Week of Nov. 19, 2024
Games of Nov. 12-18, 2024
Forward: Aiden Ryan, Jersey Hitmen
The third-year NCDC veteran Ryan (‘04/Raleigh, N.C.) scored a pair of goals and added three assists for five points in the Hitmen’s split series with Connecticut. The Hitmen’s leading scorer currently has 13 goals – ranked second-most in the league – and a career-high 20 points in 18 games this season. For his three-year NCDC career, he has 48 points in 83 games.
Defense: Aiden Holland, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
With a goal scored on Nov. 16 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Holland (‘05/Topsfield, Mass.) became the league’s leading goal-scorer among blueliners through Nov. 18, with five. For the three-game run against the Rockets and WBS Knights between Nov. 15-17, Holland put up a 1-4-5 line. He has improved to a career-high 11 points in 18 games and has 20 points in 64 career NCDC matches.
Goaltender: Jakub Kral, Connecticut Jr. Rangers
Kral (‘04/Czechia) had a couple fantastic games over the weekend – just his second and third in the NCDC – as he stopped 79 of 81 shots in wins against the Jersey Hitmen and West Chester Wolves, for a .975 save percentage on the week. This included a huge 46-of-47 performance on Nov. 15 against the Hitmen. Kral just joined the Jr. Rangers this month, coming in with NAHL experience as well as several years in his home country.
Rookie: Nikita Kluev, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Kluev (‘07/Heidelberg, Germany) made his NCDC debut on Nov. 17 and picked up a 6-1 victory, making 27 saves on 28 shots. Kluev is a veteran of the THF 16U AAA level as well as the South Kent Selects Academy program.
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
Forward
Tomas Smetanka, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Rookie
Patrick Nulty, Jersey Hitmen
