MHR Weekend Wrap Dec. 12-14: NAPHL SHOWdown in Blaine, Shattuck Girls Get it Done & Central Ontario Surprises for Title
NAPHL Photo
With some of the biggest events on the annual youth hockey calendar coming up during the next few weeks, the weekend of Dec. 12-14 provided a great appetizer and preview of the great action that is on the horizon.
The annual North American Tier 3 Hockey League Showcase didn’t get underway until Dec. 14 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., but like most events put on by the North American Hockey League and its affiliate organizations, this showcase included a concurrent North Americans Prospects Hockey League event.
Featuring more than 60 Tier 1 and top Tier 2 14U, 16U and 18U Boys teams from all over the United States, the NAPHL SHOW League showcase began the morning of Friday, Dec. 12, and concluded Monday, Dec. 15. Joining the youth players Sunday morning were all 38 NA3HL junior teams, with each of them playing three regular-season games between Dec. 14 and 16.
Not too far away to the southeast of Blaine, the annual Chicago Mission Girls Showcase for Tier 1 16U and 19U teams was played Dec. 12-14. One of the traditionally strongest youth hockey organizations in the U.S., the Mission welcomed 12 total teams from six respected Tier 1 organizations for the weekend.
Each team in both the 16U and 19U divisions was ranked among the top 38 in its respective age group, according to the Week 12 MHR USA Girls Tier 1 Rankings. The 16U and 18U fields both featured a pair of top 10 teams, and nine of the 12 participating teams overall were ranked among the top 24.
North of the border, 36 total U16 and U18 Ontario Boys AAA teams took part in the Waterloo Gold Puck, which was held Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 14. The 16-team U16 field included five teams ranked among Ontario’s top 40, while a very strong 18U contingent featured Ontario’s second- and third-ranked U18 AAA teams. A total of three teams were ranked in the provincial top 10 and nine fell among the top 30.
The NAPHL SHOW League Showcase once again was held in conjunction with the annual NA3HL Showcase at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. Play in the NAPHL event began Friday, Dec. 12, and continued until Monday, Dec. 15. All 38 North American Tier 3 Junior League teams played three regular-season games Dec. 14-16. More than 60 Tier 1 and Tier 2 Boys 14U, 16U and 18U teams were in Blaine for the NAPHL Showcase.
Celebrating its 17th season, the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is made up of three Leagues: T1ER (Tier 1), SHOW (Tier I/ II), and the FALL League (September / October Season).
The NAPHL has established itself as one of the premier leagues for development and exposure, with its players enjoying great success at higher levels of hockey. A record-breaking number of NAPHL players have advanced to the NAHL in recent seasons; in 2023, the NAPHL had 95 players tendered or drafted into the NAHL, while another 79 players were tendered or drafted by NA3HL organizations. An additional 24 players were drafted by USHL teams, and more than 200 NAPHL alums advanced to play in the NAHL. No other USA Hockey Midget Tier I league has had more players play in the NAHL since 2020.
All NAPHL and NA3HL games are available for live and on-demand viewing at NATV.
CLICK HERE for access to NAPHL SHOW 14U, 16U, and 18U scores, standings and statistics
NAPHL SHOW 14U Division
The 14U Division in Blaine featured a dozen teams, with four of them ranked among the top 45 in MHR’s most recent USA 14U Boys Tier 2 Rankings.
14U Top Team Records
#23 NEST Hockey Academy (4-0-0; 29GF, 5GA)
#28 West Dundee Leafs (4-0-0; 25GF, 7GA)
#35 Northwest Chargers (1-3-0; 6GF, 23GA)
#45 Chicago Hawks (2-2-0; 14GF, 10GA)
#142 Team Wyoming (3-1-0; 15GF, 10GA)
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 14U game scores
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 14U standings
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW skater statistics
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW goalie statistics
NAPHL SHOW 16U Division
There were 21 16U teams competing in Blaine, with 12 of them ranked among the nation’s top 100 (out of 316 listed teams) in the MHR Week 12 Tier 2 Rankings. Three participating teams were ranked among the top 20, and five were in the top 50.
