Mars hockey standout Bender selected in NAHL draft
Mars senior Joe Bender won't have to travel too far to continue his burgeoning hockey career.
Bender, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound forward, was selected in the sixth round of the North American Junior Hockey League Entry Draft by the Johnstown Tomahawks. The Tomahawks will be playing their first season in Johnstown after the franchise located from Alaska.
Bender had 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists) in 69 games for the AAA 18U Pittsburgh Viper Stars team this past season. He finished the 2011-2012 North American Prospects Hockey League season with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 23 league games.
Bender also was captain of the Mars high school team that went 19-3 and played in the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup championship game for the fifth consecutive season. Bender had 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 17 regular season games for the Planets.
Mars teammate Austin Heakins (Port Huron Fighting Falcons) and former teammate Elliott Tisdale (Jamestown Ironmen) also are committed to playing in the NAHL this season, as well as four other Viper Stars teammates. The 24-team North American Hockey League is the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior A league.
Bender, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound forward, was selected in the sixth round of the North American Junior Hockey League Entry Draft by the Johnstown Tomahawks. The Tomahawks will be playing their first season in Johnstown after the franchise located from Alaska.
Bender had 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists) in 69 games for the AAA 18U Pittsburgh Viper Stars team this past season. He finished the 2011-2012 North American Prospects Hockey League season with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 23 league games.
Bender also was captain of the Mars high school team that went 19-3 and played in the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup championship game for the fifth consecutive season. Bender had 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 17 regular season games for the Planets.
Mars teammate Austin Heakins (Port Huron Fighting Falcons) and former teammate Elliott Tisdale (Jamestown Ironmen) also are committed to playing in the NAHL this season, as well as four other Viper Stars teammates. The 24-team North American Hockey League is the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior A league.
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