The Greater Metro Junior 'A' Hockey League has announced third 'Players of the Month' of the year for December of this 2022-2023 hockey season.

The 'Players of the Month' honors is a distinction awarded to the player who is adjudged the best at his position & rookie (2005 born and younger and first year of junior hockey) through each month of the season.

(All stats listed as of January 8^th, 2023)

Forward – Dennis Golovatchev, Muskoka Shield

Former OHL player Dennis Golovatchev was acquired by the Shield at the end of November and all he has done since then is produce 3 points a game for the surging Muskoka franchise. In December alone Golovatchev played 6 games, scoring a goal in every single one, with a hat trick against the Ravens. His point total in December was 18 (10G, 8A) but the most important statistic for a team is wins, Golovatchev helped his team to their first 3 game win streak of the season just before the holiday break scoring 11 points in those 3 games alone. On the season Golovatchev 4^th in the league in scoring with 75 points in 29 games for the 2001 born forward. Prior to joining the GMHL Golovatchev played in the OHL, OJHL and CCHL.

Defenceman – Kaiden Desjarlais, High Prairie Red Wings

The League leader for scoring amongst defenseman resides in High Prairie as second year Red Wing Kaden Desjarlais has produced 52 points in just 26 games so far this season (2 Points per game). In December Desjarlais added 7 of those points with a goal and 6 assists. The most recent winner of the GMHL West Championship also showed his scoring touch from the blue line last season with 65 points in 40 games, which placed him 3^rd league wide among defenseman scoring, a mark he is on pace to shatter this season for another strong High Prairie squad.

Goaltender – Maxim Audet, Ville-Marie Pirates
 

Maxim Audet only played 2 games in December. All he did in those two games? Beat the #1 Ranked team in the North (Bradford Rattlers) and beat the #1 team in the South (North York Renegades). In those two games alone he had a 2.88 GAA, playing 125 minutes combined for those 2 wins. On the season the 2004 net minder from Amos, is 7-2-0 with a .906 Save Percentage and a sparkling 2.45 Goals Against Average (GAA) good enough for 5^th and 1^st in the Divison respectively. Prior to joining the Pirates, Audet developed for three years in the Filon Or et des Bois program after a year with the Amos Forestiers.

Rookie – Blake Tarala, Durham Roadrunners

Durham this season has proven to have the most elite stable of goaltenders the youngest of which is rookie Blake Tarala who has shined in his debut season. Despite being just 16 years old Tarala has answered the call time and time again. In December alone he went 3-1-0 with his only loss coming at the showcase to the strong Ville-Marie Pirates squad. Tarala was twice named among the games three stars in those four games (including being the 1^st star in that Pirates game) and was able to improve his season numbers to 8-2-0, with a league leading 2.08 Goals Against Average (GAA) and a 2^nd in the league Save Percentage of .923%. Prior to joining the Roadrunners Tarala played for the Oshawa Generals U16 AAA program.