Five Watertown Shamrocks Selected for 2026 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament
- Steve Jurrens
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has officially announced the rosters for the 2026 Top Prospects Tournament, and the Watertown Shamrocks will be well-represented. Five players from the Shamrocks organization—Zach Boren, Joe Rice, Jordan Gudridge, Mason Gudridge, and Justin Bartley—have been selected to compete in the prestigious league showcase.
The event, a major platform for NHL scouts and NCAA coaches, will be held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, on February 16-17.
A Program Milestone
This year marks a significant step forward for the Shamrocks’ developmental reach. After sending three players to the event last season, Watertown’s five selections this year place them near the top of the league; only three other teams in the NAHL are sending more representatives to the tournament.
“We’re thrilled that these five players have the opportunity to represent our organization at top prospects,” said Shamrocks General Manager and Head Coach Casey Kirley. “We look forward to watching our players showcase their abilities at such a heavily scouted event.”
Meet the Prospects
The Shamrocks’ representatives will be split across two different rosters based on the tournament’s scouting categories:
Team Central (Uncommitted 2005 Birth Year Skaters)
· Zach Boren (Forward): The Shamrocks’ leading scorer and newly minted team captain. Boren, a native of Devils Lake, ND, has tallied 19 goals and 35 points this season.
· Jordan Gudridge (Defenseman): Also recently named a team captain, Gudridge is coming off a career-best three-point performance. He brings a veteran presence with experience across the BCHL and USHL.
· Joe Rice (Forward): The lone Minnesota native in the group, Rice is enjoying a breakout “age-out” season, already setting a career high in assists (16) and totaling 20 points in 32 games.
Team Selects White (Uncommitted Skaters of any Birth Year)
· Justin Bartley (Defenseman): Now fully healthy, Bartley has anchored the Shamrocks’ blue line this season, posting career bests in goals and assists.
· Mason Gudridge (Goaltender): The younger Gudridge brother has been on a tear in the crease. Over his last 14 starts, he has posted a stellar 10-3-0-1 record with a .937 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average.
Tournament Format & Schedule
The tournament is designed to maximize exposure. The four divisional teams (such as Team Central) play in a round-robin format. In contrast, the Selects teams compete in a pool that includes the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) U17 squad.
Team Central Schedule:
· Feb 16: vs. East Division | 5:00 PM
· Feb 17: vs. South Division | 10:00 AM
Team Selects White Schedule:
· Feb 16: vs. USNTDP | 7:15 PM
· Feb 17: vs. Selects Red | 2:30 PM
All tournament games will be held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI. For the five Shamrocks, this marks their first career nomination to the event, providing a golden opportunity to secure NCAA commitments under the bright lights of a national showcase.
