NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – The Lone Star Brahmas have announced their third tender signing for the 2017-18 season. Jared Kucharek, Lone Star’s first tendered defenseman, is currently playing with Meijer AAA Hockey of the NAPHL and will be looking to make the jump to the NAHL next season.
“Jared has come a long way in a short time with us, we are very excited to help him achieve his goals,” Meijer AAA Hockey Director Tom Berry told NAPHL.com.
The Parma, Michigan native has impressed the Brahmas both on and off the ice. “He’s got good size, he’s got great character, he’s got grit. He can move the puck, he’s got a bomb of a shot – what do you not like about him?” Head Coach Dan Wildfong said.
Kucharek has impressed thus far in his first season in the NAPHL, tallying five goals and seven assists for 12 points through 13 games, good enough for sharing the league lead in points for defensemen. He was named the NAPHL Peak Performer for 18U Defensemen in the month of October and will be playing in the NAPHL 18U All-Star Game alongside fellow Brahmas tender Andy Willis of the St. Louis Selects.
Assistant Coach Al Rooney is excited about the complete package that the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Kucharek offers. “There’s a lot of guys that have his size,” Rooney said. “But he also has a bit of mobility for a guy his size. He has the foot speed and mobility to slide east-west across the blue line and create a lane for himself. We think that’s going to translate well to the next level.”
The fact that Kucharek registers time on special teams is also a plus for a Brahmas team that prides itself on one of the best penalty kills in the NAHL.
Before this season with Meijer AAA Hockey, Kucharek spent time with the Rochester Jr. Americans organization, playing for their USPHL 18U and USPHL Premiere teams, registering 15 points in 39 regular season games.
Kucharek will be joining the Brahmas in the fall.
* 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. *