Get to know the Nationals

The colder the weather gets, the closer we get to hockey season. That means that before we know it, the Glacier Nationals of the North American Tier 3 Hockey League will be making their debut in Havre.

The Nationals, who relocated to Havre from Kalispell prior to the 2014-15 season, are also getting ready for their first season in the newly created Frontier Division of the NA3HL. The NA3HL is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the country and has a long history of players being promoted to the North American Hockey League or receiving college scholarships.

The Nationals will be no different as their number one goal is going to be to get players promoted in addition to trying to qualify for the postseason, which requires a top-four finish in the Frontier Division.

With the season-opener set for Friday in Helena against the Helena Bighorns, the Nationals have most of their roster spots filled and are preparing to get the new season underway.

“We have been working really hard to prepare for the season,” National’s head coach Kyle Bailey said. “But I think things are starting to come together, and we are ready to get out there and play against someone other than ourselves.”

The Nationals’ roster is made up of a number of newcomers to the tier 3 level of junior hockey, but they do have one player returning in Karson Frisk (6-3, 190), who played 46 games for the club a year ago.

The Anchorage, Alaska native was a solid player for the Nationals last season and scored 10 goals to go along with 10 assists as a forward. He also scored a pair of game winning goals last season and will be an important part of the offense going forward.

Another player that the Nationals will rely upon to score goals this season will be Brendan Jester, who is in his first season with the team. Jester (5-11, 190) also comes from Anchorage, Alaska, and should be a member of the team’s top unit along with Frisk.

“We do not have a lot of experience at this level of junior hockey,” Bailey said. “So I see Karson being a key player for us and becoming one of the leaders on our team. I also see Brandon being one of our big-time point getters this season. He will be centering our top line.”

Other forwards that will see time for the Nationals this season include Dustin Foran (5-8, 155) from Clinton Township, Michigan, Shawn Eastman (5-11, 155) from Macomb, Michigan, Sam Shaheen (5-7, 145) from Macomb, Micihgan, Brett LaBeau (5-10, 185) from Bloomfield Township, Michigan, and Brandon Hanser (6-2, 200) from Billings. Rounding out the forward position on the Nationals’ roster are two Havre natives who were signed by the team this summer in Trever Jensen (5-8, 155) and Dustin Armstrong (5-7, 190).

Defensively, the Nationals will be led by Gavin Lubin, who possesses tremendous size at 6-1 and 220-pounds and will provide a physical presence when needed. He is from Anchorage, Alaska.

Other defenders on the Nationals’ roster include Young Stewart, who was just recently acquired by the team, as well as Wyatt Fretheim (5-11, 170) from Harwood, North Dakota, Blake Evennou (5-8, 165) from Macomb, Michigan, Tristian Klewsaat (5-11, 170) from Larkspar, Colorado and Jared Ackerman (6-0, 175) from Westminster, Colorado.

“Gavin is a big, strong defender. He has a good shot and is a big hitter. He will be our rock on defense,” Bailey said. “Blake is also arguably the best skater on the team and just does everything right. He is the kind of player you are looking for as a coach.”

In terms of goaltending, the Nationals will start the season with the newly acquired Ryan Lund, from Anchorage, Alaska. He was signed by the team recently and according to Bailey he will start the season in net.

The other players who could see time between the pipes for the Nationals this season are Nolan Slager (6-3, 185) from Zeeland, Michigan, and Tommy Adams (5-11, 165) from Plymouth, Michigan.

The Nationals will play a 46-game schedule this season and will kick off their 2014-15 season this Friday in Helena. They will return to Havre and make their debut at the Havre Ice Dome Saturday at 7 p.m. when they host the Great Falls Americans.