Roseville Natives Chasing Hockey Dreams in NAHL

Getting traded away from a team months before it won the league championship would bother a lot of people. But Mike Parnell is not one of them.

“It worked out great,” he said. “I like playing for (Springfield's coaches).”

Parnell was traded from the Fairbanks Ice Dogs to Springfield Junior Blues in the North American Hockey League. The Ice Dogs went on to win the league championship, while the Junior Blues failed to even make the playoffs, something Parnell is expected to help change this season.

“He's a veteran now of junior hockey, and he brings a lot to the team on and off the ice,” Springfield coach Ryan Hardy said. “He's a mature kid. On the ice there's not enough good things you can say about him.”

Parnell, who played at Totino Grace, is one of three Roseville natives currently playing in the NAHL. Kevin Becker, a former Hill Murray standout is playing for Aberdeen, and Nick Lehr—the only one of the three to play at Roseville Area High School—is with the Austin Bruins.

Playing juniors is a step up in competition for all three, but the biggest adjustment is for Lehr, who goes from being the everyday starter in goal for Roseville to splitting time with the Bruins.

“You learn to adapt,” Lehr said. “You do what you've got to do to be part of the team.”

Lehr is taking advantage of sharing the job with a veteran, Mankato native Tyler Bruggeman.

“So far I like it a lot,” Lehr said. “Bruggeman has a lot of experience in juniors, so it's good to see how he reads plays.”

Austin coach Chris Tok said Lehr will have to continue to work hard to earn playing time.

“He's going to have to be patient,” Tok said. “He's got experienced guys sitting ahead of him (on the depth chart).”

Lehr said while he hasn't been gone long, it was nice to be back in the Twin Cities.

“I got to sleep two nights in my own house,” he said. “It's nice to be back in Blaine.”

Aberdeen coach Pete Sauer said Becker also has a bright future.

“Like all of our rookies, I think he's going to do a good job for us,” Sauer said.

Becker said he's enjoyed his brief time in Aberdeen.

“I like it a lot,” Becker said. “It's a good town, I've got a great billet family. It's working out well.”

The North American Hockey League, now in its 36^th season, is the largest USA Hockey-sanctioned Junior A circuit with 28 teams. Traditionally, the Combat Hockey/NAHL Showcase Tournament attracts more than 5,000 people in overall attendance, including more than 200 college and professional scouts.

The Janesville Jets were crowned champions of this year's Showcase. Like Janesville, the Fresno Monsters and Fairbanks Ice Dogs went 4-0 in the tournament, with the Jets winning on tie-breaker criteria.