Americans coach to lead Frontier team at Top Prospects Tourney

By Kevin Scott

FRISCO, TX., January 21, 2016 — The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) announced today the coaches and the number of players that will represent each team during February’s 2016 Top Prospects Tournament (Feb. 15-17^th) at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.

Jeff Heimel, the Great Falls Americans head coach, will guide the Frontier team and he will have five of his own players on that team. Ryan Theros of the Yellowstone Quake will be his assistant for the prestigious tournament. Heimel also was the head coach of last year’s team as well.

There will be eight teams including the six divisional teams (East, West, Central, Midwest, Frontier, and South) along with two 18U Selects teams that will feature younger players. Each squad will play three games during the three-day tournament.

The number of players from each NA3HL team sends to the tournament is based on each team’s winning percentage in their division as of January 19, 2016. The 20-man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goaltenders) are chosen by the NA3HL Competition Committee and the NAHL Scouting Department and as nominated by the league coaches in the NA3HL.

The Great Falls Americans (.765 winning percentage) continue to lead the Frontier Division and will send five players, the Yellowstone Quake will have four representatives, Bozeman Ice Dogs, Helena Bighorns, and the Gillette Wild will send three players each and the Billings Bulls will have two.

The final roster decisions will be made by the head coach of each of the teams after considering the player nominations made by the individual teams. Rosters will be announced the week of January 25^th.

2016 Top Prospects Tourney Schedule: (All Times are Mountain Standard Time)

2016 NA3HL Top Prospects schedule

Monday, February 15^th

7:30AM: East vs. Midwest

10:30AM: Central vs. NA3HL 18U Selects Red

1:30PM: Frontier vs. South

4:30PM: NA3HL 18U Selects Black vs. West

Tuesday, February 16^th

7:30AM: NA3HL 18U Selects Red vs. Midwest

10:30AM: West vs. Frontier

1:30PM: NA3HL 18U Selects Black vs. East

4:30PM: South vs. Central