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** Valley Grown is a regular feature highlighting the work of Valley athletes at the next level.
WASILLA — A pair of former Valley prep hockey standouts have been selected to compete in the North American Hockey League’s Top Prospects Tournament Feb. 27-28 in Plymouth, Michigan.
Former Colony High standout Josh Boyer and former Wasilla High standout Colton Fletcher will both skate in the event hosted annual by the Junior A Tier II hockey league. Boyer, a forward with the Brookings Blizzard, will suit up for the NAHL Selects Red team. Fletcher, a veteran with the Aberdeen Wings, will be a member of the NAHL Central team.
Boyer, an NAHL rookie, is leading Brookings in goals, assists and points, with 19-25-44 totals. The 6-foot-2 forward is averaging nearly a point per game, and has a team-best 12 points (6-6-12) on the power play.
Boyer, who played two seasons with the Knights, suited up for the St. Louis Selects U18 team in the NAPHL last year.
Fletcher, a three-year standout at Wasilla, is among the leading scorers for Aberdeen, the top team in the NAHL Central. The 5-foot-11 forward, has 16 goals and 17 assists in 47 games this year. His 33 points rank him fifth on the team. Fletcher also has 13 power play points (5-8-13) and has three game-winning goals.
Aberdeen is 28-15-3-1 overall. As of Friday night, Aberdeen held a two-point lead over second-place Austin in the standings.
The NAHL also features another former Wasilla standout, Tanner Schachle, who is currently third on the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in scoring. Schachle, who has already committed to attend UAA and play for the Division I Seawolves in the fall has 22 goals, 24 points and 46 points in 46 games this season. Schachle and the Ice Dogs have a 15-point lead at the top of the NAHL Widwest Division and have already clinched a playoff spot.
The NAHL created the event to allow its top talent each year to be seen by hundreds of NHL and NCAA scouts in one venue.
Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.
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