16U Top Team Records
#6 St. Louis Sting (3-1-0; 14GF, 4GA)
#15 West Dundee Leafs (4-0-0; 14GF, 2GA)
#17 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (1-3-0; 7GF, 12GA)
#45 Chicago Hawks (2-2-0; 7GF, 7GA)
#47 California Heat (2-2-0; 14GF, 9GA)
#53 SDIA Oilers 15U (1-3-0; 16GF, 18GA)
#63 Lake County Vipers (4-0-0; 24GF, 8GA)
#80 Florida Jr. Everblades (3-1-0; 14GF, 10GA)
#81 Geneva Cyclones (3-1-0; 18GF, 13GA)
#92 Jacksonville Jr. Icemen (1-3-0; 5GF 8GA)
#97 McKinney North Stars (2-2-0; 7GF, 8GA)
#100 Orland Park Vikings (3-1-0; 16GF.6GA)
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 16U game scores
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 16U standings
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 16U skater statistics
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 16U goalie statistics
NAPHL SHOW 18U Division
The 18U Division in Blaine featured 28 teams, with 12 of them ranked among the top 100 in the USA 18U Boys Week 12 Tier 2 Rankings (out of 241 listed teams). Eight of those teams were in the top 51, with the Nos. 2, 3, 16 and 21 teams all among the field.
18U Top Team Records
#2 West Dundee Leafs (4-0-0; 20GF, 5GA)
#3 Chicago Hawks (3-1-0; 18GF, 9GA)
#16 St. Louis Sting
#21 Orland Park Vikings (2-2-0; 19GF, 12GA)
#44 Dallas Penguins (3-1-0; 20GF, 7GA)
#48 Orange County Hockey Club (2-1-1; 9GF, 10GA)
#50 Lafayette Locomotives (2-2-0; 9GF, 7GA)
#51 California Wave (2-2-0; 16GF, 13GA)
#67 Chicago Jets (2-2-0; 9GF, 14GA)
#91 Utah Jr. Mustangs (3-1-0; 15GF, 11GA)
#97 Team Wyoming (2-2-0; 14GF, 10GA)
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 18U game scores
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 18U standings
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 18U skater statistics
CLICK HERE for NAPHL SHOW 18U goalie statistics
Chicago Mission Girls Showcase
There were a total of 12 USA Tier 1 Girls teams competing in the 16U and 19U divisions of the Mission Girls Showcase representing six top organizations. Each of the participating teams was ranked among the nation’s top 38, according to the Week 12 MHR Tier 1 16U and 19U Girls Rankings, in its respective age group.
Games were played at Rosemont Ice Arena in Illinois and should be available for on-demand viewing via LiveBarn.
Mission Showcase 16U Division
The 16U Division of the Mission Girls Showcase included the Nos. 6 and 7 Tier 1 teams in the United States along Nos. 20, 25, 31 and 38.
16U Top Team Records
#6 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (4-0-1; 16GF, 10GA)
#7 Chicago Mission (4-1-0; 21GF, 5GA)
#21 Belle Tire (2-1-2; 12GF, 11GA)
#24 Madison Capitols (2-2-1; 12GF, 15GA)
#31 Culver Academies (1-4-0; 6GF, 9GA)
#38 San Jose Jr. Sharks (0-5-0; 4GF, 21GA)
CLICK HERE for the Mission Showcase 16U Scout Book
16U Game of the Weekend
#6 Shattuck 4, #7 Chicago Mission 3
Mission Showcase 19U Division
Of the six teams in the Mission Showcase 19U Division, four were ranked among the nation’s top 20, including top-ranked Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the fifth-ranked hosts, No. 16 Culver Academies and the No. 20 Madison Capitols.
19U Top Team Records
#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (5-0-0; 25GF, 3GA)
#5 Chicago Mission (2-2-1; 16GF, 13GA)
#16 Culver Academies (2-2-1; 13GF, 11GA)
#20 Madison Capitols (2-1-1; 11GF, 7GA)
#22 Belle Tire (0-1-4; 7GF, 16GA)
#37 San Jose Jr. Sharks (0-4-1; 4GF, 26GA)
CLICK HERE for the Mission Showcase 19U Scout Book
19U Game of the Weekend
#1 Shattuck 3, #16 Culver 2
CLICK HERE to access Mission Girls Showcase schedules, scores, stats and standings
The annual Waterloo Gold Puck for U16 and U18 Ontario Boys AAA teams got underway the morning of Friday, Dec. 12, and concluded Sunday, Dec. 14. There were a total of 36 teams competing, with games being played at Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Albert McCormick Community Centre and the RIM Park Optimist, Lions and Pillers rinks.
