BOSTON, Mass. - December 3, 2024 - Atlantic Hockey America is proud to honor four student-athletes as AHA Players of the Month for their outstanding on-ice performances in games during the month of November. The winners for November are Holy Cross senior Liam McLinskey (Forward), Sacred Heart senior Hunter Sansbury (Defenseman), Bentley junior Connor Hasley (Goaltender), and Army freshman JJ Cataldo (Rookie).

AHA FORWARD OF THE MONTH
Liam McLinskey, Sr., F, Holy Cross
Holy Cross forward Liam McLinskey averaged more than a point per game in the month of November, as he collected 11 points on eight goals and three assists in nine games. Three of his eight goals came on the power play, and he fired 30 shots on goal throughout the month. McLinskey enters December riding an NCAA-leading seven-game goal streak, with the streak starting on Nov. 7 vs. AIC. The Pearl River, N.Y. native scored a short-handed goal vs. AIC on Nov. 8, and scored two goals, both on the power play, at Niagara on Nov. 16. On the season, McLinskey's 10 goals are tied for the AHA lead and tied for third nationally. In addition, his 16 points are tied for third in Atlantic Hockey and tied for 21st in the nation. This is McLinskey's first AHA Forward of the Month honor this season. 

Honorable Mention:
Tyler Fukakusa, So., F, RIT: 8 games, 12 points (3g, 8a)
Jay Ahearn, Sr., F, Niagara: 10 games, 10 points (6g, 4a)

AHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH
Hunter Sansbury, Sr., D, Sacred Heart
In 10 November games, Sacred Heart's Hunter Sansbury picked up nine points on three goals and six assists. Sansbury collected six points (3g, 3a) in a five-game stretch from Nov. 8-22, helping lead the Pios to a five-game win streak in conference play. The Lomita, Calif. native scored the game-winning goal on Nov. 22 vs. RIT, and scored a power play goal on Nov. 9 at Mercyhurst. Sansbury was also strong defensively, as he blocked 18 shots in November. He blocked eight shots in a weekend home-and-home series with Bentley on Nov. 1-2. In addition, the senior defenseman fired 24 shots on goal and posted a rating of +4 in November. On the season, Sansbury is up to four goals and seven assists for 11 points, and his 39 blocks leads Atlantic Hockey. This is Sansbury's first AHA Defenseman of the Month honor this season. 

Honorable Mention:
Mack Oliphant, Jr., D, Holy Cross: 9 games, 9 points (9a)
Dustin Geregach, Sr., D, Mercyhurst: 9 games, 7 points (5g, 2a)
Mac Gadowsky, So., D, Army: 8 games, 7 points (4g, 3a)

AHA GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Connor Hasley, Jr., G, Bentley
Getting the starting nod in seven games in November, Bentley's Connor Hasley posted a 6-1-0 record with four shutouts. In his four shutouts, Hasley made 19 saves vs. RIT on Nov. 8, 25 saves vs. AIC on Nov. 16, 26 saves vs. Air Force on Nov. 22, and 24 saves vs. Air Force on Nov. 23. He orchestrated three consecutive shutouts from Nov. 16-23, making 75 saves in that stretch. It marked the first time in Bentley program history that a goalie posted three straight shutouts. In addition, Hasley tied the Bentley program single-season record for shutouts with four and set the program record for career shutouts with seven. His four shutouts are tied for the national lead so far this season. All in all, the North Tonawanda, N.Y. native ended November with 140 saves on 151 shots, good for a .927 save percentage and 1.65 goals-against average. This is Hasley's first AHA Goaltender of the Month honor this season. He was named AHA Goaltender of the Week on Nov. 25.

Honorable Mention: 
Pierce Charleson, Gr., G, Niagara: 9 games, 4-4-1 record, .931 save percentage, 2.66 GAA
Thomas Gale, Sr., G, Holy Cross: 9 games, 4-4-1 record, .920 save percentage, 2.54 GAA
Ethan Robertson, So., G, Canisius: 5 games, 2-2-1 record, .959 save percentage, 1.17 GAA

AHA ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
JJ Cataldo, Fr., G, Army
Army goaltender JJ Cataldo saw action in six games in November, and he turned aside 176-of-186 shots, good for a save percentage of .946. He held his opponents to two goals or less in five of his six starts, posting a 1.69 goals-against average and 3-3-0 record throughout the month. Cataldo made 30+ saves in four of his six November games, and he started the month by posting a 39-save shutout vs. Niagara on Nov. 8. The 39 saves were a season-high for the freshman netminder, who shut down Niagara's AHA-leading offense in terms of goals per game (3.12). On the season, the Stuart, Fla. native leads Atlantic Hockey and ranks sixth in the nation with a .942 save percentage, while also leading the conference and ranking 13th nationally with a 1.77 goals-against average. This is Cataldo's first AHA Rookie of the Month honor this season. He has been named AHA Rookie of the Week twice this season (Oct. 28 and Nov. 18).

Honorable Mention: 
Ajeet Gundarah, Fr., G, Sacred Heart: 8 games, 5-2-1 record, .901 save percentage, 2.67 GAA
Dominic Elliott, Fr., D, Robert Morris: 9 games, 8 points (3g, 5a)
Jeremi Tremblay, Fy., F, Sacred Heart: 8 games, 7 points (2g, 5a)

2024-25 AHA PLAYER OF THE MONTH WINNERS
NOVEMBER
Forward: Liam McLinskey, Sr., F, Holy Cross; Defenseman: Hunter Sansbury, Sr., D, Sacred Heart; Goaltender: Connor Hasley, Jr., G, Bentley; Rookie: JJ Cataldo, Fr., G, Army
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Forward: Shane Ott, Sr., F, Niagara; Defenseman: Chris Hedden, Jr., D, Air Force; Goaltender: Thomas Gale, Sr., G, Holy Cross; Rookie: Trevor Hoskin, Fr., F, Niagara

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.