By: Rob Brent | February 18, 2019 | 11:30am
JANESVILLE, WI – The annual NAHL Top Prospects tournament will kick off at today at 1:00pm Eastern Standard Time; and, just like in years past, the Janesville Jets will be sending a strong contingent to showcase their skills for NCAA and pro scouts. The tournament serves as an opportunity for teams to send players who do not yet have an NCAA commitment to display their talents to one of “most highly-scouted events in junior hockey“.
Each division fields a team consisting of players who have yet to commit to play NCAA hockey. Along with the divisional teams, two teams of “NAHL selects” will also participate in the event. the NAHL selects team is made up of players who have already committed to play NCAA hockey, or are selected by Central Scouting to showcase their talent.
The Janesville Jets will be sending six players and a coach to Attleboro Massachusetts this year. The Jets will be looking to make a strong impression on the scouts who will be attending from nearly every D1 NCAA team, as well as the multiple NHL scouts looking for talent.
ERIK BARGHOLTZ (NAHL SELECTS BLUE)
(Shelley Schmidt Photography)
FORWARD
Appleton, WI
6-2 | 191
April 12, 2001
2018-19 Season (Rookie)
42 GP | 6G – 10A – 16 PTS | -8
Bargholtz has become a regular in the Jets’ lineup as he continues a solid rookie campaign. The forward has already committed to play hockey at Michigan State University. It’s impressive that he has become an everyday player in the NAHL already, despite his young age. An ’01 player contributing to the team the way Bargholtz has is not common in a competitive league, and this tournament will be yet another accolade for Bargholtz’s young career.
COLE BRADY (NAHL SELECTS RED)
(Shelley Schmidt Photography)
GOALTENDER
Pickering, ONT
6-5 | 165
February 12, 2001
2018-19 Season (Rookie)
32 GP | 17 W – 11 L – 4 OTL | 2.73 GAA | .913 SV%
Cole Brady is a talented young goaltender from Ontario, who has already made scouts take notice in his NAHL rookie season. Brady is committed to play NCAA hockey at Arizona State University. Brady was also recently named as the 10th best North American Goaltending prospect by NHL Central Scouting, and a strong showing at the Top Prospects Tournament could cement that status or even raise his stock going into this year’s NHL entry draft.
JORDON HALVERSON (NAHL SELECTS RED)
(Shelley Schmidt Photography)
DEFENSEMAN
Hudson, WI
6-3 | 190
April 10, 2000
2018-19 Season (Rookie)
38 GP | 3G – 9A – 12PTS | -7
Halverson has not yet committed to play D1 hockey, but don’t let that downplay his ability. The talented young defenseman has been chosen by Central Scouting as a Select because of his talent and potential. He has good size for his age, and is able to pair that with a multitude of other skills that make him a threat anywhere on the ice. With an abundance of scouts in attendance, Halverson will turn heads and is unlikely to be left without a D1 commitment for much longer.
SEAN DRISCOLL (MIDWEST DIVISION)
(Shelley Schmidt Photography)
DEFENSEMAN
Mequon, WI
6-2 | 196
July 2, 1998
2018-19 Season
44 GP | 3G – 18A – 21 PTS | +8
NAHL Career
97GP | 3G – 25A – 28 PTS | +13
Sean Driscoll has been a crucial part of Janesville’s lineup this season. The defenseman has made his way into the lineup every game this season, and plays a versatile game. Driscoll leads the team in assists, has a booming shot from the point, and is trusted to defend in crucial situations.
ERIK PALMQVIST (MIDWEST DIVISION)
(Shelley Schmidt Photography)
FORWARD
Linkoping, SWE
6-6 | 229
July 20, 1998
2018-19 Season
44 GP | 6G – 10A – 16PTS | -8
NAHL Career
96 GP | 13G – 28A – 41 PTS | +1
Palmqvist is no stranger to the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament as he was also selected to represent the Midwestern Division for Janesville in last year’s showcase. Palmqvist is a regular in the Janesville lineup and is often a fixture of the team’s offense. The Swedish forward brings an intriguing package of size, experience, and skill to the Midwestern team for the second straight year.
BRENDEN OLSON (MIDWEST DIVISION)
(Shelley Schmidt Photography)
FORWARD
Eau Claire, WI
6-0 | 185
October 18, 2000
2018-19 Season (Rookie)
19 GP | 7G – 10A – 17 PTS | 0
The skilled forward has wasted no time making a big impression in his first season of NAHL action. Olson leads the Jets in points per game, finding the scoreboard at a .89 PPG rate. Olson has turned heads with his speed, skill, and vision. He has shown enough in his short time in the league to be picked for the Top Prospects Tournament and this event represents another accomplishment in his young career.
COREY LEIVERMANN (NAHL SELECTS BLUE)
HEAD COACH
Coach Leivermann has only been the head coach of the Janesville Jets since January 2nd, but he has already been tabbed as the Head Coach of the NAHL selects Blue team. Leivermann has been with the Jets since 2017 as an assistant coach before taking over the head coaching job in the middle of this season. Before his coaching days, Leivermann played college hockey at Minnesota State University-Mankato. This pedigree means the coach knows what it takes to be a D1 hockey player, making him a great person to learn from for the NAHL’s top prospects.
NAHL TOP PROSPECTS TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
February 18, 2019
South Division vs Selects Red 1:00pm ET
Central Division vs East Division 4:00pm ET
Selects Blue vs Midwest Division 7:00pm ET
February 19, 2019
Selects Red vs Central Division 10:00am ET
East Division vs Selects Blue 1:00pm ET
Midwest Division vs South Division 4:00pm ET
All games will be broadcast on HockeyTV.