Yovanic among NAHL’s toughest players

IceDiggers gearing up for first playoffs; Santa Fe moving to Topeka

To be successful in the North American Hockey League, a team needs a combination of skill, luck and toughness.

The Texas Tornado have never lacked in any of these departments, especially the grit factor, as evidenced by their three straight Robertson Cup titles, and have 19-year-old Highland native Paul Yovanic as their chief police officer this season.

“Paul’s a very reliable player, plays well defensively and thrown some big body checks to make some room out on the ice,” said Tornado head coach and general manager Tony Curtale, a Detroit native. 

After stints in major junior, Yovanic has found a home in Texas.

“He initially called us and asked us if we could use him and give him some stability,” Curtale said.  “Since he came here, he’s worked extremely hard and I think he wants to play more of a complete game.  Maybe on other teams, they just wanted him to go out and fight.  Here, we stay after practice and work on his skating and work on his hands. Paul has shown lots of improvement.”

Yovanic, 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, looked to be an integral part of Texas’ Cup defense this spring, but went down recently with a shoulder injury.  He should be back with the Tornado next season.

Alpena finally postseason-bound

Last season, the Alpena IceDiggers were a league-worst 13-38-7. This year the team is playoff-bound.

Alpena clinched a playoff berth on Feb. 18 as Traverse City lost to St. Louis and the IceDiggers picked up a point in a shootout loss to the U.S. Under-17 Team.

“When we set our goals at the beginning of the season, everyone in this organization from the owners, coaches, players and support staff set our focus to get to the playoffs,” said second-year head coach Kenny Miller.  “We are going through a rough period right now and for us to still be able to clinch a spot is a good feeling.  We will get this turned around and start playing solid hockey heading into the postseason.”

RoadRunners to relocate to Topeka

The NAHL announced Feb. 22 that its Board of Governors approved the relocation of the Santa Fe RoadRunners to Topeka, Kansas for the 2007-08 season.

The team will be called the Topeka RoadRunners and play its home games out of the Kansas Expocentre’s Landon Arena.

“This is another step in the right direction for our league, both in terms of long-term stability and player development,” said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld.   “Having Topeka as part of our footprint also reduces travel, not only for the RoadRunners, but for visiting teams as well.”

The RoadRunners are currently in their third season in Santa Fe since relocating from Texas, where they were known as the Lone Star Cavalry, prior to the 2004-2005 season.

NAHL Notebook

The league announced its fifth annual NAHL Showcase Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept.19 through Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.  In conjunction with the Showcase, the league will also host its third annual NAHL Midget Showcase Festival, highlighting 20 of the top midget teams in North America …Two NAHL players – Alpena goalie Shawn Hunwick (Sterling Heights) and Bismarck forward Shawn Skelly (Walled Lake) – will be on Adrian College’s inaugural roster this fall.  Hunwick’s older brother, Matt, is Michigan’s outgoing senior captain…In four games with the Tornado (two wins and two losses), ex-Marquette Rangers’ goalie Stephen Ritter has posted a 2.26 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.  He earned both wins last weekend against Santa Fe…Ferris State recruit and St. Louis Bandits’ forward Pat Maroon leads the NAHL in scoring with 27 goals and 75 points through Feb. 25.

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