Texas Tornado Will Send Six To Top Prospects
By Kirk Estes
The defending Robertson Cup National Champion Texas Tornado will be well represented in the upcoming 2013 Top Prospects Tournament to be held in Troy,MI February 18-20. Six Tornado in all will be skating for two different teams in the tournament. Captain Jackson Leef, Assistant Captains Justin Greenberg and Michael Hoy along with Nick Neville will all be part of Team Texas. Rookies Brandon Hawkins and Scott Conway will be with the 18U Selects.
NAHL Texas Tornado
Jackson Leef is a 20 year old native of Fort Wayne, IN who is 6’ 1” – 190 pounds. He has played three seasons with the Tornado and was named Captain prior to the start of the season. Leef first came to the Tornado as a 2010 Tender. In his rookie season he finished second on the team in scoring with 59 points on 22G-37A and was a +13. The Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL noticed Leef’s performance and took him with their first selection of the 2011 USHL Entry Draft. Jackson played 26 games with the Musketeers during the 2011 season and was fifth on the team in scoring when he was caught up in a roster shuffle. Leef returned to the Tornado for the second half of the season and put up 17 points on 9G-8A in 23 games including an overtime game winner in his first game back.
This season Leef has assumed the part of play maker with the Tornado dishing out 33 assists in 41 games to go along with 8 goals for a point per game pace. His 33 assists rank him second in the league as does his 15 power play assists.
GP |
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
2012/13
41
8
33
41
-1
32
2011/12
23
9
8
17
0
10
Totals
64
17
41
58
-1
42
Justin Greenberg hails from Plano, TX and is 19 years old. The 5’ 8” – 170 pound forward who began play with the Tornado last season after being signed to a Tender out of the Alliance Youth Hockey Assoc. Justin spent much of the 2011/12 season playing on a line with older brother Jordan who is now playing at theUniversity of Oklahoma. This will be Greenberg’s second trip to the Top Prospects Tournament, he played in the 2012 tournament as a member of the 18U Select team. Justin will always have a place in Texas Tornado lore as he scored the overtime game winner in the 2012 Robertson Cup National Championship game. In 39 games during the 2011/12 season Greenberg logged 28 points with 10G-18A.
So far this season, Greenberg who has twice been named NAHL South Star of the Week, has played 41 games registering a point per game on 19G-22A to rank fourth on the team and tied for eleventh in the league.
GP |
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
2012/13
41
19
22
41
+12
4
2011/12
39
10
18
28
+19
21
Totals
80
29
40
69
+31
25
Michael Hoy is a 6’ 1” – 195 pound defenseman from South Lyon, MI and is in his second season with the Tornado. Prior to joining the Tornado Hoy was the Captain of the Boston Blackhawks of the International Junior Hockey League and led the Blackhawks to a 33-13-9 record. Hoy is strong in his own end and also plays one-on-one match-ups well. He has also been able to pitch in offensively on occasion.
During the 2012/13 season Hoy has played 41 games and is a +18 on the season in addition to scoring 18 points on 5G-13A.
GP |
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
2012/13
41
5
13
18
+18
25
2011/12
41
3
9
12
+19
47
Totals
82
8
22
30
+37
72
Nick Neville who calls Bloomfield Hills, MI home is a 6’ 0” – 177 pound defenseman. The 20 year old was drafted by the Tornado during the 2011 NAHL Entry Draft. In 2010/11 Nick played for Little Caesars U18 and put up 10 points 2G-8A in 39 games. Neville will be making his second appearance in the Top Prospects Tournament. He played in all three games for Team South in the 2012 tournament registering 2A and a +3.
To date this season Neville has played in 41 games with 3G-17A and a +12. Nick’s 20 points has him tied for eleventh in the league among defensemen.
GP |
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
2012/13
41
3
17
20
+12
8
2011/12
59
5
24
29
+12
18
Totals
100
8
41
49
+24
26
Brandon Hawkins is an 18 year old 5’ 11” – 200 pound forward from Macomb, MI. Hawkins is another product of the Little Caesars program and has contributed from the start of the season. Brandon has used what has been described as an “NHL shot” to race out to an NAHL league leading 30 goals including 9 power play goals which ranks second in the league. He was recognized as the NAHL Combat Hockey Forward of the Month for October and was named the NAHL South Division Star of the Week once this season.
In 41 games played Hawkins has logged 45 points with 30G-15A and a +19.Brandon recently committed to Bowling Green University.
GP |
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
2012/13
41
30
15
45
+19
38
Scott Conway like Hawkins is a rookie forward who is quickly making a name for himself in the NAHL. The 18 year old who resides in Kissimmee, FL is 5’ 11” – 185 pounds. Conway is currently tied with Hawkins for the team scoring lead and fourth in the league. A line mate of Hawkins for much of the season Conway has recorded 32A to rank tied for third in the league. Scott is the reigning NAHL South Division Star of the Week and was named as the runner-up for the November Forward of the Month.
In 38 games this season Conway has contributed 45 points on 13G-22A. His +27 is third best in the league.
GP |
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
2012/13
38
13
22
45
+27
64