Cleveland, Ohio - Aidan, a four-year member of Coach Pat O'Rourke's state and nationally recognized program, was a key fixture on two of the Ice Cats' four OHSAA State Ice Hockey Championships - 2014 and 2016.
The Brahmas reside in North Richland Hills, Texas.
A captain and a first-team All-Ohio forward this past winter, Aidan, despite playing with a badly separated shoulder, totaled a goal and three assists in this year's 4-3 State Championship Game victory over University School at Nationwide Arena, the home of the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Ice Cats brought home No. 4 in what was the 39th Annual OHSAA State Ice Hockey Tournament.
"He toughed it out and in fact played very well," Coach O'Rourke said of Aidan's big-hearted effort in what was an all-Cleveland area state title faceoff with Great Lakes Hockey League rival University School. "What an outstanding captain he was!"
With Aidan leaving it all on the ice, Coach O'Rourke's 2016 Ice Cats became just the 5th local team ever to win the "Triple Crown" of hockey - regular season division title, city tournament title, and state title.
Congratulations from this corner go out to Aidan, whom I had the privilege of covering for the past four hockey seasons.
All of the Best to Aidan in his time with the Brahmas, and may God Bless Him in all of his future endeavors.
NOTE: Here is some info on the league in which Aidan will be competing, courtesy of the North American Hockey League.
Celebrating its 41st season in 2016-17, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 24 teams in 12 states from across North America, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey.
The NAHL offers junior hockey players the opportunity to develop, learn, train, grow and succeed, while playing for free. The NAHL is unique in the fact that a vast majority of players begin their NAHL careers without an NCAA opportunity, but earn one through the course of their development in the league.
The NAHL's dedication to player development is demonstrated by the league's high-profile annual exposure events like the NAHL Showcase in September, the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in February and the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship in May, which have all evolved into hockey's most prominent and popular of its kind and are a must-see for NCAA programs and NHL teams alike.
During the 2015-16 season, a total of 210+ NAHL players committed to NCAA schools to date and in the past two seasons, over 450 players have made NCAA commitments. In addition, 11 current NAHL players have been listed on the 2016 final NHL Central Scouting list and seven players with NAHL ties were selected in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
The Brahmas reside in North Richland Hills, Texas.
A captain and a first-team All-Ohio forward this past winter, Aidan, despite playing with a badly separated shoulder, totaled a goal and three assists in this year's 4-3 State Championship Game victory over University School at Nationwide Arena, the home of the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Ice Cats brought home No. 4 in what was the 39th Annual OHSAA State Ice Hockey Tournament.
"He toughed it out and in fact played very well," Coach O'Rourke said of Aidan's big-hearted effort in what was an all-Cleveland area state title faceoff with Great Lakes Hockey League rival University School. "What an outstanding captain he was!"
With Aidan leaving it all on the ice, Coach O'Rourke's 2016 Ice Cats became just the 5th local team ever to win the "Triple Crown" of hockey - regular season division title, city tournament title, and state title.
Congratulations from this corner go out to Aidan, whom I had the privilege of covering for the past four hockey seasons.
All of the Best to Aidan in his time with the Brahmas, and may God Bless Him in all of his future endeavors.
NOTE: Here is some info on the league in which Aidan will be competing, courtesy of the North American Hockey League.
Celebrating its 41st season in 2016-17, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 24 teams in 12 states from across North America, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey.
The NAHL offers junior hockey players the opportunity to develop, learn, train, grow and succeed, while playing for free. The NAHL is unique in the fact that a vast majority of players begin their NAHL careers without an NCAA opportunity, but earn one through the course of their development in the league.
The NAHL's dedication to player development is demonstrated by the league's high-profile annual exposure events like the NAHL Showcase in September, the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in February and the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship in May, which have all evolved into hockey's most prominent and popular of its kind and are a must-see for NCAA programs and NHL teams alike.
During the 2015-16 season, a total of 210+ NAHL players committed to NCAA schools to date and in the past two seasons, over 450 players have made NCAA commitments. In addition, 11 current NAHL players have been listed on the 2016 final NHL Central Scouting list and seven players with NAHL ties were selected in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.