The NAHL has announced that the East Division Star of the Week is Rochester Jr. Americans defenseman Dexter Kichline.

The second-year blueliner for the Jr. Americans, Kichline had a season-high performance over the weekend against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings.

“Since our team’s formation last season, Dexter has played a pivotal role in shaping the culture we aimed for, both on and off the ice,” said Rochester head coach Francois Methot. “His team-first mentality is contagious and remains constant every single day. One of Dexter’s key strengths as a player is his reliability. We know exactly what to expect from him each night. Over the past year and a half, his growth as a player has been remarkable. This past weekend, he made significant contributions to securing the crucial four points against a formidable New Hampshire team, showcasing his strong defensive skills but also adding impactful offensive play in both games.

“We are very excited to see what the future holds for him.”

On Friday night, the Henderson native tallied a season-high three points. Kichline scored a late third-period goal for Rochester while tallying two assists in this 6-2 victory. Moving into Saturday night’s thriller, the Jr. Americans came from behind with a win against the Mountain Kings. New Hampshire first found their groove in the last 10 minutes of the first period and scored five goals.

However, Kichline turned the tide and started the scoring for the Jr. Americans in the last 15 seconds of the first period with a goal. Following that spark by Kichline, the Jr. Americans battled from behind and slowly cut the deficit where they eventually took the victory in overtime. Rochester survived an early five-goal scare with the help of Kichline’s goal and assist during this 6-5 overtime win.

On the weekend, Kichline compiled two goals, added three assists, and produced a plus-4 rating.

Prior to junior hockey, Kichline played in California for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings and Capistrano United High School.

— NAHL Staff

(February 24, 2025)