The Johnstown Tomahawks and Head Coach Mike Letizia announced the signing of forward Jay Ahearn of the North Jersey Avalanche U18 program to a tender.
Ahearn, a native of Staten Island, NY, has been a member of the perennial powerhouse Avalanche program for the last two seasons. This year the 2001 born forward was one of the team’s assistant captains. In combined play between his AYHL and Beast Series schedule, Ahearn racked up 29 goals and 20 assists for 49 points in 33 games. Additionally, the Avalanche competed in the Northeast Pack regional league of premier organizations. When the season concluded the Avalanche were the #2 ranked team in the My Hockey Rankings U18 category.
“Jay was a top player and leader for one of the consistently top programs in the country,” said Letizia. “His style of play embodies the way we like to encourage our players to play. He has the skill and hockey sense that produces success, and a relentless work ethic and willingness to compete for all 200 feet of the ice.”
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. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft
“I was fortunate to see Jay play in the Northeast Pack championship game against another top ranked team,” mentioned Letizia. “In that game with a title on the line and a short bench of forwards, he was outstanding. Every shift he just continued to impress, and we are very excited that Jay chose Johnstown. We can’t wait to see what he does in a Tomahawks uniform.”
The Tomahawks are coming off a shortened season finishing with a record of 34-13-2-2 and had clinched a playoff spot when the season was shut down. In 2018-2019, Johnstown captured the NAHL Regular Season championship, and appeared in the Robertson Cup Final 4 Championship series.