Mathias Rakell, New York Aviators
Rakell (‘02/Stockholm, Sweden) continued his scoring dominance this past December. The center posted 28 points (10g-18a) in 10 games for the Aviators, averaging 2.8 points per game. Rakell is sixth in the USPHL in points with 66. He leads the Mid-Atlantic Division in points and assists this season and is second in the division in goals with 23. During December, Rakell found the scoresheet in all but one contest and registered multiple points in 8-of-10 games. He was a key contributor during the Aviators league-leading 19-game winning streak, scoring 58 points during the stretch.
Christopher Friberg, New York Aviators
Friberg (‘02/Stockholm, Sweden) was another key piece to the Aviators success in the final month of 2022, as the team finished December outscoring their opponents 77-29. He posted 20 points in 10 games, recording 12 goals and eight assists. Friberg recorded seven multi-point games throughout the month of December. He is tied for second in Mid-Atlantic Division scoring this season with Aviators teammate, Mathias Rakell, with 23 goals.
Hunter Parker, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Parker (‘02/Granite City, Ill.) showed off his playmaking abilities in December, registering 14 assists in just eight games, while also scoring two goals of his own. He recorded an assist in all eight games the knights played this month and he enters 2023 on a nine-game point streak. Parker registered four multi-point games, including two games with four points. He currently sits in third in the Mid-Atlantic Division in assists with 28.
Defense
Hunter Scanlon, New York Aviators
Scanlon earns his second consecutive player of the month honor thanks to his exceptional play this December. The ’03 defensemen posted 24 points in 10 games this month, including 20 assists in the final month of 2022. The Rockford, Ill., native recorded multiple points in six different games in December, including four games with at least four points.
Niilo Kaipinen, Rockets Hockey Club
Kaipinen (‘04/Tampere, Finland) recorded 12 points (3-9-12) in just six games with the Rockets this December. The rookie currently ranks fifth on the team in points with 19. Through the last four games of the month, Kaipinen recorded an impressive 11 points. He recorded points in at least half of the games he played last month.
Goaltender
Luke Remenyi, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Remenyi (‘04/Deerfield Beach, Fla.) has been a brick wall in between the pipes for the Knights this season as he enters 2023 with a perfect 10-0 record this season. In December, Remenyi won all four games he appeared in while recording two shutouts. The second year netminder saved 73-of-77 shots faced, finishing the month with a .98 goals against average. Remenyi is one of just two goaltenders this season who is undefeated entering the new year.
