BOSTON, Mass. - February 4, 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 January. The winners for January are Mercyhurst senior Vanessa Upson (Forward), Mercyhurst junior Megan McKay (Defenseman), Penn State junior Katie DeSa (Goaltender), and Mercyhurst freshman Julia Schalin (Rookie).

AHA FORWARD OF THE MONTH
Vanessa Upson, Sr., F, Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst forward Vanessa Upson put together an impressive month of January in which she totaled 15 points on eight goals and seven assists in ten games. Upson orchestrated six multi-point efforts in January, which included three games with multiple goals. Three of her eight goals came on the power play, and her month was highlighted by a hat trick on Jan. 25 vs. Robert Morris. Upson's success led to team success, as her 1.50 points per game propelled the Lakers to a perfect 7-0-0 month in AHA play. Upson was also clutch in the face-off dot, as she won 107-of-176 face-offs, good for a win percentage of .608. On the season, the Stoney Creek, Ontario native is up to 11 goals and 19 assists, with her 30 points ranking third in Atlantic Hockey. This is Upson's first AHA Forward of the Month honor this season. She has been named AHA Forward of the Week on two occasions (Nov. 25 and Jan. 6).

Honorable Mention:
Tessa Janecke, Jr., F, Penn State: 9 games, 13 points (5g, 8a)
Jackson Kinsler, So., F, Syracuse: 10 games, 7 points (3g, 4a)

AHA DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH
Megan McKay, Jr., D, Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst defenseman Megan McKay averaged 1.20 points per game in January, as she collected 12 points on three goals and nine assists in ten games. McKay started the month with back-to-back three-point efforts en route to a six-point weekend vs. Saint Michael's on Jan. 4-5. The junior defenseman scored a goal and dished out two assists in each game. McKay then registered six points in a three-game stretch from Jan. 18-25, which culminated in a three-assist game vs. Robert Morris on Jan. 25. Two of her three goals in January came on the power play, and she fired 21 shots on goal in the month. McKay was also strong defensively, as she blocked 11 shots and led a Laker defensive unit that allowed just nine total goals in nine games. This is McKay's first AHA Defenseman of the Month honor this season. She has been named AHA Defenseman of the Week on two occasions (Jan. 6 and Jan. 27).

Honorable Mention:
Kyla Bear, Sr., D, RIT: 8 games, 8 points (5g, 3a), 7 blocks
Sami Gendron, Jr., D, Syracuse: 10 games, 7 points (2g, 5a), 17 blocks

AHA GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Katie DeSa, Jr., G, Penn State
Penn State goaltender Katie DeSa put together a sensational month of January, as she won all nine starts and posted five shutouts. DeSa's January shutouts came on Jan. 10 vs. RIT (18 saves), Jan. 17 at Syracuse (18 saves), Jan. 18 at Syracuse (25 saves), Jan. 25 at Lindenwood (20 saves), and Jan. 31 at Robert Morris (22 saves). In total, the junior netminder allowed just nine goals in nine January games. DeSa turned aside 201-of-210 shots, which was good for a save percentage of .957 and goals-against average of 1.00. In addition to posting seven conference wins with five coming on the road, DeSa led the Nittany Lions to their first-ever win over No. 3 Minnesota with a 32-save effort on Jan. 4. The Pawcatuck, Conn. native is riding a 12-game win streak, and owns a record of 22-4-0 on the season. DeSa currently leads the country in shutouts (8), is second in wins (22), fourth in goals-against average (1.29), and eighth in save percentage (.940). This is DeSa's second AHA Goaltender of the Month honor this season, with the first coming in December. She has been named AHA Goaltender of the Week seven times this season (Sept. 30, Oct. 21, Nov. 25, Dec. 9, Jan. 6, Jan. 20, and Jan. 27).

Honorable Mention: 
Jorden Mattison, Gr., G, Mercyhurst: 5 games, 4-1-0 record, 120 saves, .945 save percentage, 0.50 GAA
Allie Kelley, Gr., G, Syracuse: 10 games, 2-8-0 record, 371 saves, .928 save percentage, 2.99 GAA

AHA ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Julia Schalin, Fr., F, Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst's Julia Schalin continued her strong freshman campaign by tallying 12 points on four goals and eight assists in the month of January (1.20 points per game). Schalin registered a point in seven of ten games, and put together five multi-point efforts. Her month was highlighted by a two-goal game on Jan. 11 at Syracuse, with her second goal of the game being the game-winner. Other highlights include a short-handed goal on Jan. 4 vs. Saint Michael's, and three two-assist games (Jan. 5 vs. Saint Michael's, Jan. 24 vs. Robert Morris, and Jan. 25 vs. Robert Morris). The Espoo, Finland native is up to 10 goals and 14 assists on the season, with her 24 points ranking second in the nation among rookies. This is Schalin's second AHA Rookie of the Month honor this season, with the first coming in November. She has been named AHA Rookie of the Week on two occasions (Nov. 18 and Jan. 27).

Honorable Mention: 
Abby Stonehouse, Fr., F, Penn State: 9 games, 7 points (4g, 3a)
Brac Kelley, Fr., F, RIT: 9 games, 6 points (4g, 2a)

2024-25 AHA PLAYER OF THE MONTH WINNERS
JANUARY
Forward: Vanessa Upson, Sr., F, Mercyhurst; Defenseman: Megan McKay, Jr., D, Mercyhurst; Goaltender: Katie DeSa, Jr., G, Penn State; Rookie: Julia Schalin, Fr., F, Mercyhurst
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.