BOSTON, Mass. - December 2, 2024 - Atlantic Hockey America is proud to honor four student-athletes as AHA Players of the Week for their outstanding on-ice performances in games of Nov. 26-30, 2024. This week's winners are Mercyhurst senior Marielle Parks (Forward), Mercyhurst junior Makayla Javier (Defenseman), Mercyhurst freshman Magdalena Luggin (Goaltender), and Syracuse freshman Laura Leitner (Rookie).

AHA FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Marielle Parks, Sr., F, Mercyhurst
Senior Marielle Parks played a key role in Mercyhurst's 4-1 win over New Hampshire on Nov. 27, scoring a pair of goals and securing her first multi-goal game of the season. Parks scored the first goal of the game at 7:23 of the 2nd period, then scored an empty net goal late in the 3rd period to seal the win for the Lakers. The Erie, Penn. native fired 10 shots on goal in two games vs. New Hampshire, and tied a season-high with seven shots on goal on Nov. 26. The senior forward leads the Lakers with a rating of +8 so far this season.

AHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Makayla Javier, Jr., D, Mercyhurst
Junior defenseman Makayla Javier recorded points in each game of Mercyhurst's two-game series vs. New Hampshire this week. Javier assisted on Sofia Nuutinen's 3rd period goal on Nov. 26, then assisted on Jade Maisonneuve's 3rd period goal in a 4-1 win on Nov. 27. Javier fired six shots on goal and blocked two shots in the two contests, and is up to two goals and four assists for six points so far this season. The Abingdon, Md. native is riding a three-game point streak, picking up assists in each of her last three games.

AHA GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Magdalena Luggin, Fr., G, Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst goaltender Magdalena Luggin stood tall in net for the Lakers this week, posting a .923 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average in two games vs. New Hampshire. Luggin turned aside 24-of-26 shots on Nov. 26, then stopped 12-of-13 shots in Mercyhurst's 4-1 win on Nov. 27. In total, the Vienna, Austria native made 36 saves on 39 shots in the series. On the season, Luggin's .941 save percentage leads Atlantic Hockey, while her 1.91 goals-against average ranks third in the conference. This is Luggin's second AHA Weekly Award honor this season, with her first coming on Oct. 21 as Rookie of the Week.

AHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Laura Leitner, Fr., D, Syracuse
Syracuse freshman Laura Leitner picked up her first career point and first career goal on Nov. 29 vs. (5/5) Colgate. With Syracuse trailing 1-0, Leitner tied the game at one with a goal at 14:28 of the 2nd period. Peyton Armstrong and Nea Tervonen assisted on the play. With the goal, the Krumpendorf, Austria native scored her first collegiate goal on her first career shot. 

About Atlantic Hockey America
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) embarks on its first season in 2024-25 after the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 11 men’s teams (American International College, Bentley University, Canisius University, The College of Holy Cross, Mercyhurst University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, Sacred Heart University, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Military Academy), and six women’s teams (Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University, Penn State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, and Syracuse University). In 2025-26, Delaware University will join the women’s league. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.