2023-2024 University Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Month Program
Recognizing the outstanding achievements of our University of Southern Maine student-athletes is something we are proud to do. Since January of 2022, Huskies' Athletics and University Credit Union have partnered up to highlight the varied and vital contributions USM student-athletes make in competition, in the classroom and in the community. Whether its big-time performances for their team, or big steps in their academic and career goals, or our student-athletes commitment to Community Service, the University of Southern Maine & University Credit Union are ready to celebrate our Student-Athletes of the Month.
Chosen by members of the Athletic Department administration, recipients of this honor successfully embody the Five Pillars of USM Athletics: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
December 2023's UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors a pair of student-athletes who have lit up the USM Ice Arena in the opening weeks of the 2023-2024 Huskies' hockey seasons. Huskies' Athletics looks forward to continuing this recognition program throughout the year and its valuable partnership with University Credit Union.
Nolan McElhaney | Senior | Sport Management | Natick, Mass. | Men's Ice Hockey
A defenseman for the Huskies' men's ice hockey team, McElhaney currently leads the Huskies with eight goals and five assists for 13 points. Off to a solid 5-6-1 start to the 2023-2024 season, the Huskies are 5-2 at home, and have faced four nationally-ranked opponents in their 12 games so far this season.
Helping the Huskies to a 2-2 record in December, McElhaney has tallied four goals and three assists during that stretch, including his first career hat trick in a 7-4 New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) win over Vermont State Castleton University. In the Huskies' 6-2 win over Suffolk, McElhaney had a pair of assists and three blocked shots. McElhaney also recorded the Huskies lone' goal in a loss to No. 13 Skidmore and had an assist against Anna Maria to record at least one point in each of the Huskies' four December games.
McElhaney is a Sport Management major.
Haley McKim | Senior | Health Sciences | Moncton, New Brunswick | Women's Ice Hockey
The two-time New England Hockey Conference Goaltender of the Year, and two-time first team all-NEHC selection, McKim has continued to play big for the Huskies this season. Already selected as the New England Hockey Conference Goaltender of the Week twice during the 2023-24 season, McKim is presently third in NCAA Division III women's ice hockey in saves.
The program record holder in saves in a season (766), and saves in a game (62), McKim currently holds the career record for highest save percentage (.936). Setting the single-season record for shutouts in a season (6) during the 2021-22 season, McKim is presently two off of the record 15 held by AHCA All-American Karen Jamnik (2000-2004). McKim picked up her fourth shutout of the 2023-24 season in a 2-0 win over Plymouth State, making 24 saves.
A College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection in 2023, McKim is a two-time NEHC All-Academic Team selection, and a 2022-23 American Hockey Coaches Association Scholar All-America. She is studying Health Sciences.
WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH?
Throughout each academic year as Huskies' Athletics moves from fall to winter to the spring competition, Southern Maine student-athletes are consistently recognized at the state, conference, regional and national level for their outstanding and noteworthy performances on the field of competition.
Academically, Huskies are also known for their superior performances earning All-Academic team honors from a variety of awards bureaus as well as the University. During the 2021-22 academic year, USM student-athletes combined for a department grade point average of 3.2. Each year, Husky student-athletes receive recognition for their athletic, academic and community service activities. Last spring, USM's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was named the University's Student Group of the Year for the fourth time in six years. And later this fall, Southern Maine Athletics is looking forward to honoring its hundreds of William B. Wise Scholar Athletes.
Proudly supporting and emphasizing the Division III student-athlete model, Huskies' Athletics focuses its goals on five key areas for each of its nearly 450 student-athletes: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
Many of USM student-athletes play big roles not only on their teams, but also in life - as student employees, mentors, student organization leaders, civic rights activists, residence life assistants, and more. With that in mind, Director of Athletics Al Bean and University Credit Union are coming together to create a new way to honor and amplify the remarkable contributions of our student-athletes that go far beyond the stat sheet with the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month recognition.
"As a department, Huskies Athletics believes in the development of the overall student-athlete. As soon as they become a Husky, we are investing in their future. The goal for a USM student-athlete is for each and every one to realize their full potential academically, athletically, personally, professional and civically. Our student-athletes are leaders on and off of the field and in the community. With the creation of the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month honor, we are seeking to establish a tangible way to congratulate and encourage the work of student-athletes both inside and outside of the competitive arena."
The UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month (one male, one female) will be chosen based upon Huskies' Five Key Pillars: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community. Members of the Huskies' Athletic Administration will nominate and choose those student-athletes to be recognized.
"We're excited for this new initiative and for the increased opportunities to recognize our tremendous student-athletes," said Bean. "UCU's partnership further demonstrates their commitment to the overall growth and development of our programs."
