will stay in Alexandria to finish up the school year while continuing to work on their skating and stick skills for 90 minutes a day as well as training in the PEAK performance training facility.
Mission
The Mission of the NCA Hockey Prep Program is to develop athletes to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ, with a foundation built on spiritual development, academic advancement, and athletic excellence. The vision for the team is to develop athletes who have a transforming impact on their hockey teams, professions, communities and families.
“Success for the Knights will be measured by our players growth on the ice and spiritually,” says Rick Randazzo, Hockey Director for NCA as well as Executive Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Hockey, “We fully believe that our players will improve dramatically on their skating, skill work and team play but also deepening their relationship with Jesus Christ.” Coaches will invest in the players spiritually on a daily basis through team bible studies, one on one mentoring, class work and community service.
Charity Hockey Jersey Auction Alexandria, MN.
For Immediate Release
The NorthStar Knights are pleased
to announce a charity Hockey Jersey Auction when they host the Pacific Hockey
Academy on Sun Feb 17 at 3:00pm and Mon Feb 18at 10:00am
in Alexandria, MN. All proceeds of this Auction will benefit Someplace Safe
of Douglas County and domestic violence victim, Raymond Garcia.
(Alexandria, MN Feb. 11, 2019) --- The
NorthStar Knights along with Someplace Safe of West Central Minnesota are
pleased to announce a game-worn Hockey Jersey Auction which will start Friday
Feb 15, and run through Monday Feb 18.. 100% of all proceeds will benefit
Someplace Safe and Raymond Garcia.
An online mobile auction will open on
Feb 15th to accept bids at https://thismuststop.afrogs.org.
The Jerseys will be worn by the
NorthStar Knights’ players during both of their Sunday and Monday games. These 26
specialty Jerseys feature a large purple domestic violence awareness ribbon on
the front crest and smaller “Stop Domestic Violence” logos on both shoulders
and socks. Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, MN has generously
donated the jerseys for this most worthwhile cause. ADMISSION IS FREE.
Games will take place at the NorthStar Sports Complex 3888
Pioneer Rd. SE Alexandria MN.
More about Someplace Safe: Someplace Safe, located at 700 Cedar St.
Suite 237 in Alexandria, is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate
violence in West Central Minnesota and beyond. Through advocacy, education, and
services, Someplace Safe has assisted victims and survivors of crime, families,
and communities for the past 40 years. The agency provides high quality
advocacy and supportive services to victims and survivors of domestic violence,
sexual assault, human trafficking, exploitation, harassment, stalking, elder
abuse, and other crimes. Approximately 4,000 individuals are provided services
at Someplace Safe each year.
Ashley Zach, Director of Development stated, “ Someplace Safe is excited to partner with the NorthStar Knights for the
‘Stop Domestic Violence’ Jersey Auction on February 17th and 18th.
We are looking forward to this event, which is taking place during Someplace
Safe’s 40th Anniversary year. We truly appreciate the efforts of the
NorthStar Knights in raising awareness and support to end domestic violence.
Theses inspiring young men are working to create a safer community for us all!”
More about Raymond Garcia:
Raymond Garcia is originally from Clovis NM and is the youngest of 4 siblings. He
had a very difficult childhood that was filled with verbal, physical and mental
violence which was primarily caused by his alcoholic father. When Raymond was
9, his mother separated from his father and in retaliation his father
threatened to kill Raymond’s 13 year old sister and actually followed through
by shooting her 3 times. His sister survived but remains permanently disabled
and his father was sentenced to 36 years in prison. By the time Raymond was 12,
he was living on the streets associating with gang members, using drugs and
alcohol, and committing crimes. He has spent most of his adult life in and out
of jail and struggled with drug and alcohol addictions. In 2013 at age 32,
Raymond was homeless and living in a shelter in Bakersfield, CA, when he met
and befriended current NorthStar Knights head coach, John Olver. Coach Olver
had this statement “ To say that Raymond
Garcia has had a difficult childhood would be a huge understatement. Domestic
violence has placed him on a destructive path for most of his life. But he has
overcome his past and is now a devout follower of Jesus Christ. He has transformed
himself and his life. Raymond has been offered an amazing job opportunity and vocational
training here in Alexandria, MN. We are all excited to play a role in helping Raymond,
his wife, and 2 sons to relocate from Lubbock, TX to Alexandria so that they
can begin a new chapter of their lives!”
For additional information
please contact:
John Olver
Phone: 515-537-0059
Email: [email protected]