Former Junior Bruin Graf Makes NHL Debut, Registers First NHL Point With Assist

by Joshua Boyd

April 8, 2024

Photos In This Post Courtesy Of San Jose Sharks By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com Former Boston Junior Bruins NCDC standout Collin Graf has already made his mark in the NHL. After making his pro and NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks on April 6, skating in 13:36 of ice time of a 3-2 overtime […]

Arizona Coyotes Sign Rockets Hockey Club, Quinnipiac Alum Sam Lipkin

by Joshua Boyd

April 4, 2024April 4, 2024

Sam Lipkin became the second former NCDC player and former Quinnipiac University player and National Champion to sign an NHL contract on April 4. Lipkin, who played with the Rockets Hockey Club in 2020-21, signed with the Arizona Coyotes, who had selected him in 2021 NHL Entry Draft. That year, Lipkin was on of three […]

San Jose Sharks Sign Former Junior Bruin, Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist Collin Graf

by Joshua Boyd

April 4, 2024April 4, 2024

The San Jose Sharks officially reported the signing of former Boston Junior Bruins standout Collin Graf to a standard, entry level contract on April 4. The contract will begin immediately for the 2023-24 season. “Graf has excelled at the collegiate level, finishing as a Hobey Baker Top-10 finalist for the last two seasons,” said Grier, […]

By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com

The National Collegiate Development Conference and United States Premier Hockey League are gearing up for their third and final Combine Series event of this season, as the 2024 USPHL NCDC Boston Combine kicks off Saturday morning and runs to Sunday afternoon. All the action will take place at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass.

The Combine will feature six full teams playing three games apiece during the event, in addition to a goaltender-specific session. Players and their families can also learn more about the NCDC and USPHL junior conferences during Informational Seminars, which will feature NCDC GMs and Coaches, as well as league personnel, all of whom are present to answer questions.

Dozens of NCDC and USPHL junior teams’ coaches are expected to be in attendance, and will be meeting with select players to discuss opportunities with their teams.

There are currently limited spots open for hopeful registrants (forward or defense only). Register NOW, as this opportunity will not last! Note: In the registration, it will show only forward spots available, but register and e-mail media@usphl.com if you are a defenseman.

For those players registered, Team Assignments will be sent out today, including Game Schedules. We wish all the players the very best of luck in paving their Path To College Hockey.

About the United States Premier Hockey League
Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is comprised of over 150 teams, fielding more than 20,000 players aged 9-21 in more than 100 organizations across the North, South, Midwest, West, and Canada.

Our Junior Divisions consist of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), a tuition-free, Tier 2 Junior hockey division, and our Premier & Elite Divisions, all geared toward college and pro placement. Our youth & midget divisions (operated through the Tier 1 Hockey Federation) field full season 9U through 18U teams.

The USPHL has sent over 8,000 players to all levels of college hockey including over 3,300 into NCAA college hockey and over 200 players into NCAA Division I hockey. The USPHL has also had 17 players who played in the NCDC drafted by NHL teams.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

The Potomac Patriots’ 2007-born defenseman Kirill Golubev, who was the USPHL Elite Conference’s only representative in the 2024 NCDC All-Star Young Guns Game, was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by the Pueblo Bulls in the 2024 NCDC Draft on May 13.

The Russian-born blueliner Golubev led all USPHL Elite defensemen in scoring this year with 56 points in 34 games. He was the Elite’s only representative at the NCDC Young Guns prospects game at Boston University on Jan. 15, and started the scoring in that highly-scouted event. During the season, he was also a +27 for the Patriots.

Golubev was the first of all the players who competed in the USPHL Premier or Elite in the 2023-24 season that were selected in Monday’s two-phase NCDC Draft. Others taken included:

Phase I

Justin Ouellet, ’07 F, San Diego Sabers (Premier) – 2nd round, 29th overall by Mercer Chiefs

Ouellet, out of Rivière-du-Loup, Que., had an amazing season of scoring 35 goals and 76 points in 41 games. That was the best offensive performance for a player born in 2007 (or 2006 for that matter) in the USPHL Premier this season.

Alec James, 07 F, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Elite) – 3rd round, 39th overall by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights NCDC

James, an Alburtis, Pa., resident, played most of the season with the Valley Forge Minutemen 16U AAA team, but also got into five games with the Knights Elite squad, registering two assists.

