Summaries by Patrick Ramsdale
Forwards
Nathan Garau, Elmira Jr. Enforcers
Garau (‘05/Boltano, Italy) has been making a name for himself all season long. The rookie led the entire Premier Division in point-scoring during the month of January, averaging 2.17 points per game. Garau posted 26 points (16 goals – 12 assists) in just 12 games to start the new year. The left winger currently sits in third in the league in goals with 45, and 10th place in points with 70.
Justin Ryan, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights
Ryan (‘03/Endwell, N.Y.) was a key piece to the eighth-place Knights success during the month of January. Wilkes-Barre Scranton scored 61 goals in January and Ryan contributed to 24 of them, registering 9 goals and 15 assists. The second-year Knight averaged three points a game and finished third in the league in scoring for the month. Ryan recorded multiple points in 7-of- 8 contests and posted five points on three separate occasions.
Mathias Rakell, New York Aviators
Rakell (‘02/Stockholm, Sweden) has been a standout performer all season long. His name has consistently been atop the points leader board, and that didn’t change in January as he registered 13 goals and seven assists for 20 points. Rakell leads the Mid-Atlantic in scoring and sits in fifth place overall in the Premier. His performance has been a key piece to the second place Aviators dominating the season in which they post a 30-4-1 record.
Defensemen
Markus Andrews, New York Aviators
Andrews (‘02/Stockholm, SWE) has been a factor on both sides of the ice for the Aviators this season. The blueliner has averaged 1.22 points a game with one goal and 10 assists. Defensively, Andrews finished the month as a +11 and was a key piece to an Aviators blue line that allowed just 2.5 goals per game in January. Andrews enters February on a point-per-game pace.
Cole Mitchell, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Mitchell (‘03/Freeport, PA) record 10 points in the seven games he played for the Knights in January. Posting three goals and seven assists brought his season total to 25 points, leading all defensemen on the Knights in scoring and placing him at fifth on the team. Mitchell registered two multi-point games in January, including a two goal, two assist performance against the Hitmen on January 15. He finished January as a plus nine.
Goaltender
Michael Marino, New York Aviators
The Mid-Atlantic goalie of the month has been a back-and-forth battle between Aviators goaltender Michael Marino and the Knights’ Luke Remenyi, though the New York netminder earns the honors this month. Marino (‘02/Staten Island, N.Y.) earns his second goalie of the month award this year after posting a 4-1 record between the pipes in January. He stopped 204-of-215 shots faced for a .949 save percentage and a 2.20 GAA. Marino recorded his second shutout, a 46-save beauty against the Knights.
