Photo Credit: Kelsey Lee-Violet Turtle Photography

With the NA3HL group getting four players and their coach to their version of this tournament in Pittsburg, the NAHL group got two deserving players nominated to this tournament. Both of them, Douglas Friberg and Brent Keefer have a lot of Division One interest and both of them will get another chance for a lot of scouts to see them at this tournament on the East Division team.

Head Coach Bryan Erikson had the following to say on Friberg’s nomination and the amount of players picked from his team.

“I always feel we deserve more. But the selection process is based on standings. And we didn’t do enough to get more players selected. With that said our 2 selections are great ambassadors to both the NAHL and the Northeast Generals. Doug Friberg is a big, strong, puck moving, 2002 Defenseman in his first year playing in North America. His quick adjustment to the smaller ice has been nothing short of amazing. He still hasn’t played his best hockey and is already one of our most dependable defenseman. He comes to the rink ready to work every day. Listens to Coaching incredibly as he is able to implement corrections almost immediately. He has had some good D1 interest and we fell on the big stage he will shine and receive a ton more.”

Friberg’s play style is that of a steady defender that often makes life tough for the top scorers on other teams. At the next level he can grow in to a top four defender with higher upside and be reliable as a “shut down guy” who can go eat minutes in big situations.

As for the forward selected, Brent Keefer, Erikson had more great things to say. “Brent Keefer is a great Captain and player. Brent leads our team in both goals (15) and Points (37). He also is tied for the lead in Game Winning Goal with 5. He has been such a great leader on and off the ice. He is a clutch player that will be an amazing D1 player similar to Bilek, Boudon and Jallen. I think he will be that good. I am excited for him to get to play on the big stage at Top Prospects.” Keefer has the ability to play any spot as a forward, and has a high hockey sense that compliments the physical way he plays the game and has generated him a lot of interest at the Division One level. Which ever team gets him to commit to their school will get a determined player that pays attention to details and has plenty of skill to match the intensity he plays the game with.