Summaries By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
Selection Process: The league media office sends statistical leaders to divisional coaches for review and coaches either approve or challenge the nominations.
Forward: Jake Terra, Boston Junior Bruins
The Junior Bruins didn’t have to go far to find one of their biggest contributors this season, as Terra is an ‘03 from Marlborough, Mass., also home to the Junior Bruins at the 10-sheet New England Sports Center. During January, Terra put up seven goals and six assists for 13 points to push the Junior Bruins into an official playoff spot in early March. Terra has improved to 42 points in 46 games, and his +5 was second on the team in February. He is not only a local resident of Marlborough, but came up through multiple Junior Bruins levels, from 16U to the USPHL Premier (51 points in 39 games last year) to the NCDC Junior Bruins, a shining example of #USPHLAdvancement In Action!
Forward: Bryan Weissler, Boston Junior Bruins
Ditto with Bryan Weissler, who actually made his jump from the Premier to NCDC in midseason. Weissler (‘04/Floral Park, N.Y.) was a USPHL Premier New England Division Player Of the Month for December 2023 and just two months later, is an NCDC New England Division Player Of The Month. #USPHLAdvancement on Fast Forward! During February, Weissler put up four goals and six assists for 10 points in eight contests. He had a true NCDC breakout performance on Feb. 22, when he scored two goals and two assists in a win over the Northern Cyclones, against whom they were contending for the fourth playoff spot for most of February. He has 11 points in 10 NCDC games this season, and 30 points in 35 Premier games.
Forward: Michael Markowski, Northern Cyclones
Markowski (‘04/Spring Lake, N.J.) has emerged as one of the best rookies in the New England Division this season, posting 35 points in 46 games after a successful prep career at the Frederick Gunn School. During the month of February, Markowski posted six goals and five assists for 11 points, including his first NCDC hat trick and an assist against the division-leading and local rival Islanders Hockey Club on Feb. 28. He’s not shy up front, putting up a team-leading 39 shots on goal during the month of February. He has some familiarity even as a rookie in the NCDC, as he’s joined by former Gunn School teammates Kyle Smyth and William Welburn on the Cyclones roster.
Defense: Svante Strandberg, Boston Junior Bruins
Strandberg (‘05/Uppsala, Sweden) has surged to the top of the Junior Bruins D depth chart, skating for a team-leading 27:33 per game in February – and a team-leading 25 minutes per game for the season – since he joined the team in January after a stint in the NAHL. During February, he also put up five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 10 games, and he was also second on the team in defensive takeaways with 210. Approaching the end of the NCDC regular season, he has 20 points in 23 games and will surely be a key cog in helping the Junior Bruins to make a big postseason statement.
Defense: Salvatore Cerrato, South Shore Kings
More Frederick Gunn School influence can be seen in the Kings roster, where Cerrato (‘04/St. Louis, Mo.) joins teammates Nathan Stachowiak and Aiden Lindley as being former Gunn School players – and all 2021-22 teammates of the Cyclones trio above. Cerrato put up seven assists in his 10 NCDC games of February, while leading the team in ice time with 21:31 per game and in takeaways with 114. Cerrato is fourth in league defenseman scoring with 41 points.
Goaltender: Paul Dalessio, Northern Cyclones
Dalessio (‘05/Burlington, Mass.) had a fantastic run of games during the month of February, by posting 92 saves on 97 shots and a 2-1-0-0 record. He put up a 31-save shutout against the Mercer Chiefs during the South Shore Kings Presidents Day Showcase. He also gave up just one goal, making 27 saves on 28 shots, against the defending Dineen Cup Champion P.A.L. Jr. Islanders in the same event. For the season, he is 7-7-0-1 with a .922 save percentage.
Top Performers Of The Week (Feb. 22-29)
Forward: Michael Markowski, Northern Cyclones: 4GP 4G 3A 7PTS
Defense: Svante Strandberg, Boston Junior Bruins: 3GP 4G 1A 5PTS
Goaltender: Ryan Keyes, South Shore Kings, 3-0, .959 save %, 71 saves on 74 shots, 1.06 GAA
Rookie*: Bryan Weissler, Boston Junior Bruins: 3GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS
