Forwards
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Cole Martinez – Grundy Senators
A pure sniper in every sense of the word, Martinez has potted 13 goals in 9 games this season. The leading scorer for the Senators, he is a reliable option for the team to convert whenever the puck finds his stick in a scoring position. He is a critical part for the Grundy game plan as well, as the team has a 3-2-1 record when Martinez is on the score sheet while they are 0-3-0 when he is held scoreless. His success normally translated to the success of his team, which reflects leadership and an influential style of play.
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Braxton Menkiti – MYHA Blue
League leader in goals (32) and tied for the lead in points (39), Menkiti is the driving force of the MYHA Blue team. He has scored at least one goal in each of the 12 games he has played and has scored at least three goals in half of those games. He has scored five goals twice so far this season, including against Hollydell Hurricanes White, when he scored each of his team’s goals in a 5-0 victory. Menkiti has also displayed some physicality, registering 0.5 hits per game. Look for him to continue to be among the league leaders in scoring as long as MYHA sees continued success.
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Bryan Wallace – Ashburn Xtreme
Scoring at the fastest clip of anyone in the division, Wallace is averaging nearly 4 goals per game, as he has netted 31 in only eight games. Wallace is not only gaining attention for his goal scoring, however, as he has a very well-rounded game that has been put on display thus far this season. He has also distributed the puck well to his teammates, putting up 8 assists. Wallace has also laid the body, notching 7 hits, and has made great use of his good size for the age group. He also has strong discipline, only taking one penalty this season. Excelling at every aspect of the game, Wallace is absolutely one to watch.
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Defense
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Charlie Berry – Rockets Hockey Club
A consistent point-per-game defenseman, Berry has emerged as a skilled two-way defenseman. He has a powerful shot from the blue line, leading to 5 goals, accompanied by 2 assists in seven games. Meanwhile, he has also led the defensive efforts of the Rockets, which has yielded four games of allowing one or fewer goals. He has only one multi-point game, but he has only been held scoreless in one game this season. Look for Berry’s consistency to continue to hold true this weekend.
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Adam Hassan – New Jersey Stars Black
Not many defensive players routinely put up multi-point games with regularity, but that’s exactly what Hassan has done through his first four games. Three of his first four games with New Jersey have seen his name pop up several times in the game summary. He scored two goals against the Delaware Ducks and Capital City Vipers National while he had a 1 goal, 3 assist performance against the Suffolk P.A.L. Silver Knights. Hassan’s defensive efforts are also notable, as he has helped the team to a +20 goal differential. Hassan is developing as a very talented two-way defenseman.
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Gabriel Schon – St. James
The division’s highest point scoring defenseman, Schon has scored 5 points and 5 assists in only four games. The offensive defenseman has also proven to be capable in his own end as well, helping St. James to a 3-1-0 record in those games. Against the Igloo Jaguars, Schon led the way to victory with 2 goals and 3 assists. He has also stayed out of the penalty box, which has been greatly helpful to his team’s game plan. Schon clearly has skill all over the ice and it has reflected on the score sheet.
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Goalies
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Mike Canning – Philadelphia Blazers National
Canning has been excellent through his first three starts of the season, posting a 3-0-0 record with a 1.67 GAA and .904 SV%. In two of his three starts, Canning has only allowed a single goal. The Blazers seem to have a little extra pep whenever Canning stands between the pipes, speaking to his attitude on and off the ice. Look for him to earn more looks in the starting lineup after a strong start
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Jean-Paul Dominguez – North Jersey Avalanche Blue
Among league leaders in GAA (1.56) and SV% (.907), Dominguez has proven to be one of the top net minders in the division. Dominguez also boasts a flawless 4-0-0 record through five games. He posted a shutout against the Grundy Senators in his last appearance, saving each of the 15 shots that he faced. Dominguez doesn’t see a lot of rubber in net, credit to the defensive efforts of North Jersey, but his athleticism can be relied upon to shut down most of the shots that come his way.