All tournament games should be available for on-demand streaming via LiveBarn.
Each age group was divided equally into two pools, the Lorentz Pool and the Martin Pool. Teams were seeded after four preliminary-round games, with the top two finishers in each pool advancing to Sunday morning’s semifinals. The championship games were played Sunday afternoon.
Waterloo Gold Puck U16 Division
There were 16 teams divided into two pools of eight competing in the Gold Puck U16 Division. Five U16 teams were ranked among the Ontario Boys AAA top 40, according to MHR’s Week 12 rankings.
U16 Top Team Records
#48 (CAN Prep) BioSteel Sports Academy (4-0-0; 30GF, 6GA)
#20 Eastern Ontario Wild (4-0-0; 17GF, 7GA)
#28 Oakville Rangers (3-0-1; 16GF, 6GA)
$44 North Shore Whitecaps (2-1-1; 15GF, 9GA)
#47 Soo Jr. Greyhounds (2-1-1; 15GF, 14GA)
#37 Kitchener Jr. Rangers (2-2-0; 11GF, 11GA)
#33 Waterloo Wolves (2-2-0; 13GF, 9GA)
#40 Toronto Titans (2-2-0; 6GF, 8GA)
#46 Halton Hurricanes (2-1-0; 10GF, 16GA)
CLICK HERE for Gold Puck U16 game scores
CLICK HERE for Gold Puck U16 standings
CLICK HERE for the Gold Puck U16 Playoff Bracket
U16 Championship Game
BioSteel Sports Academy 6, Eastern Ontario Wild 5
The teams combined for six third-period goals – three per side – and when the smoke had cleared, BioSteel held on for a 6-5 victory to earn the gold medal despite late Wild goals by Tristan Gendron-Steele and Isaiah Joseph. Eli Chapman led the way for BioSteel with two goals and two assists, while Beckham Hunter and Shayne Keefe each tallied twice. Noah Spiteri stopped 30 shots to earn the win in goal.
Waterloo Gold Puck U18 Division
The Gold Puck U18 Division featured a total of 20 teams divided into a pair of 10-team pools. It included Ontario’s second- and third-ranked U18 AAA teams, and a total of three teams were in the provincial top 10 with nine falling among the top 30, according to the Week 12 MHUR U18 AAA Boys Rankings. In addition, the U18 field included the No. 19 Canadian Prep team.
U18 Top Team Records
#3 Toronto Titans (4-0-0; 18GF, 3GA)
#30 Quinte Red Devils (3-0-1; 16GF, 5GA)
#17 North Bay Trappers (3-0-1; 13GF, 6GA)
#28 Ottawa Jr. 67s (3-1-0; 12GF, 7GA
#33 Central Ontario Wolves (3-1-0; 14GF, 7GA)
#19 (CAN Prep) BioSteel Hockey Academy (3-1-0; 15GF, 5GA)
#7 Ottawa Myers Automotive (2-1-1; 13GF, 6GA
#2 Waterloo Wolves (2-1-1; 14GF, 9GA)
#25 Kitchener Jr. Rangers (2-2-0; 13GF, 9GA)
CLICK HERE for Gold Puck U18 game scores
CLICK HERE for Gold Puck U18 standings
CLICK HERE for the Gold Puck U18 Playoff Bracket
U18 Championship Game
Central Ontario Wolves 3, Toronto Titans 2 (OT)
Travis Fortney scored a short-handed goal with 12 seconds left in overtime to lift the Wolves to the upset victory and tournament title. Matthew Boyd tied the game to force the extra period with 9:04 left in the third period, and winning goalie Matteo Cinelli made 34 saves. Kingsley John opened the scoring for Central Ontario in the first period before Taddeo Tavernese and Dylan Nobili scored in the middle frame to give the Titans the lead.
