Forwards
Andrew Schmidt, Idaho Falls Spud Kings
Schmidt (‘05/Chicago, Ill.) secured his second consecutive Player of the Month nomination for his 10 points over six games in December, averaging 1.67 points per game. The Spud Kings’ points leader this season, he is on a 10-game points streak that began on Nov. 22. He has 43 career points over two seasons, with 22 goals and 21 assists over 40 games. He continues to forge his legacy with the Spud Kings, as the second-best in all-time goals for the franchise.
Matsvei Marshchanok, Pueblo Bulls
In his first NCDC season, Marshchanok (‘04/Minsk, Belarus) is the points leader for the Pueblo Bulls with 30 points. He added 13 points to his scorecard in December, posting six goals and seven assists over six games for an average 2.17 points per game. He scored points in every game this month, beginning a six-game points streak on Dec. 6.
Denis Kuzmenkov, Ogden Mustangs
Kuzmenkov (‘06/Moscow, Russia) registered nine points (four goals; five assists) over six games for the Ogden Mustangs in December for an average 1.50 points per game. In his second NCDC season, he joined the Mustangs from the Rock Springs Grizzlies at the end of November. Since then, he has played eight games and registered 11 points. He has 34 career points over 57 career games.
Honorable Mention Forward: Brayden Boucher, Casper Warbirds
Defense
Ryan Tong, Ogden Mustangs
Tong (‘04/Burnaby, Canada) is the leading defenseman in points for the Ogden Mustangs, adding two goals and four assists to his name in December. In his first NCDC season, he has 20 points over 27 games, with three goals and 17 assists. He is the eight-highest-scoring defenseman in the NCDC.
D.J. MacLeish, Idaho Falls Spud Kings
MacLeish (‘05/Troy, Mich.) earns a second consecutive Player of the Month nomination, scoring six points over six games in December. With 12 games under his belt this season, he has 12 total points to be the Spud Kings’ highest-scoring defenseman. In his second NCDC season, MacLeish has 59 career points across 62 games played.
Honorable Mention Defenseman: Edvin Edlund, Rock Springs Grizzlies
Goaltender
Dilans Birkans, Ogden Mustangs
NCDC rookie Birkans (‘06/Ikskile, Latvia) continues to shake up the league as a newcomer, earning his second Player of the Month nomination. He went 3-1-0-0 in December for a 1.57 goals against average and a .943 save percentage. With 13 games down, he is 9-2-01 and has conceded only 18 goals of 329 shots against him.
Honorable Mention Goaltender: Charlie Durkin, Idaho Falls Spud Kings
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 coaches with the finalists, who are able to vote on further changes if desired.
Summaries By Taylor Dean
