November 2024
Summaries by Joshua Boyd
Forwards
Samuel Ciappa, Mercer Chiefs
Ciappa (‘05/Baldwinsville, N.Y.) was the leading scorer for the Chiefs and for the Atlantic Division as a whole with his 15 points, all racked up within 11 games. He put up six goals and nine assists, and only missed the scoresheet twice in the month. It was also a special month for Ciappa as he made his NCAA commitment to the new Division III program at St. John Fisher University starting its first season in 2025-26.
Jared Rothman, Rockets Hockey Club
A returning player to this honor, the 2006-born native of Chappaqua, N.Y., put together a 6-6-12 line over his nine games in November to become the league’s leading scorer with 29 points in 22 games. His six game-winners – three of which came in November – also lead the NCDC.
Ryan Kearney, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
A second-year Jr. Islander and the Atlantic Division’s 2023-24 Rookie Of The Year, Kearney (‘04/Kings Park, N.Y.) scored a 4-7-11 line in just eight games, giving him a division-best 1.38 points per game for the past month. Kearney, who enjoyed four multi-point games in November, has improved to 70 points in 72 games for his career.
Forward Honorable Mention: Aiden Ryan, Jersey Hitmen
Defense
Lucas DiChiara, Jersey Hitmen
A key returning player for the Hitmen, DiChiara (‘04/Fairfield, Conn.) continues to prove how valuable his four years of junior experience are to this team. He clicked at a point per game pace over his seven games played in November with a 2-5-7 line, and his 14 points in 19 games place him in the top 10 for scoring among NCDC blueliners. He also helped the Hitmen to push back into first place in the Atlantic Division in November
Brayden Sprickman, West Chester Wolves
Sprickman (‘05/Erie, Pa.) is new to the junior world, joining this year from the Twin City Ice Mavericks AAA program, but he’s shown no hesitation to become a leading light for the first-year Wolves. Sprickman closed November with a five-game point streak and finished with a 1-7-8 line overall, good for a 0.89 points per game average last month. With his performance, he pushed up into a tie for sixth in league defenseman scoring at 15 points in 23 games.
Defense Honorable Mention: Aiden Holland, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Goaltender
Griffin Davis, West Chester Wolves
Davis (‘05/Nashua, N.H.) is having an outstanding second season in the NCDC and his first with the Wolves. He starts his December action as part of a four-way split for the league lead in wins with 12. He put up half of those in November, going 6-1-0-0 and stopping 241 of 251 shots faced for an outstanding .960 save percentage. On Nov. 22, he stopped all 36 Rockets Hockey Club shots for his best of two career shutouts.
Goaltender Honorable Mention: Jakob Kral, Connecticut Jr. Rangers
Selection Process: The division’s coaches are presented with a ballot form with statistical leaders (ranked by points per game average for skaters and save percentage for goaltenders) and vote on that form. The league takes the results of that vote and presents the finalists to the coaches, who are able to vote on further changes if desired.
