Bauer Hockey NAHL Forward of the Month: Cade Neilson, Aberdeen Wings
Aberdeen Wings forward Cade Neilson, 20, had a torrid month of November, recording 20 points (five goals and 15 assists) in just eight games played.
The 6’0″, 195 lb. native of Nottingham, England, also took over the scoring lead in the NAHL with his effort as he now has a league-leading 35 points to date.
Neilson recorded at least a point in all eight games and had seven multi-point games. The Alaska-Fairbanks recruit is currently riding a ten-game point streak and has recorded a multi-point game in six straight games. In 123 career NAHL games to date, Neilson has recorded 107 points.
“Cade elevated his play through the month of November,” Wings head coach Steve Jennings said. “Night in and night out he has found a way to impact the game and continues to be a good leader of our group on and off the ice.”
“I attribute a lot of success to my line mates, Ronan Walsh and Jacob Bosse. We have been a locked in as a line this month and they have been producing at a rapid rate as well, which has been a pleasure to be a part of,” Neilson said. “I do believe we have found our stride together and with some puck luck thrown in there, it has been a fun month of hockey. I have also started to focus on more of a shoot first mentality, which has helped create a lot more scoring opportunities. I have been put in a position by the coaching staff to utilize the creative side of my game if I continue to be responsible on the defensive side of the puck. The most important goal for this season is to win a Robertson Cup. After being so close last year, there is a fire in our locker room to make that a reality this year. Then, once I get to college, I want to be successful on and off the ice. My goal is to be a go-to guy at Alaska-Fairbanks and to be able to help the team in any way I can. Finally, once I am done with college, the goal is to play professional hockey at the highest level I can and hopefully continue to be productive at that level as well.”
Runner-Up: Cy LeClerc, Janesville Jets
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jacob Badal, Johnstown Tomahawks – Dillan Bentley, New Mexico Ice Wolves – Gavin Best, Minnesota Magicians – Anthony Calafiore, New Jersey Titans – Zach Dill, Corpus Christi IceRays – Gabe Dombrowski, Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks – Damon Furuseth, Austin Bruins – Elliott Lareau, Maryland Black Bears – William Lawson-Body, Wichita Falls Warriors – Jake McLean, Bismarck Bobcats – Jonny Meiers, Maine Nordiques – Nicholas Niemo, Lone Star Brahmas – Ryan O’Neill, St. Cloud Norsemen – Carter Rapalje, North Iowa Bulls – Jared Scott, Northeast Generals – Talon Sigurdson, Anchorage Wolverines – Zack Simon, Minot Minotauros – Anthony Vidrick, Amarillo Wranglers