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 Penn State junior Tessa Janecke (Forward), Penn State junior Kendall Butze (Defenseman), Mercyhurst graduate student Jorden Mattison (Goaltender), and Mercyhurst freshman Julia Schalin (Rookie).

AHA FORWARD OF THE MONTH
Tessa Janecke, Jr., F, Penn State
In seven games in the month of November, Penn State forward Tessa Janecke tallied 11 points on six goals and five assists. Janecke strung together a five-game goal streak from Nov. 15 to Nov. 29, and enters December riding a six-game point streak. The Orangeville, Ill. native put together back-to-back three-point games on Nov. 15-16 vs. Lindenwood, collecting six points on three goals and three assists in the series. Janecke was also strong in the face-off dot for the Nittany Lions throughout November, as she tallied 127 face-off wins on 178 attempts for a .713 win percentage. On the season, Janecke's 25 points lead the AHA and rank tied for ninth nationally. In addition, her .705 face-off win percentage leads Atlantic Hockey. Janecke was also the AHA Forward of the Month for September/October, and has been named AHA Forward of the Week twice this season (Oct. 7 and Nov. 18). 

Honorable Mention:
Morgan Neitzke, Sr., F, Lindenwood: 8 games, 10 points (5g, 5a)
Vanessa Upson, Sr., F, Mercyhurst: 8 games, 7 points (3g, 4a)

AHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH
Kendall Butze, Jr., D, Penn State
Penn State's Kendall Butze averaged 1.57 points per game in November, as she collected 11 points on two goals and nine assists in seven games. Both of her goals and two of her nine assists in November came on the power play, and she put together a five-game point streak from Nov. 15 to Nov. 29. The Cleveland, Ohio native collected six points (1g, 5a) on Nov. 16 vs. Lindenwood, which are the most points in a single game among all AHA skaters this season. In addition, her five assists tied a Penn State program record for most assists in a single game. Butze also stepped up defensively in November, blocking a team-high 12 shots throughout the month. Among defensemen, Butze's 16 points on the season lead the AHA and are tied for fifth nationally. This is Butze's first AHA Defenseman of the Month honor this season. She was named AHA Defenseman of the Week on Nov. 18.

Honorable Mention:
Emma Pickering, So., D, RIT: 7 games, 5 points (3g, 2a)
Megan McKay, Jr., D, Mercyhurst: 8 games, 5 points (1g, 4a)

AHA GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Jorden Mattison, Gr., G, Mercyhurst
In five November games, Mercyhurst goaltender Jorden Mattison posted a 4-1-0 record between the pipes for the Lakers. Mattison made a total of 99 saves on 105 shots in the month, good for a save percentage of .943 and goals-against average of 1.20. She held her opponents to one goal or fewer in four of her five games, which included a pair of back-to-back road shutouts at Robert Morris. In that series, the Welland, Ontario native made 19 saves in a 2-0 win on Nov. 15, then made 12 saves in a 5-0 win on Nov. 16. On the season, Mattison's 1.77 goals-against average ranks second in the AHA and 12th nationally, while her .929 save percentage ranks third in Atlantic Hockey and 19th nationally. This is Mattison's first AHA Goaltender of the Month honor this season. She was named AHA Goaltender of the Week on Nov. 18.

Honorable Mention: 
Katie DeSa, Jr., G, Penn State: 5 games, 4-1-0 record, 89 saves, .947 save percentage, 1.01 GAA, 2 shutouts
Allie Kelley, Gr., G, Syracuse: 7 games, 3-4-0 record, 236 saves, .918 save percentage, 3.03 GAA, 1 shutout

AHA ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Julia Schalin, Fr., F, Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst freshman Julia Schalin averaged more than a point per game in November, as she collected 10 points on five goals and five assists in eight games. Two of her goals came on the power play, and she added 23 shots on goal throughout the month. Schalin scored her first career goal on Nov. 16 at Robert Morris en route to putting together her first career hat trick. In total, Schalin tallied four points on three goals and an assist in a 5-0 win for Mercyhurst. That contest started a three-game point streak for the Espoo, Finland native, as she collected multiple points in three consecutive games from Nov. 16 to Nov. 23. This is Schalin's first AHA Rookie of the Month honor this season. She was named AHA Rookie of the Week on Nov. 18.

Honorable Mention: 
Grace Outwater, Fr., F, Penn State: 6 games, 6 points (2g, 4a)
Kailey Favro, Fr., F, RIT: 7 games, 3 points (3g)

2024-25 AHA PLAYER OF THE MONTH WINNERS
NOVEMBER
Forward: Tessa Janecke, Jr., F, Penn State; Defenseman: Kendall Butze, Jr., D, Penn State; Goaltender: Jorden Mattison, Gr., G, Mercyhurst; Rookie: Julia Schalin, Fr., F, Mercyhurst
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Forward: Tessa Janecke, Jr., F, Penn State; Defenseman: Lyndie Lobdell, Gr., D, Penn State; Goaltender: Sarah Coe, Sr., G, RIT; Rookie: Grace Outwater, Fr., F, Penn State

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.