Program names October Players of the Month

Thursday, November 12, 2026

The Ohio Blue Jackets are proud to recognize our October 2026 Players of the Month, presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Selected by their coaching staffs, these student-athletes have distinguished themselves through their performance, character and positive impact on their teams.

The awards celebrate the program’s commitment to developing well-rounded players, people and teammates. Each honoree exemplifies OBJ’s core values of process, respect, integrity, determination and excellence through their efforts on the ice, in the classroom and throughout the community.

18U (2008/09) – Brayden Phillips
A reliable two-way player, Brayden Phillips has scored six goals and recorded 10 points through 23 games in his third season with OBJ. His teammates and coaches recently voted him captain. They see Brayden as the heartbeat of the 18U team, a player whose work ethic gives the group energy every day and whose toughness, maturity and selflessness set the standard for how the team prepares and competes.

An 11th grader at Acellus Academy, Brayden carries a 3.94 GPA in the honors pathway. He has supported PBJ Helpers and the Mirth Project, contributed to a collection drive for Powell Popup for the Homeless and volunteered at Driven Foundation events. During the summer, he coaches at hockey camps and clinics, mentoring younger players.

16U (2010) – Trevor Park
Now in his seventh season with OBJ, Trevor Park has been a core member of the program’s 2010 birth year and remains a player the 16U team relies on at both ends of the ice. The Dublin native scored twice at the Buffalo Showcase in October, highlighting the offense he brings from the blue line. Trevor quarterbacks the power play, and his ability to make a strong first pass helps turn a defensive stop into an attack up ice. He brings that same competitiveness to his own end, where he defends hard and battles for possession.

Trevor’s value to the group also shows in the way he practices. His coaches appreciate how consistently he arrives ready to work and how closely his effort during the week matches what his teammates see on game day. An 11th grader at Ohio Connections Academy, Trevor maintains a 4.0 GPA.

16U Girls (2010/11) – Katie McEnhill
Katie McEnhill led the 16U Girls in scoring during a breakout October, recording three goals and six assists for nine points in eight games. In her fourth season with OBJ, Katie has become a player her coaches trust across all 200 feet of the ice. Her work on the penalty kill was as valuable to the team as the offense she helped create.

Katie leads by example in the way she prepares for practices and games. Her teammates can count on her to be ready and to compete throughout each shift. A 10th grader with a 3.0 GPA, Katie plays both varsity and junior varsity golf for her high school. She also volunteers with organizations that assist people in need.

15O (2011) – Griffin Gates
Griffin Gates took another step offensively in October, highlighted by a game in which he factored in all four OBJ goals. In his sixth season with the program, Griffin has added that scoring touch to a game already known for its physical edge. He plays opponents hard defensively and has the toughness to make a difference at either end of the ice.

What stands out to his coaches is how consistently Griffin works at his game. He takes coaching well and gives teammates an example to follow through his effort in practices and games. A freshman at Dublin Jerome High School, Griffin is also an accomplished lacrosse player.

14U (2012) – Maxwell Lammers
Maxwell Lammers has made significant strides since the start of the season, recording seven goals and six assists for 13 points and a +8 rating in 12 October games. In addition to his playmaking, poise and offensive production, his coaches saw some of his biggest gains away from the puck. Maxwell competed harder and more consistently and has shown his versatility in playing all three forward positions.

Maxwell brings positive energy to the 14U team and has a gift for lifting up the players around him. His character and selflessness help drive the culture of the team. A freshman at Beavercreek High School, Maxwell is an honor roll student. He also volunteers at Williams syndrome conventions.

14U Girls (2012/13) – Natalie Myers
Now in her fourth season with OBJ, Natalie Myers gave the 14U Girls a steady presence on the blue line throughout October. She recorded three goals and two assists, scoring twice against Indiana and once against the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals. Natalie has a good sense of when to put the puck on net and when to keep a play alive in the offensive zone. Her teammates can also count on her to defend just as well in her own end.

Natalie brings a consistent effort to every shift and puts her teammates first. An eighth grader at Dublin Karrer Middle School, she has earned straight A’s throughout middle school. She is a well versed musician playing both clarinet and saxophone. Natalie has also played soccer for 10 years and currently competes for Elite FC.

13O (2013) – Vincent Machi
Vincent Machi was the 13O team’s most consistent player in October, totaling five goals and six assists for 11 points and a +5 rating in 10 games. Now in his fourth season with OBJ, Vincent uses his skating and puckhandling to create space and has the vision to find teammates and make plays.

Vincent’s teammates know his voice from his pregame lineup speeches and his example from the effort he gives every shift. His enthusiasm is one reason he is so well liked and respected in the room. An eighth grader at Tower Heights Middle School in Centerville, he is gifted in mathematics and is an accomplished student. He also volunteers as a student counselor, helping fellow students.

12U (2014) – Charlie Priefer
Charlie Priefer leads the 12U team with 19 assists and ranks third with 25 points. The third-year OBJ player reads the game well and contributes on both sides of the puck. His versatility helped the team put together a strong showing at the Chicago Reapers Invitational and reach the quarterfinals of the JRC Cup in Toronto.

Charlie’s coaches appreciate his body language and every day attitude and approach. He stays positive with himself and his teammates, then brings his full effort to the next shift. That approach is as evident on a practice day as it is on a tournament weekend. Charlie is a sixth-grade honor roll student at St. Charles School in Dayton and also plays basketball and baseball.

12U Girls (2014/15) – Ava Beach
Ava Beach tallied seven goals and eight assists in 16 games, with six of her assists coming on the primary pass. She finished October at +6 while double-shifting at center. In Rochester, Ava ranked second in the division with six points and helped OBJ reach the championship game, still battling for pucks in her sixth game of the weekend.

A quiet leader, Ava puts in extra time shooting, stickhandling and training. A seventh grader at Watkins Middle School, she maintained strong grades while traveling three weekends in October. Her consistency in the gym and the progress she has made there earned her an invitation to mentor younger hockey players at Hard Body Strength Training.

11U (2015) – Colby Lange
Colby Lange scored 12 goals in 12 games and led the 11U team with a +22 rating, helping OBJ post an 8–4 record in October. His scoring touch was on display in the Buffalo Sabres Invitational semifinal against Victory Honda, where he recorded a natural hat trick with two goals just five seconds apart. His speed also makes him effective on the backcheck, where he closes quickly on puck carriers and forces turnovers.

Colby brings a smile and a sense of humor to the rink. His coaches especially appreciate how he responds to a tough shift. He regroups quickly and gives his teammates the same effort and enthusiasm the next time he steps on the ice. A fifth grader at Abraham Depp Elementary School, Colby also plays lacrosse for Resolute and Project Midwest.

10U (2016) – Angelo Brunetto
Angelo Brunetto recorded eight goals and four assists in 12 games during October, his first season with OBJ. He earns his chances by winning puck battles and getting to the front of the net. His willingness to block shots has also made him a valuable penalty killer for the 10U team.

Angelo’s coaches appreciate how readily he takes on the hard jobs a shift demands. Whether he is battling for position around the crease or getting into a shooting lane on the penalty kill, his teammates can count on him to compete. A fourth grader at Cassingham Elementary School in Bexley, Angelo is a strong student and also plays competitive soccer.

Congratulations to our October Players of the Month!

The Ohio Blue Jackets program prides itself on being the premier youth hockey program in Ohio. With an every day mission to develop our student-athletes to reach their potential on and off of the ice, the program aims to provide a healthy and safe environment for the elite player to grow as a player, person and teammate through the great game of hockey.