The Odessa Jackalopes are proud to announce the signing of two forwards for the 2017-2018 season. Both Ty Black and Spence Van Tiem signed their official tenders this past week.
After the NAHL tender period opened last Tuesday, November 1st, the Jackalopes reached out to two players, Black and Van Tiem, who returned with emphatic agreements in a matter of minutes.
Black (5’10”/160lbs), a forward from Coppell, TX is currently playing for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL). The 16 year old, in his first season in the NAPHL, has 13 points through his first seven games. Black is second on the RoughRiders in goals scored, assists, and points.
Black attended the Jacks preseason camp this past year, just missing the cut of the 25 man roster to start the season.
“I came away from that experience with an amazing appreciation for the whole Jackalopes organization,” exclaims Black. “I am thankful and honored to have been offered and accepted this tender, to be a part of this great Jackalopes tradition.”
Van Tiem, the 6’1”, 175 pound forward, from Birmingham, MI is currently playing for the Ohio Blue Jackets U18 team of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL). The 18 year old, in his first season in the T1EHL, has seven points through his first 14 games.
Van Tiem participated in the Jacks camp in Michigan, including a great all star game where he scored a couple points.
“Right from the start, Coach Gatto and I had a strong relationship and I could tell that he was the type of Coach I was looking to play for,” proclaims Van Tiem. “I’m really excited about beginning my junior hockey career with a first class organization.”
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, which include two (2) tenders exclusively used on players from the NAPHL – plus or minus any trades – which became active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held in June of 2017.
