18 SELECTS TIER: AVI KASARGOD, ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS

Many people may be familiar with Kasargod’s name already since he was top-five in overall point scoring last season for Holy Angels but the APX staff think that he has reached a new level to his game that will be exciting to watch this winter. The senior defender scored at almost a two point per game pace last year but is set up to have an even bigger season in 2025-26.

“Avi’s had a great fall but this is definitely a recognition of a breakout training season. The prowess he’s gained as a really tough defender at the point of attack, the pace of play for his game on both sides of the puck and some really exciting, dynamic offensive abilities - all of this makes up why we think he’s a player who’s very much on the up and up,” said APX Director of Player Development Wes Jirovec. “Besides taking a big step forward in his impact for Holy Angels this year, we're excited to see what opportunities he’s earning for himself for hockey after high school too.” 

18s TIER: ZACH ZINS, MAHTOMEDI

Zach Zins, a junior defenseman for Mahtomedi, has been selected as the Player of the Month for the 18s Tier after an impressive fall of training at APX. Zins has been with the program for about five years now and the staff have said that he has really made a big jump in his game here at the tail end of the training season and that he is an incredibly steady presence in the defensive zone. 

“His path of development is one that should inspire a lot of players who want to follow in his footsteps. He invests in habits, and his situational awareness and his compete level in every different scenario, it’s been a very, very steady path of growth for him over the years,” said Jirovec about the defender. “He’s had a great year but specifically this fall he’s been a rockstar. We’re excited to see him grow his 200-foot impact for the Zephyrs this year with added responsibility and minutes and overall impact on both sides of the rink.” 

16s TIER: CHASE CROWLEY, HILL-MURRAY

Crowley, who has been with APX now for a handful of years, has been chosen as the 16s Tier Player of the Month for his leadership ability, work ethic, compete level and many other qualities that he has shown on the ice since his very first day with the program. Staff members are all excited to see what Crowley can do this season at Hill-Murray and they know that he will be able to make an immediate impact for the squad and will certainly help the team win games in whatever way that he can. 

“He’s been a model APX athlete since he first started in the program,” said Jirvoec about the sophomore forward. “Besides some remarkable talent specifically toward offensive execution, he loves putting time in, he loves getting coached hard, he loves to compete, he loves having a positive influence on the boys and he’s got some natural leadership ability in that way - that presence unlocks huge jumps in his game every training season. As he prepares for a big jump to the varsity level on a really strong Hill-Murray team it’s been an outstanding overall year of growth for him both as a player and as a person.”

Goaltending Tier: JACK FRIEN, BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON

Netminder Jack Frien has been selected as the Goaltender of the Month after making some big strides in his game this summer. Frien is in his third year with APX and will now be an upperclassman at Bloomington Jefferson this year as a junior and the coaching staff are all excited to see him likely earn some more varsity ice time this year and believe that he’s ready to make that step up. 

“He’s had a great month in and of itself and this is also a reward for the progress he’s made throughout the training season,” said APX Director of Goaltending Drew Fielding about Frien. “He’s always been a really good kid on the ice and I think he’s continued to devote and dedicate himself in the gym and all the time I’m hearing from the off-ice instructors about his attention to detail and his focus so it’s nice to see him continue to take strides both on and off the ice. He’s always been a solid athlete and his competitiveness, his preparation in terms of coming in and getting ready and knowing exactly what he wants to work on every single day, what he needs to work on even more so than wants, that’s all really paid dividends.”