The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is pleased to present another NAHL TV exclusive video entitled ‘Everyone’s Watching.’ This is the second video released by the NAHL in the last five months and is a follow up to the successful ‘League of Opportunity’ video that was released back in March.
“One of the things the NAHL does best is provide its players with the opportunity to earn an NCAA commitment while playing in the league and this video is a testimonial to that,” said NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. “Through the exposure of our high-profile events like the NAHL Showcase and the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, combined with a highly competitive regular season schedule, Everyone’s Watching shows us why hundreds of NAHL players are getting these opportunities every season.”
Everyone’s Watching starts with a step-by-step account of how scouts begin to follow a player once he enters the league, begins a season and how that translates into a commitment in the future.
The process begins with the NAHL Showcase, which has evolved into one of hockey’s most prominent and popular events of the entire season. The NAHL Showcase is unique in the fact that it features all 24 NAHL teams playing under one roof. In addition, all games count in the regular season standings, which means the players are giving their all. It is the event where all 600 NAHL players have a first chance to get their ‘foot in the door’ to begin the season and showcase their skills. The event is a must for NCAA program and NHL team as they a first look at some of the best and brightest hockey talent North America has to offer.
The video then shifts its focus to the annual Top Prospects Tournament, which has become another mandatory event for NCAA and NHL scouts. The event has special meaning and opportunity for the 120 players who participate in it each season because not only is it another chance to showcase their skills, but all the players in attendance are invited and selected based upon their play during the first five months of the season. They have truly earned their opportunity to compete against their peers in a format that encourages tough competition that also debunks the traditional ‘all-star’ format.
As coaches and players attest in the video, the days and weeks following the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament are traditionally when the league sees it commitments rise and many players are making their NCAA decisions based upon the body of work over the course of the past six months. Most importantly it is a testament and a validation as to how an NAHL player begins the season without a commitment and through the course of time and events, realizes his dream and earns a commitment through exposure events and playing in the NAHL.
Finally, the video gives a first-hand account of a typical NAHL player, who began the season as a highly-touted prospect. Then, through a good showing at the NAHL Showcase, his selection to the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament and his subsequent performance there, he ended up with a commitment to a top NCAA Division I school. Best of all, the phone call he received which offered him the commitment came at the airport during his travel back from the Top Prospects Tournament.
Footage for the video was taken from the NAHL Showcase and the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament over the course of the 2012-13 season. The video was developed by the NAHL staff and shot by videographer Matt Thiessen.
