NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – The Lone Star Brahmas signed their second forward via a tender for the 2017-18 season. Jake Rott, who is finishing his third varsity season with Providence Catholic High, will join the Brahmas next fall.
“He’s a very high-end player that has a lot of skill,” Head Coach Dan Wildfong said. “Obviously he’s one our first tenders and we feel like he can go on to play college hockey, and he’s going to come down here and learn a few more details, but he’s everything we want in a player.”
The Orland Park, Illinois native attended the Lone Star Brahmas pre-draft camp this past summer, but went back to the Celtics to continue to develop. The extra year in Illinois has paid off for Rott, who has exploded for 18 goals, 13 assists and 31 points in ten games this season.
He leads the Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL) in goals and points and Providence Catholic is 10-0-0 this season.
“I felt that Providence gave me the best opportunity to further my education, and continue to develop my hockey skills,” Rott told AHAI News. “Also the opportunity to play my senior year with my friends and in front of the big crowds of my friends and family was important to me. I realized that you only have one opportunity to enjoy your senior year and I wanted to make the most of it.”
The 6-foot-4, 165-pound forward has certainly made the most of his days with the Celtics, scoring 70 goals and 134 total points through 67 varsity games. Rott has been held off the scoresheet only once in his ten games this year. He has tallied at least three points in seven of those ten games and already has three hat tricks.
“When you combine the range he has with his height and his reach, his poise with the puck, and his puck protection skills, you know [he will be able to make the transition to the NAHL]. He comes from a good family and a good program, and we’ve seen him on video and with our own eyes, and all those factors add up to a guy that we think can make the jump [to the Brahmas],” Assistant Coach Al Rooney said.
Prior to his high school hockey career, Rott played a few seasons with the Chicago Fury organization. The Brahmas tendered Vladimir Studennikov from the Fury’s T1EHL team last season.
Jake Rott will have two years of junior hockey eligibility when he comes to Texas. The Brahmas took note that Rott plays in all situations on the ice, including the power play and penalty kill units.
Last season, Rott was recognized on the All-State Team, earned the America’s Showcase MVP and was honored as the AHAI Player of the Year.
The CCHL has produced NHLers including Chris Chelios, Ed Olcyzyk, and Joe Corvo.
* A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders – plus or minus any trades. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft. *