NA3HL announces monthly player awards for September

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced its monthly player awards for the month of September. The Bauer Hockey NA3HL Forward of the Month is Eric Melso of the Binghamton Jr. Senators. The Bauer Hockey NA3HL Defenseman of the Month is JP Chauvin of the L/A Nordiques. The Vaughn NA3HL Goaltender of the Month is Aaron Dickstein of the Milwaukee Power. Only players who are nominated by their respective teams are considered for the NA3HL monthly awards.

Bauer Hockey NA3HL Forward of the Month: Eric Melso, Binghamton Jr. Senators

Binghamton roared out of the gates, notching wins in six of their opening seven games and boasting a league-high +47 goal differential in that span. Melso tallied points in each of his six games played, including two or more points in five. His value to the Jr. Senators is unquestioned; the one game he did not take part in marked the lone loss for Binghamton thus far this season. Beginning with his dynamite four-goal, four-assist performance in the season opener, Melso has racked up 8g-13a-21pts in just six games, which leads both his team and the NA3HL.

Runner-Up: Elliot Plourde, Helena Bighorns

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): John Bannon, Missoula Jr. Bruins – Matt Dahlseide, North Iowa Bulls – Zack DeBoom, Granite City Lumberjacks – Marc Faia, Northeast Generals – Steven Ford, Skylands Kings – Logan Geisness, Milwaukee Power – Dante Jones, St. Louis Jr. Blues – Kody Kifer, Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts – Tommy Kilway, Oswego Stampede – Jason Ladzinski, Atlanta Capitals – Hunter Leonhard, Mid Cities Jr. Stars – Hazen McKay, Bozeman Icedogs – Brett Meister, Alexandria Blizzard – Tanner Mros, Wisconsin Whalers – Viacheslav Nilov, Louisiana Drillers – Joshua Sanchez, L/A Nordiques – Coleman Varty, Gillette Wild

Bauer Hockey NA3HL Defenseman of the Month: JP Chauvin, L/A Nordiques

One of three remaining undefeated teams through the first month of play, the L/A Nordiques have relied on defensive stalwart JP Chauvin to maintain their pace. Chauvin has notched at least a point in each of L/A’s eight outings so far, posting two or more points in six of those eight, to bring his September total to a league-high (among defensemen) 5g-12a-17pts. The Massena, NY native has excelled in all situations, recording a goal and four assists with the man-advantage, a shorthanded tally and a league-leading +22 rating through eight games.

Runner-Up: Cole Therrien, Cape Cod Islanders

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Ethan Becker, Gillette Wild – Jake Berry, Milwaukee Power – Trevor Christopher, Skylands Kings – Ben Cope, Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts – Colin Day, Northeast Generals – Mitch Dolese, Louisiana Drillers – Jake Faulkner, St. Louis Jr. Blues – Connor Frye, Missoula Jr. Bruins – Stephen Guadalajara, Mid Cities Jr. Stars – Rich Hart, Oswego Stampede – Luke Hefty, Wisconsin Whalers – Gunner Moore, Atlanta Capitals – Jordan Olson, Granite City Lumberjacks – Val Popowski, Alexandria Blizzard – Harrison Stewart, North Iowa Bulls – Justin Sullivan, Helena Bighorns

Vaughn NA3HL Goaltender of the Month: Aaron Dickstein, Milwaukee Power

The Power have taken the league by storm – and perhaps a bit by surprise – with a 7-0-0 start in their inaugural campaign to lead the Central Division by five points as of October 4, and netminder Aaron Dickstein has stood tall between the pipes for each of those seven games. The Dayton, OH native stopped a total of 188 of 201 shots in September, which is good for a league-high .935 save percentage amongst goaltenders with at least five starts. In fact, just two other goalies have started five or more games and boast a .900 save percentage or higher this season. On average, Dickstein has turned aside 26.8 pucks per game thus far, while allowing a stingy 1.86 goals per game in that span.

Runner-Up: AJ Ruskowski, Bozeman Icedogs

Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Tyler Dorion, Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts – Matt Fitzgerald, Granite City Lumberjacks – Mikael Foucher, St. Louis Jr. Blues – Aaron LaChance, Gillette Wild – Daniel Miller, L/A Nordiques – Connor Poczos, North Iowa Bulls – Alexander Rogers, Helena Bighorns – Bailey Rosch, Alexandria Blizzard – Kai Tomita, Wisconsin Whalers – Griffin Varricchio, Louisiana Drillers – Ben White, Oswego Stampede – Billy Yoder, Missoula Jr. Bruins