NCDC 2023-24 Players Of The Week: New England Division

Week of Oct. 11, 2023

Games of Oct. 3-9, 2023

Forward: Braxton Powers, Islanders Hockey Club

Third-year Islander and former 18U IHC player Powers (‘04/Raleigh, N.C.) is enjoying a point-per-game pace for the 6-0-2-0 Islanders as they come off a second straight sweep of a three-game showcase, most recently at the Hitmen Classic. He posted a pair of goals, including the GWG on Sunday vs. the Mercer Chiefs plus two assists in that game. He also had two more assists over the weekend for a 2-4-6 total line at the event. He has improved to eight points in eight games. 

Defense: Salvatore Cerrato, South Shore Kings

The top-scoring defenseman in the NCDC who also ranks fourth in points overall is coming off another huge weekend, with four assists in three Hitmen Classic games. He brought his assist total up to 10 on the season, and he is just three points away from matching his 2022-23 season total of 15 points. 

Goaltender: Frank Murphy, Islanders Hockey Club 

The former USPHL Premier All-Star continues to be a #USPHLAdvancement success story, as he leads the NCDC early on in wins, with a 5-0-1-0 record, one year after leading the Premier in wins (25, with Toledo). At the Hitmen Classic, Murphy (‘04/Mississauga, Ont.) stopped 66 out of 68 shots, went 2-0 and finished with a 1.00 GAA and .971 for the trip to Jersey. 

Rookie (New to Tier II*/’04 or younger): Jake Kavanagh, South Shore Kings

A former Choate Rosemary Hall standout, Kavanagh posted his first junior goal (the game-winner) and assists (two of them) in the Classic opener against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers. The ‘05 from Montreal went on to add another goal in the eventual shootout loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, to give him a 2-2-4 line coming out of New Jersey. 

* = No more than 10 Tier II games played prior to 2023-24