he North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) announced its Apex Learning Virtual School Peak Performers for the month of December.
The players were selected based upon their performance at the fourth NAPHL event of the season, which took place in Blaine, Minnesota from December 1-3. Stats were based on ALL games played.
18U Apex Peak Performer (Offense) – Jakob Jones, Pursuit of Excellence
Jones, 15, recorded seven points in four games during the December event as Pursuit of Excellence went 1-3 during the four games. The 5’8/150 lbs. native of Vernon, BC, recorded at least a point in all four games and had two multi-point outings. He had a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Nashville and a goal and an assist in a 3-2 loss against Arizona. For the season, Jones is tied for 2nd in team scoring during the 2018-19 season with 10 points in 16 games played.
#2 Star: Connor Bottrill, Arizona Bobcats
#3 Star: Liam Bland, Colorado Springs Tigers
18U Apex Peak Performer (Defense) – Andrew Diaz, Florida Alliance
Diaz, 16, had a point in all four games during the December event as Florida picked up two wins. The 5’9/165 lbs. native of Pembroke Pines, FL, had a goal in a 6-4 loss against Arizona, another goal in a 4-1 win over Thunder Bay and assists in the other two games. For the season, Diaz leads all Florida Alliance 18U blueliners in scoring this season with 7 points in 16 games played.
#2 Star: Aaron Eberhardt, Shattuck-St. Mary’s
#3 Star: Andrew Nieusma, Wenatchee Wolves
18U Apex Peak Performer (Goaltender) – Jordan Smith, Thunder Bay Kings
Smith, 17, was perfect in both of his starts during the December event, posting two shutouts to help the Kings keep pace among the Elite Division leaders in the standings. During the opening game, the 6’1/185 lbs. native of Thunder Bay, ON, had 13 saves in a 4-0 shutout of the Arizona Bobcats. The next day, Smith made 22 saves in a 3-0 shutout of Shattuck-St. Mary’s. For the season, Smith is one of the top goalies in the 18U Division with a 7-1 record, a 1.13 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.
#2 Star: Doug Wakelyn, Colorado Springs Tigers
#3 Star: Darius Bell, Shattuck-St. Mary’s
16U Apex Peak Performer (Offense) – Noah Cameron, Pursuit of Excellence
Cameron, 15, helped Pursuit of Excellence pick up three wins during the December event as he recorded seven points. The 5’6/143 lbs. native of Nagano, Japan, recorded at least a point in all four games. His best outing as a two-goal, two-assist performance in a 4-0 win over Florida. For the season, Cameron is 2nd in team scoring this season with 18 points in 16 games played.
#2 Star: Yusaku Ando, Pursuit of Excellence
#3 Star: Landry Schmuck, Nashville Jr. Predators
16U Apex Peak Performer (Defense) – Alex Pineau, Thunder Bay Kings
Pineau, 15, had three points in four games during the December event as the 16U Kings picked up two more wins. The 6’0/165 lbs. native of Thunder Bay, ON, posted a goal and assist in a 3-2 loss against Nashville and had an assist in a 4-1 win over Pursuit of Excellence. For the season, Pineau leads all Kings 16U blueliners in points with 8 points in 16 games played so far this season.
#2 Star: Yuji Akimoto, Pursuit of Excellence
#3 Star: Tyson Pauze, Pursuit of Excellence
16U Apex Peak Performer (Goaltender) – Aaron Kaner, Pursuit of Excellence
Kaner, 15, had two wins during the event in December. The 5’8/150 lbs. native of Calgary, AB, stopped 45 of 46 shots during the event, which was good for a .978 save percentage. In his first game, he made 24 saves in a 3-1 win over Colorado Springs, and in his second game he stopped all 20 shots that came his way in a 4-0 shutout of Florida. For the season, Kaner has a 4-4 record with a 3.10 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.
#2 Star: Julien LeFebvre, Thunder Bay Kings
#3 Star: Nicholas Junkin, Colorado Springs Tigers
