NCDC 2023-24 Players Of The Week: Atlantic Division

Week of Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2023 

Forward: Justin Ryan, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 

Ryan (‘03/Endwell, N.Y.) as been with the Knights since Day 1 of their USPHL existence, first playing with the USPHL Premier team in 2021-22 and becoming an All-Star forward at that level last year with a 73-point season. He was huge for the Knights as they went 2-1 at the #BJBShootout, starting with an assist in their Saturday victory against the Northern Cyclones, and then took off in Game 2, scoring a goal and two assists for three points – getting in on all the Knights’ three goals in a close 4-3 loss to the Islanders Hockey Club. He then posted a goal and three assists for four points in the team’s closing 4-2 defeat of the Twin City Thunder, again factoring in on all his team’s goals. 

Defense: Chance Uzzell, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 

The third-year NCDC veteran has enjoyed a great start with his new team that acquired him in a trade with the Northern Cyclones last May. Already, Uzzell has posted seven assists, five of those coming this past weekend at the BJB Shootout. All of his assists and points have come in consecutive games, giving him a career-best five-game point streak out of the gate. 

Goaltenders: Nicholas Bevilacqua, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders

The third-season NCDC veteran, Bevilacqua (‘03/Abington, Mass.) put up a fantastic 34-save shutout in his BJB Shootout-closing game against the Northern Cyclones. He also stopped 31 of 34 earlier in the showcase against the South Shore Kings, a game that resulted in an OT loss. Bevilacqua also broke into the top 10 all-time for goaltender games played with his 57th and 58th appearances since 2020. 

Rookie: Ryan McKenna, Mercer Chiefs

McKenna (‘04/Garden City, N.Y.) enjoyed a good weekend with the Chiefs, including scoring the game-winning goal and an assist as the Chiefs registered their first victory of the year in a 4-1 victory over the Thunder. McKenna has played in the past with the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders and Mercer Chiefs Midget programs and made his NCDC debut in a nine-game stand in 2022-23. 

Rookie: New to Tier II or no more than 10 Tier II games before this year; 2004 or younger.