T1ER in the NAHL
The 2023-24 season continued to see the T1ER league advance more players to the NAHL than any other youth league. A total of 95 NAPHL T1ER players were either drafted or tendered by NAHL teams for the 2023-24 season, which was a new single-season record. Below are five players who made big impacts in their NAHL rookie seasons.
Conner Brown, D, Janesville Jets
The 2023-24 NAHL Defenseman of the Year and All-NAHL 1st Team member Conner Brown spent two seasons with Gentry Academy in the NAPHL from 2019-2021 at the 15U and 16U levels. During his time with Gentry, the Maplewood, MN native tallied 27 points (six goals, 21 assists). Brown was able to double his NAHL point total from the 2022-23 season to this current season, becoming the top scoring defenseman in the league with 66 points (10 goals, 56 assists), maintaining a plus-minus of +24. With his commitment to Ferris State being announced in late February, Brown will be heading off to play NCAA Division 1 college hockey in the CCHA this fall.
Max Martin, F, Wisconsin Windigo
The 2023-24 Most Valuable Player, NAHL Forward of the Year and All-NAHL 1st Team member Max Martin has been tearing it up this season with the Wisconsin Windigo. Including the postseason, Martin tallied a whopping 102 points (45 goals, 57 assists) in 66 games. As the league’s leading scorer, the Tawas City, MI native came up huge for the Windigo, scoring 12 game winning goals, 18 power play goals, 3 shorthanded goals and 2 shootout goals, all while maintaining a plus-minus of +27. Martin spent the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons in the NAPHL with Meijer AAA and Biggby Coffee AAA at the 15U and 18U levels. Over the course of his time in the NAPHL, Martin tallied 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists). With his commitment to Bowling Green State University being announced in early January, Martin will be heading off to play NCAA Division 1 college hockey in the CCHA.
Justin Kerr, F, Lone Star Brahmas
The Grand Rapids, MI native spent the 2022-23 season with the CarShield AAA 18U club, being crowned a Dixon Cup Champion playing 19 NAPHL games, registering over a point per game during the regular season. Kerr was tendered by the Lone Star Brahmas in November of 2022. This season with the Brahmas, Kerr appeared in 69 games, including the postseason where he was able to tally 53 points (28 goals, 25 assists). As Lone Star’s recipient for the team’s Rookie of the Year award, Kerr scored 4 game winning goals, 4 power play goals and 3 shootout goals, maintaining a plus-minus of +39, the best on the team. As the South Division Champions, the 6’3” forward and the Brahmas advanced to the Robertson Cup Finals where they would be crowned Robertson Cup Champions after a sweep of the Anchorage Wolverines before defeating the Maryland Black Bears in the Championship game. With his commitment to Bowling Green State University being announced in early January, Martin will be heading off to play NCAA Division 1 college hockey in the CCHA.
Bryce Monrean, F, Anchorage Wolverines
A NAHL veteran, Bryce Monrean began his junior career during the 2021-22 season with the Kenai River Brown Bears, playing two full seasons in Kenai before making the switch to the Wolverines for his final season of junior hockey. Throughout his time in the NAHL, the Alaska native appeared in 178 regular season games in addition to 13 Robertson Cup Playoff games, including a trip to Blaine, MN for the 2023-24 Robertson Cup Championship event. As a high impact player, Monrean tallied a total of 150 points (50 goals, 100 assists), including a seven point weekend in late December of this season against the Chippewa Steel. Prior to his time in the NAHL, the 6’1” forward spent the 2018-19 season with the Alaska Oilers in the NAPHL at the 16U level, playing in 17 regular season games in addition to Dixon Cup Playoff games. With his commitment to the University of Alaska - Fairbanks being announced in March of 2022, Monrean will be heading off to play NCAA Division 1 college hockey in the fall.
Max Weilandt, G, St. Cloud Norsemen
Drafted by the St. Cloud Norsemen in the 5th round of the 2023 NAHL Draft, Max Weilandt proceeded to suit up for 33 games with the Norsemen this season, posting a 13-10-3-2 record, maintaining a goals against average of 2.35 and a save percentage of .908. His best game of the season at the NAHL level came on December 30th, 2023 as the Northbrook, IL native shutout the Aberdeen Wings, turning away all 31 shots he was faced with. During the 2021-22 season, the ‘05 netminder stood tall between the pipes for 13 NAPHL games at the 16U level with Northstar Christian Academy, two of which being Dixon Cup Playoff games. During his time with Northstar, Weilandt posted a 11-1-1 record, having a goals against average of 1.65 and a save percentage of .922 during the regular season.
The trend of advancement from the T1ER continues with 23 players being selected in the 2024 NAHL draft and another 70 signing NAHL tender agreements for the 2024-25 season. The success of T1ER players at the next levels of hockey, is further proof that the T1ER League is redefining exposure and has become a marquee place to play for elite level players, ages 13-18.
