BOSTON, Mass. - December 9, 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 Dec. 6-7, 2024. This week's winners are Syracuse graduate student Bryn Saarela (Forward), RIT sophomore Emma Pickering (Defenseman), Penn State junior Katie DeSa (Goaltender), and RIT first year Kailey Favro (Rookie).

AHA FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Bryn Saarela, Gr., F, Syracuse
Syracuse forward Bryn Saarela put together an impressive weekend, collecting five goals and two assists for seven points while leading Syracuse to a sweep over Robert Morris. Saarela had a hand in all four of Syracuse's goals on Friday, Dec. 6, as she netted a hat trick and dished out an assist for a four-point game. After assisting on Tatum White's 1st period goal, Saarela's natural hat trick began with a goal at 12:34 of the 1st period, which also proved to be the game-winner. She then scored again at 1:41 and 18:36 of the 3rd period. On Saturday, Dec. 7, Saarela scored a power play goal and dished out an assist in the 1st period, then scored a short-handed goal in the 2nd period. The Denver, Colo. native is now riding a three-game goal streak, and has goals in four of her last five games. On the season, Saarela's 10 goals ranks third in Atlantic Hockey and is tied for 19th nationally. In addition, her 18 points leads Syracuse and sits tied for third in the conference.

AHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Emma Pickering, So., D, RIT
RIT sophomore defenseman Emma Pickering came up clutch for the Tigers on Saturday, Dec. 7, as she scored two goals to help seal a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Lindenwood. The Tigers fell behind 2-0 in the 1st period, then tied the game at two thanks to goals from Brac Kelley and Addie Alvarez. With the game tied, Pickering scored her AHA-leading sixth power play goal of the season at 16:24 of the 2nd period to give RIT a 3-2 lead. The goal would prove to be the game-winner, Pickering's second of the season. The Fishers, Ind. native then scored again at 16:17 of the 3rd period to seal the victory. Among defensemen, Pickering's nine goals on the season leads the AHA and ranks tied for second nationally. This is Pickering's third AHA Defenseman of the Week honor this season, with the first two coming on Oct. 21 and Nov. 25. 

AHA GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Katie DeSa, Jr., G, Penn State
Penn State goaltender Katie DeSa led the Nittany Lions to a pair of road wins over Mercyhurst this past weekend. DeSa stopped 35-of-37 shots (.946 save percentage) in Friday's 4-2 win, then made a season-high 38 saves on 40 shots (.950 save percentage) in Saturday's 3-2 win. In total, the junior netminder turned aside 73-of-77 shots for a .948 save percentage on the weekend. DeSa has now earned a win in seven of her last eight starts, and is up to a 12-4-0 record on the season. Her 12 wins leads Atlantic Hockey and ranks third in the nation, while her 1.44 goals-against average also leads the AHA and ranks seventh nationally. In conference play, DeSa leads the AHA with a 1.28 goals-against average and .945 save percentage in seven conference games. This is DeSa's fourth AHA Goaltender of the Week honor this season, with the previous three coming on Sept. 30, Oct. 21, and Nov. 25.

AHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kailey Favro, Fr., F, RIT
RIT forward Kailey Favro put together multi-point efforts in both games vs. Lindenwood this past weekend. In Friday's 9-4 win, Favro opened the scoring at 0:31 of the 1st period, then scored a power play goal at 5:36 of the 3rd period. Then in Saturday's contest, Favro dished out two assists to help lead the Tigers to a 4-2 come-from-behind victory. The Danville, Calif. native now has four multi-point games this season, and is up to five goals and five assists for ten points on the year. All five of her goals this season have come in conference play. This is Favro's second AHA Rookie of the Week honor this season, with the first coming on Nov. 4.

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.