Best Players of December: Karlsson, Mozik, Shipachyov and Vesalainen

The Kontinental Hockey League’s commission has determined the best player of the fourth month of the Regular Season – December – in four categories.

- best goalie was Henrik Karlsson (Barys), who won six games of nine, including two shutouts. The Kazakhstani club’s netminder had a saves percentage of 94.90% (best result in the month) with a goals-against average of 1.25. Karlsson’s shutout streak is now at 176 minutes and 52 seconds – the sixth best result of the season so far.

- best defenseman was Vojtech Mozik (Vityaz), who won six games of nine with his team, amassing 8 (1+7) points, including the game-winning goal in the match against Neftekhimik. Mozik posted no negative ratings for the whole month, earning a plus-4 for December; recorded eight hits, and blocking seven shots from the opposition.

- best forward was Vadim Shipachyov (HC Dynamo), who won nine of twelve games with his team, scoring 18 (5+13) points (best result in the League), with a plus-7 rating. The White-and-Blues forward had points in ten of twelve games, with 26 shots on goal and 15 hits.

- best rookie was forward Kristian Vesalainen (Jokerit), who scored 9 (3+6) points in 12 December matches, including the game-winning goal against CSKA Moscow. The 19-year-old forward had 17 shots on goal and an average time on ice of 15 minutes and 48 seconds.