Forward Of The Month: Johnny Mulera, Boston Junior Bruins 

There’s no such thing as a “good start” in the world of Johnny Mulera (‘99/Rockville, Md.) because that might hint at something lesser at a later time. Mulera just keeps the good going, and - after scoring the Dineen Cup-winning goal in his final game of 2018-19 - he remains the most potent offensive player in the National Collegiate Development Conference. 

The University of Connecticut recruit won the Player Of The Month in September, and he’s here again because he has not let up for a single nanosecond. He remains the NCDC’s leading scorer, with 27 points through 17 games, and he also leads in goals with 16. That’s a better than 45-goal pace for the 50-game season. Je scored more than half of his points in the second month of the season, posting eight goals and 14 points in his 10 games with the Junior Bruins, who sit in a tie for first with the Jersey Hitmen. 

Mulera often leads the charge into battle - his three first goals of games are tied for the league lead in that category - and also seals up W’s, with a league-leading five game-winners. 

Honorable Mention

Josh Waters, Jersey Hitmen

Ian Carpentier, Junior Bruins

Jared Thomas,Boston Bandits

Defenseman Of The Month: Nicholas Chiocca, Jersey Hitmen

Chiocca (‘00/Wayne, N.J.) is a classic USPHL Development Model success story. He began four seasons ago in the USPHL 16U Division, and he then played a season and a half in the USPHL 18U Division. 

He was called up to the NCDC midway through 2018-19, and is now a two-way leader in the league with his hometown Hitmen, who remain undefeated in regulation from the start of the season. 

He has helped the Jersey defense keep Hitmen goalies from seeing more than 28.7 shots on average per game, lowest by far in the league. Not coincidentally, the Hitmen also have the lowest team goals against average at 1.71. 

Chiocca leads the league in points by defensemen, with 14 in 13 games. Nine of those 14 points came in just seven October games. He is also among the defensive takeaway leaders for the Hitmen with 60 this past month, an average of 8.57 per game.

Honorable Mention

Luis Lindner, Boston Junior Bruins

Liam Donelan, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders

Goaltender Of The Month: Tate Brandon, Connecticut Jr. Rangers

Brandon (‘00/Irvington, N.Y.) is the workhorse for a Jr. Rangers team that has lost in regulation only twice this season and not in the last 12 games (including all eight in the month of October).

Brandon played in all but one of the Rangers’ October games, racking up a 5-0-2 record, all while seeing 266 shots during the month, nearly 38 per game on average. That is almost twice as many shots faced as his closest competition at the top of the goalie leaderboard.

He made 251 saves on those 266 shots for a monthly save percentage of .944. With the exception of one overtime game on Oct. 4, he has not given up more than three goals in any of his 12 games played. 

Honorable Mention

Henry Graham, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders

Gavin Abric, Jersey Hitmen

Thomas Gale, Boston Junior Bruins