BOSTON, Mass. - January 3, 2025 - 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 December. The winners for December 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 MONTH
Bryn Saarela, Gr., F, Syracuse
Syracuse played just two games in the month of December, but forward Bryn Saarela made the most of them. Saarela scored five goals and dished out two assists for seven points while leading Syracuse to a sweep over Robert Morris on Dec. 6-7. 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 to lead the Orange to a 4-1 win. 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. The next day, 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 to lead Syracuse to another 4-1 win. The Denver, Colo. native is now up to 11 goals on the season, which ranks third in Atlantic Hockey and is tied for 18th nationally.  

Honorable Mention:
Addie Alvarez, So., F, RIT: 2 games, 8 points (1g, 7a)
Tessa Janecke, Jr., F, Penn State: 2 games, 6 points (3g, 3a)

AHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH
Emma Pickering, So., D, RIT
RIT defenseman Emma Pickering collected three points on two goals and an assist in three games in the month of December. Pickering came up clutch 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. The Fishers, Ind. native ended the month by picking up an assist against (7/7) Cornell. Among defensemen, Pickering's nine goals on the season leads the AHA and ranks tied for second nationally. 

Honorable Mention:
Kendall Butze, Jr., D, Penn State: 2 games, 1 point (1a)
Makayla Javier, Jr., D, Mercyhurst: 2 games, 1 point (1g)

AHA GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Katie DeSa, Jr., G, Penn State
Penn State goaltender Katie DeSa captured a pair of road wins against Mercyhurst on Dec. 6-7. DeSa turned aside 35-of-37 shots (.946 save percentage) on Friday, Dec. 6 to lead the Nittany Lions to a 4-2 win. Then, she made a season-high 38 saves on 40 shots (.950 save percentage) en route to a 3-2 win on Saturday, Dec. 7. In total, DeSa made 73 saves and posted a .948 save percentage to go along with a 2.00 goals-against average in December. The Pawcatuck, Conn. native enters January with a 12-4-0 record while boasting a goals-against average of 1.44, which leads Atlantic Hockey 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.

Honorable Mention: 
Allie Kelley, Gr., G, Syracuse: 2 games, 2-0-0 record, 50 saves, .962 save percentage, 1.00 GAA
Sarah Coe, Sr., G, RIT: 1 game, 1-0-0 record, 23 saves, .920 save percentage, 2.00 GAA

AHA ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Kailey Favro, Fr., F, RIT
RIT forward Kailey Favro put together multi-point efforts in both games vs. Lindenwood on Dec. 6-7. On Friday, Dec. 6, Favro scored two goals to lead the Tigers to a 9-4 win. She 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. 

Honorable Mention: 
Grace Outwater, Fr., F, Penn State: 2 games, 1 point, (1g)
Tatem Starlight-Yellowfly, Fr., D, Lindenwood: 2 games, 1 point (1a)

2024-25 AHA PLAYER OF THE MONTH WINNERS
DECEMBER
Forward: Bryn Saarela, Gr., F, Syracuse; Defenseman: Emma Pickering, So., D, RIT; Goaltender: Katie DeSa, Jr., G, Penn State; Rookie: Kailey Favro, Fr., F, RIT
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.