NA3HL announces monthly player awards for December

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced its monthly player awards for the month of December. The Bauer Hockey NA3HL Forward of the Month is Declan Young of the Gillette Wild. The Bauer Hockey NA3HL Defenseman of the Month is Deacon More of the Northeast Generals. The Vaughn NA3HL Goaltender of the Month is Trever Mellen of the Great Falls Americans. Only players who are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the NA3HL monthly awards.

 

Bauer Hockey NA3HL Forward of the Month: Declan Young, Gillette Wild

December was a banner month for Young as he continued to solidify his role as Gillette’s highest-scoring skater. The 6-foot-0, 180-pound native of Fergus Falls, MN tore through opponents to close out the year, scoring in all but one of his six games en route to a line of 9g-7a—16pts — tops among all NA3HL skaters. After starting off with back-to-back three-point efforts, Young was held off the scoresheet for the only time on December 11 against Yellowstone, but rebounded with his second hat-trick of the season and five total points in the rematch. In six games across the month of December, Young scored multiple goals in three tilts, posted three game-winning goals and bagged three or more points in four outings to take this month’s honors. His team-leading 29g-21a—50pts in 22 games currently rank second in the NA3HL.

Runner-Up: Carson Asper, Northeast Generals

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Liam Bland, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Derek Boutin, Texas RoadRunners — Jack Cooper, Texas Brahmas — Gavyn Galloway, Helena Bighorns — Peyton Hart, Rochester Grizzlies — Jake Hayes, Great Falls Americans — Quinn Murphy, Peoria Mustangs — Vinny Servizzi, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Sam VanderHoeven, Oregon Tradesmen — Chris Walker, Atlanta Capitals

 

Bauer Hockey NA3HL Defenseman of the Month: Deacon More, Northeast Generals

In the midst of a remarkable year already, More took his offense to a new level in December with 5g-4a—9pts in seven games. Opening December with points in four straight games, More posted his first multi-goal game of the year on the 12th. And after his only pointless game of the month on the 13th, More responded with another multi-point game on the 18th with a goal and two helpers. More’s game also flourished in his own end of the ice, as the 5-foot-10, 185-pound native of Tampa, FL posted a +5 overall rating on the month, including four consecutive +2 ratings to cap off December. In total, More boasts 10g-14a—24pts in 16 games this season, a mark that leads all Generals skaters and ranks third among NA3HL blueliners.

Runner-Up: Logan Kroyman, Rochester Grizzlies

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Jack Craycroft, Peoria Mustangs — Ian Erdman, Texas Brahmas — Brice French, Texas RoadRunners — Wyatt Hanson, Helena Bighorns — Tommy Janes, Great Falls Americans — Owen Miley, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Gunner Moore, Atlanta Capitals — Branwen Pollett, Oregon Tradesmen — Brock Trboyevich, Gillette Wild — Ike Zeier, St. Louis Jr. Blues

 

Vaughn NA3HL Goaltender of the Month: Trever Mellon, Great Falls Americans

Mellen was busy between the pipes in December, seeing just four starts but facing an average of 41 shots per game as he went 3-1-0 with one shutout on the month. Mellen opened things up with an eye-catching 48-save effort against Helena on the 4th before turning aside 30 pucks in his only December defeat a week later. Another 49-save win over Gillette and a 31-save goose-egg against Butte solidified Mellen’s claim to this month’s honors, though, as the Americans’ steady netminder posted a stingy 1.51 GAA and .963% save percentage in December. On the year, Mellen boasts a 14-3-0 record and two shutouts to go with a 2.17 GAA and a .939% save percentage that ranks fifth among NA3HL goaltenders.

Runner-Up: Cole Walter, Peoria Mustangs

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Anthony Adleman, Helena Bighorns — Owen Carlson, St. Louis Jr. Blues — Maxim Currie, Missoula Jr. Bruins — Cole Garver, Oregon Tradesmen — Logan Gorbitz, Texas Brahmas — Espen Reager, Northeast Generals — Jaxon Taylor, Texas RoadRunners — Zach Wiese, Rochester Grizzlies — Cole Wheaton, Gillette Wild