BOSTON - Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) announced its December Players of the Month on Monday.

Two programs were represented with three first-time honorees.

Players of the Month
Forward: Jessica MacKinnon, SO, Robert Morris (Clarks Harbour, Nova Scotia)
Defenseman: Payten Evans, SR, Mercyhurst (Calgary, Alberta)
Goaltender: Maggie Hatch, JR, Robert Morris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
Rookie: Julia Perjus, R-FR, Mercyhurst (Stockholm, Sweden)

FORWARD OF THE MONTH
MacKinnon earned her first-ever monthly AHA honor after she led the conference in December with seven points (2G-5A) in four games played.

The Clarks Harbour, Nova Scotia native also tied for the league lead in plus/minus last month, posting a plus-6.

DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH
Evans skated in two games and tallied the second-most points in AHA in December, with six (2G-4A). Evans’ six points led all AHA blueliners last month.

This marks the first AHA monthly honor for the Calgary, Alberta native.

GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Hatch collects her second career conference monthly honor after appearing in four games and posting a 3-0-1 record.

The Cleveland Heights, Ohio native led AHA last month (min. 33% of team minutes played) with a 0.49 goals-against average and 134 saves. Hatch’s .985 save percentage was the second highest in the conference, and led goaltenders who appeared in a minimum of two games.

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Perjus finished December tied for the third-most points in AHA, tallying five (1G-4A) in two games.
This is the first-ever monthly award for the Stockholm, Sweden native.

2025-26 HONORS
NOVEMBER
Forward: Tessa Janecke, SR, Penn State (Orangeville, Ill.)
Defense: Emma Pickering, JR, RIT (Fishers, Ind.)
Goaltender: Katie DeSa, SR, Penn State (Pawcatuck, Conn.)
Rookie: Tilli Keranen (F), RIT (Kuopio, Finland)

September/October
Forward: Tessa Janecke, SR, Penn State (Orangeville, Ill.)
Defenseman: Danica Maynard, FR, Penn State (Lake Country, British Columbia)
Goaltender: Katie DeSa, SR, Penn State (Pawcatuck, Conn.)
Rookie: Matilde Fantin (F), FR, Penn State (Como, Italy)

ABOUT ATLANTIC HOCKEY AMERICA
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) is in its second season following the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 10 Division I men's teams and seven women's teams. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.
Connect with AHA on X (@Atlantic_Hockey), Instagram (@atlantichockeyamerica) and Facebook (Atlantic Hockey America).
Watch AHA home games on FloHockey this season.