BOSTON, Mass. - February 10, 2025 - 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 Feb. 7-8, 2025. This week's winners are Lindenwood senior Morgan Neitzke (Forward), RIT senior Kyla Bear (Defenseman), Syracuse graduate student Allie Kelley (Goaltender), and Mercyhurst freshman Julia Schalin (Rookie).

AHA FORWARD OF THE WEEK
Morgan Neitzke, Sr., F, Lindenwood
Lindenwood forward Morgan Neitzke put together a four-point weekend on two goals and two assists this past weekend vs. RIT. In Friday's contest, Neitzke scored an unassisted goal at 13:10 of the 3rd period and paced the Lions with eight shots on goal. Neitzke then orchestrated a three-point effort on Saturday, as the senior scored a goal and dished out two assists. Neitzke led the Lions to three consecutive goals, as she assisted on Sena Takenaka's 2nd period power play goal and Gigi Pora's game-tying goal at 15:43 of the 3rd period, with a goal of her own in-between. It was Neitzke's second three-point game and fourth multi-point game of the season. The Jackson, Mich. native currently leads the Lions in goals (10), assists (11), points (21), and shots (124).

AHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Kyla Bear, Sr., D, RIT
RIT's Kyla Bear scored three goals over the weekend to lead the Tigers to a pair of wins over Lindenwood. Bear wasted no time starting her weekend, as she opened the scoring in Friday's contest with a goal just 23 seconds into the game. The senior defenseman would then score a pair of goals in Saturday's contest. She again opened the scoring, finding the back of the net at 16:04 of the 1st period to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Later with the game tied 3-3, Bear netted the game-winning goal in overtime on an assist from Addie Alvarez. The goal was Bear's eighth of the season and her first game-winner. In addition to her eight goals, the Ochapowace, SK native has racked up 13 assists on the season, and leads RIT defensemen in points with 21.

AHA GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Allie Kelley, Gr., G, Syracuse
Syracuse goaltender Allie Kelley led the Orange to a road sweep at Robert Morris this past weekend. In Friday's 4-1 win, Kelley turned aside 11-of-12 shots, good for a save percentage of .917. She then stopped 24-of-25 shots (.960 save percentage) in Saturday's 5-1 win. In total, the East Berne, N.Y. native made 35 saves on 37 shots over the weekend, good for a save percentage of .946. Kelley has now won five games in a row, all in conference play, and has allowed just six total goals in that stretch. The all-time NCAA leader in saves, Kelley leads the country with 1,009 saves so far this season. This is Kelley's second AHA Goaltender of the Week honor this season, with the first coming last week on Feb. 3.

AHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Julia Schalin, Fr., F, Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst forward Julia Schalin continued her strong freshman campaign with a three-point weekend at (8/8) Penn State. Schalin helped the Lakers grab four points by scoring a goal in each game this weekend, along with adding an assist in Saturday's contest. Schalin opened the scoring with a goal at 10:00 of the 1st period on Friday, then tied the game at two with a goal at 4:28 of the 3rd period on Saturday. She then assisted on Vanessa Upson's game-winning goal at 11:11 of the 3rd period. The Espoo, Finland native now has nine multi-point games so far this season, and is riding a seven-game point streak with 10 points (3g, 7a) in that stretch. On the season, Schalin's 27 points are the second-most in the country among rookies. This is Schalin's third AHA Rookie of the Week honor this season, with the previous two coming on Nov. 18 and Jan. 27. She was named AHA Rookie of the Month for November and January.

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.