Week of Jan. 8, 2025
Games of Jan. 1-6, 2025
Forward: Ty Oller, Jersey Hitmen
Oller (‘05/Wayne, N.J.) played in a pair of games taking a split weekend to kick off 2025. The longtime Hitmen who was also a youth player for the organization, put up a goal and four assists for five points in two games. He has improved to 28 points in 31 games this year.
Defense: Carson Nickulas, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Nickulas (‘04/Barnstable, Mass.) has put up 21 points in 29 games this year to rank in a tie for sixth in NCDC points. In three games played to start 2025, he put up four assists.
Goaltender: Dominick Gatto, Mercer Chiefs
Gatto (‘04/St. Charles, Ill.) broke into the all-time Top 10 for NCDC games played by a goaltender on Jan. 3 with his 60th appearance over just two seasons. In that Jan. 3 game, he helped the Chiefs defeat the WBS Knights by stopping 45 of 46 shots. Just to add the cherry on top, he also had an assist in that game. He has a .930 save percentage for his career, and he is sixth all-time in wins (36).
Rookie: Ryan Shea, Jersey Hitmen
Shea (‘06/Norwell, Mass.) keeps getting the job done in his first season in Wayne, recently scoring a 1-2-3 line during the Hitmen’s split weekend against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers. Shea stands with 25 points in 30 games for the season after joining the Hitmen out of Milton Academy, a top prep school in his home state.
Selection Process: Team coaches first nominate players, the League sends back finalists, and coaches are then able to further vote on finalists or nominate other players.
Summaries By Joshua Boyd
Honorable Mention:
Goaltenders
Nick Bunch, Jersey Hitmen
Emmanuel Pepin, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Rookie
Emil Szepesi, West Chester Wolves
