NCDC 2024-25 Awards: Mercer’s Stevens Named Atlantic Division Defenseman Of The Year
By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
The National Collegiate Development Conference congratulates Jake Stevens of the Mercer Chiefs for being named the 2024-25 Atlantic Division Defenseman Of The Year.
“It is such an honor and privilege to receive this award and to think I am now a part of the incredible players to win this award before me is amazing,” said Stevens, a 2005-born native of Newton, N.J. “I have so much respect for all of the coaches in the league and in the Atlantic Division, and I want to thank all of them for this prestigious award.”
Stevens was originally drafted by the Chiefs in 2022 coming off a season with the New Jersey Colonials and Pope John XXIII High School. The Chiefs and Stevens remained patient as he continued to develop, joining the Canterbury School program for two seasons. He also got into his first NCDC game with the Chiefs in 2023-24. All of the patience between player and organization paid off, as Stevens had a magnificent first full junior season in 2024-25. In 48 games, Stevens scored six goals and added 49 assists for 55 points. The 49 assists led the entire NCDC in that category and the 55 points led all NCDC defensemen.
“Coming to the Mercer Chiefs was such a great decision and easy transition. Coach Rob Broderick is one of the best coaches in the game of hockey, and I knew coming into Mercer, his hockey teams are built with talent, determination, and the right mindset,” said Stevens. “I knew I would be able to bring to the team my speed, skill, and IQ as well as the ability to add offense as a defenseman. My goal every shift is to always shut down the other team defensively and then help make a difference offensively with my IQ, speed and skills as well as to help set up players to score goals and win games.
“Once I stepped on the ice at Mercer, I immediately felt a connection with all the great teammates and players and knew right away we have a great foundation to build a great season on,” he added. “As a team, we all complemented each other and played for Mercer, not the name on the back. I cannot thank my teammates and my coaches enough for my success.”
The Chiefs ultimately won the Atlantic Division Championship in the playoffs, defeating the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders – the regular season division champions – in a fifth and deciding game just three days before the Dineen Cup Championships. The Chiefs’ playoff division title sent them to the championships, where they finished just one game short of playing in the Dineen Cup final. Together, all the players made each other better, as did the coaches.
“The Mercer Chiefs coaches and teammates helped develop my game each and every week. As a team, our mindset was continuous improvement on and off the ice with a goal to make the playoffs. We all worked so hard and prepared each week, which pushed all of us to get better together,” Stevens said. “The Mercer environment, along with the competitive NCDC games, pushed my game to the upper limits and into a top defenseman in the league.”
It also helped him become an NCAA-committed player, as Stevens will be advancing to Middlebury College in the highly prestigious New England Small College Athletic Conference.
“I am grateful to have spent the last season playing for such a great hockey team and being surrounded by top coaches and players everyday,” Stevens said. “I feel this past season helped prepare my game for the next level at Middlebury College. I am so excited to transition from NCDC to NCAA and am looking forward to my future as a Panther.”
Stevens feels grateful to have been part of this wild ride that was the Chiefs’ 2024-25, and hopes that future NCDC players can have the same experience he had.
“I feel the NCDC is the perfect league for player development and exposure to NCAA hockey. I feel the junior coaches in this league are the best in the country,” Stevens added. “Every game is extremely competitive, the league format and team locations are great, and the players are so talented. NCDC also has a proven track record for producing great NCAA hockey players.”