NCDC 2023-24 New England Division Players Of The Month: November 2023

Summaries By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com 

 

Forward: Nathan Stachowiak, South Shore Kings

The second-year King, an ‘04 from Cheektowaga, N.Y., has shown great leadership as a team Captain, especially leading by example. With a 12-point month in the Kings’ six games played, he already improved upon his full 2022-23 season totals of 26 points by standing with 28 points through 20 games. In November, he registered points in five of the six games including three straight games of three points apiece. Additionally, his +4 rating led the team and his eight blocked shots and 11:50 total shorthanded time on ice led all Kings forwards. 

 

Forward: Jake Kavanagh, South Shore Kings

One of the league’s most exciting rookies this year, Kavanagh (‘05/Montreal, Que.) joined the Kings from Choate Rosemary Hall School and has been a key contributor from Day 1. He currently has 11 goals and 20 points in 20 games, thanks in part to a nine-point run in the six games of November. As the team went 4-1-1-0, Kavanagh registered five goals and four assists in scoring points in each game over the month. 

 

Forward: Louie Kamienski, Utica Jr. Comets

Kamienski (‘04/Elmhurst, Ill.) registered points in five straight out of the six games of November. He registered five goals and four assists for nine points in six games. Between Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, he had a goal and an assist for two points in three straight games. He also had three assists in a 3-2 overtime win on Nov. 10, assisting on the overtime GWG. He also tied for the team lead in faceoff wins with 51. He currently has 20 points in 20 games, and a 20-20-40 line in 67 career NCDC games. 

 

Defense: Nick Dimatos, Utica Jr. Comets 

The second-year blueliner Dimatos (Princeton, N.J.) was huge on both sides of the puck, first passing out six assists over the course of the month during which Utica went 5-2. He started the month with back-to-back two-assist games against the Islanders Hockey Club. Additionally, Dimatos led the team in average ice time n November with 25:04. His 14 hits and 14 blocked shots also led the Jr. Comets. 

 

Defense: Andrew Miller, Islanders Hockey Club 

A five-year USPHL veteran and third-year NCDC Islander, Miller (‘04/Naples, Fla.) put together a fantastic November in which the Islanders were able to close in a tie for the New England Division lead with the South Shore Kings. Their 4-0-1-1 record in November saw them match the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders as the only two teams that did not suffer a regulation loss in the month. Along with his goal on Nov. 16, he also spread out three assists over the course of the month. His +5 was tied for the Islanders lead, and his 51 takeaways were tied for second. 

 

Goaltender: Ryan Keyes, South Shore Kings 

Keyes (‘03/Fairbanks, Alaska) is greatly enjoying Year 2 in the NCDC, thanks to already having passed his 2022-23 wins total of 10 by recently winning his 13th game on Nov. 19 against Utica. He went 4-0-1-0 during the month of November stopping 131 of 139 shots for a .942 save percentage. Keyes is still undefeated in regulation at 13-0-1-0 and his GAA (1.78, second) and save percentage (.937, fifth) are both among the best. 

 

Selection Process: The league media office sends top candidates to divisional coaches for review and coaches either approve or challenge the nominations.