Springfield, Illinois – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the Jr. Blues will not be participating in the NAHL this season, something that hasn’t happened in nearly 30 years. While we may not be on the ice this year, we have been hard at work off the ice preparing for the future. Our coaches have been on the road scouting (safely) and have begun fitting together the pieces for the upcoming campaign. Today, we are proud to announce that we have signed seven players to tender agreements for the 2021-22 season!
Although some of these signings have already been announced, we wanted to take the time and introduce the newest faces in the Capital City. With that in mind, we are pleased to introduce Caden Eaton. Eaton, a native of Petoskey, MI, plays for Fox Motors 18U AAA team. The right handed forward has appeared in three games this season and recorded four assists.
Our next introduction is for defenseman Jared Kaplowitz. The lefty from Marietta, GA is currently patrolling the blue line for the Nashville Jr. Predators 18U AAA program where he has two goals and four assists in seven games played. Kaplowitz previously played with the TPH Thunder and Walton/Lassiter High School before heading to Nashville.
We head back to Michigan for our next introduction, this time in Lansing, where Carter Schram is currently playing for Meijer AAA 18U. The right handed forward has scored six goals and two assists in seven games this season after scoring 55 points in 65 games last year. Schram previously suited up for Honeybaked, Belle Tire, and Fox Motors.
As we head East we find our next two tenders to introduce, both representing the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 18U team: Mac Gadowsky and Nick Sewecke. Gadowksy, a left handed defenseman from State College, PA, has appeared in 11 games this season and has recorded one goal and 14 assists. Sewecke, a right handed forward,has two goals and six assists in 11 games this season.
Our final two tenders to introduce are also a pair of teammates, this time from Carshield AAA 18U. Matthew Smith is a goaltender from Fenton, MO and currently has appeared in 32 games between the NAPHL and 18U hockey. He has a cumulative record of 22-6-0, .921 SV%, 2.50 GAA, and 10 shutouts.
Coby Weber, a right handed forward from St. Louis, MO, has recorded 16 goals and 11 assists in 23 games. Weber does have a brief bit of junior hockey experience as he appeared in one game for the Lone Star Brahmas last season.
We want to congratulate each of these young men for joining an extended Jr. Blues family that includes over 350 NCAA alumni and over 150 professional alumni. We are excited to see what the next few months will bring us, and look forward to seeing all of you on the ice this summer!
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team.Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which is held each year in the summer.
