Team White Claims the T1ER Top Prospects Championship

The NAPHL T1ER League concluded the 2024-25 season with the highly anticipated Top Prospects Tournament, drawing an impressive turnout. All 35 NAHL teams were present to scout the event, and in addition to the NAHL, over 25 NA3HL teams were also in attendance. Several NCAA and ACHA scouts were on hand as well, making it a must-see event for talent scouts.

This year’s event was played in a tournament format, and one team emerged as the 2025 Top Prospects champions. The only team to go undefeated over the weekend was Team White, finishing with a perfect 3-0 record. They started the event with an exciting 7-6 shootout win against Team Blue, staging a thrilling comeback after trailing 6-3 in the second period. Dawson Anderson and Jake McIntosh each scored twice in regulation for Team White, while Henry Hlinka secured the victory in the shootout, wrapping up day one on a high note.

Day two featured a series of games as teams battled for a spot in the playoffs. Team White kicked off the day with a 3-1 victory over Team Red, with three different players finding the back of the net. Both Joc Bukovec and Luke DiDomenico scored within the first period, while Boston Beltz of Team Red cut the lead to one heading into the third. Ozbej Muzan sealed the win for Team White with an insurance goal at the 13:45 mark of the final period.

Saturday’s second game was a high-scoring affair, with Team White defeating Team Gold 6-4. The win was once again driven by depth scoring, as six different players made their mark on the scoreboard. Four players recorded multiple points, including Ozbej Muzan, who scored in back-to-back games.

The momentum carried over into Championship Sunday as Team White kept their perfect record intact, defeating Team Red once again. This game unfolded a bit differently, with Team White trailing 2-0 early in the first. However, Alexander Elsner sparked the comeback, scoring two consecutive goals to level the score. With the game tied 2-2 heading into the third period, Landon Rogers netted the game-winning goal at the 12:05 mark, marking his first and most crucial goal of the event.

When taking a look at the defensive side of things, netminder Nikita Oleksiienko was lights out for his team, facing a total of 45 shots, making 43 saves for a weekend save percentage of .95. 

A huge thank you to all the players and coaches for making this final event of the season such a memorable one. We look forward to another exciting season ahead and can’t wait to see what next year has in store. Until then, thank you again for your incredible efforts, and we’ll see you on the ice!