Week of Jan. 18
Games of Jan. 10-16
By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
Forward: Hunter Hayes, Pueblo Bulls
Hayes (‘04/Lodi, Calif.) has just been absolutely on a tear since New Year’s Day, posting 10 points in the four games of 2024 for the Bulls. Most recently, he registered three goals and two assists for five points – including his first shorthanded goal – to bring his season total to 22 goals and 36 points in 33 games. He was also dynamite in the dots, posting a 30-for-41 faceoff record last weekend for 73 percent success.
Defense: Gavin O’Hara, Provo Predators
O’Hara (‘05/Chicago, Ill.) was in on three of the Predators’ five goals in a 5-3 victory against the Pueblo Bulls, scoring two in the first period and assisting on Luke Faas’ (eventual) insurance goal in the third. O’Hara, a former member of the North Jersey Avalanche AAA program, improved to 13 points in 30 games.
Goaltender: Nikita Volski, Ogden Mustangs
Volski (‘04/Minsk, Belarus) was absolutely on blazing fire against the Idaho Falls Spud Kings, stopping all 37 he faced in the Mustangs’ 1-0 victory to start the weekend series. He also backboned the team in their 8-2 victory the next night in front of a packed house, stopping 31 of 33. Volski spent several seasons in the Esmark Stars program prior to joining Ogden, where he was a longtime teammate of current Mustangs teammate Brody Simko. Volski currently has an active four-game winning streak that is part of his overall 6-3-0-0 record, paired with a strong .922 save percentage.
Rookie: *Magzhan Sagadiev, Utah Outliers
Sagadiev (‘05/Almaty, Kazakhstan) was a huge help for the Outliers in their single game last weekend against the Rock Springs Grizzlies. They won 7-2, and Sagadiev chipped in a goal and two assists for three points. Additionally, he led all Outliers forwards with seven defensive takeaways. The former Northfield Mount Hermon and GBL Jr. Bruins standout has five points in his last two games and 18 points in 31 contests.
* = ’04 or younger / 10 Tier II games or less in prior seasons
