Rebels defenseman Brennan Kapcheck was named to the North American Hockey League’s All-NAHL First Team and fellow blueliner Gvido Jansons was selected to the All-NAHL Second Team when the league announced its individual league awards yesterday for the 2016-17 season. Head coach Joe Coombs was named the league’s Coach of the Year.
Kapcheck, the American International College commit, also was selected to the All East Division team. He had a total of 42 points on the season (17 goals and 25 assists) and a +37 +/- ratio. He was named the Rebels Best Defensive Player of the Year.
The Arizona State University commit Jansons joined Kapcheck on the All-East Division team. Jansons was third on the team with 46 total points (19 goals and 27 assists). He played in the World Junior Championships back in December for his home country Latvia, and in the NAHL’s Top Prospects Tournament in February.
This was the first-time Coombs has been selected as the league’s top coach. This week he was named the East Division’s Coach of the Year, the second straight year he won it. The Brantford, ON native has a 141-65-24 (61%) record during his four year NAHL coaching career. He has guided the Aston Rebels to a 81-32-7 record during the past two season which includes consecutive regular season East Division championships and the NAHL regular season championship this season.
