Alliance Hockey

In just it’s first season, the Alliance 18U Midget Major AAA team has already paid dividends to a couple of their players.  Bulldog defenseman Matt Shost (1990) and forward Michael Hill (1990) have each signed a North American Hockey League (NAHL) tender with the Wichita Falls Wildcats.   

Shost is an original Bulldog, starting with Alliance as a member of their inaugural Squirt A team for the 2001-2002 season.  He has been to three (3) USA Hockey National Championships representing Alliance – in 2004 with the Tier II 14U Bantam AA (Bronze Medal), in 2005 with the Tier I 14U Bantam AAA, and last season with the Tier I Midget Minor AAA team (Bronze Medal). 

Hill has spent the past two seasons with Alliance, and also won a Bronze Medal at the 2007 USA Hockey National Championships with his Alliance Tier I Midget Minor AAA team.  Prior to coming to Alliance, Michael was with Shattuck St. Mary’s for one season, and was with the California Wave prior to that.

Both players have helped the Alliance 18U AAA team off to a great start in its first year of existence, earning a spot in the State Final, and a berth into the Rocky Mountain District Championships in March.  Along the way, they have impressed the coaching staff in Wichita Falls enough to earn a coveted tender contract. 

Several former Bulldogs have gone on to play in the NAHL, but Matt and Michael are the first to receive a tender.  Receiving a tender is an exceptional accomplishment, as it allows the player the luxury of not having to attend multiple tryouts or be concerned with the NAHL draft.  For more information about a tender, read the information below from the NAHL web site…

FAQ from www.NAHL.com

What is a tender?

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 eight (8) tenders - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1.  

Are tendered or drafted players eligible to try out for other NAHL teams? 

Unless agreed upon in writing by the two NAHL teams, tendered or drafted players are not eligible to try out for other NAHL teams.  Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, but are still eligible for the USHL draft and other junior/pro drafts.