Logan Curry, ’07 D, Columbia Infantry (Premier) – 3rd round, 48th overall by Casper NCDC

The Savannah, Ga., native split the season almost evenly between the Islanders Hockey Club 16U AAA team in the THF and the Infantry’s USPHL Premier team, where he played 13 games and registered four assists.

Tristin McAuliffe, ’08 D, Charlotte Rush (Elite) – 6th round, 102nd overall by Casper NCDC

McAuliffe, a native of Raleigh, N.C., played the majority of the season with the Carolina Premier Hockey AAA team, but also saw three games with the Rush’s Elite squad during the regular season and two more games in the postseason.

Owen Stewart, ’07 D, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Elite) – 7th round, 116th overall by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights NCDC

Stewart, a native of Claresholm, Alb., was a regular with the Knights blue line corps all year, playing in 34 games, and adding six goals and seven assists for 13 points. He helped the Knights return to the USPHL Nationals, and played in five postseason games.

Matthew Barbacane, ’07 D, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Elite) – 8th round, 130th overall by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights NCDC

An ’07 from Garnet Valley, Pa., Barbacane was a teammate of Alec James on both the Valley Forge Minutemen AAA squad as well as the Knights’ Elite team. Barbacane played in 18 Elite games and registered six points. He was also with the Knights throughout their deep postseason run including Nationals, playing in five games scoring two points.

Charlie Wahren, ’07 F, Hudson Havoc (Premier) – 10th round, 164th overall by Twin City Thunder

Wahren, out of Toms River, N.J., played in 13 games for the Havoc this year, and registered three goals along the way. He also played in five THF games with the Rockets Hockey Club 16U AAA team.

Aydin Canbek, ’07 F, Palm Beach Typhoon (Elite – 14th round, 237th overall by Northern Cyclones

A local product who also played for the Spanish River-West Boca high school hockey team, Canbek played in all 44 regular season games for the Typhoon Elite team and registered nine assists.

Phase II

Felix-Antoine Pomerleau, ’06 D, Potomac Patriots (Premier) – 3rd round, 48th overall by Casper NCDC

Pomerleau played in a pair of games for the USPHL Premier Potomac Patriots, while spending most of this past season with the NCDC’s Pueblo Bulls. In 31 games for the Bulls, he put up six points.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

The United States Premier Hockey League is proud to announce the winners of the inaugural 2024 Fan’s Choice Awards voting. Rockets Hockey Club forward Jace Lombardo was named the USPHL Elite Fan’s Choice MVP, and Hampton Roads Whalers goaltender Jean Berthaudin was named the USPHL Elite Fan’s Choice Goaltender Of The Year.

The first phase of voting began on May 6, in which anyone could vote for any player. The league’s media team identified four top candidates and allowed write-ins. From this first round, the top two vote-getters in each category were pitted against each other one-on-one with no more write-in votes allowed.

We thank the more than 7,400 of you who voted in a very popular USPHL Elite contest! Each of the winners below earned more than 5,600 votes apiece!

MVP: Jace Lombardo, Rockets Hockey Club

Lombardo currently holds the single season points record with 113 after this year, after putting up 44 goals and a league single season record of 69 assists. Lombardo was a second-year Rocket along with teammate and fellow MVP candidate John Crowdell, and is ranked fifth all-time with 147 points. In voting terms, Lombardo took an amazing 82.2 percent of the vote!

Lombardo helped the Rockets reach the USPHL Nationals, and he was huge throughout the playoffs, scoring 4-4-8 in six total postseason games.

Goaltender Of The Year: Jean Berthaudin, Hampton Roads Whalers

Berthaudin set a single season and career record for shutouts in 2023-24, getting eight doughnuts during the year – he is tied on the career side with former Whaler Ty Morton. He went 14-7-1-1 for the Whalers, his .948 save percentage ranked second in the league, and his 1.74 GAA was good for sixth. Berthaudin racked up 75.4 percent of the vote!

Check later this week on USPHLElite.com for individual features on our Fan’s Choice Winners.

The National Collegiate Development Conference congratulates all of the players who were selected in the 2024 NCDC Draft on Monday, May 13. The Draft was held in two phases – the first in which teams selected players born in 2007 and 2008; and the second four-round phase in which teams selected players born between 2004 and 2006.

Follow This Link To Complete Phase I Results

Follow This Link To Complete Phase II Results

Relive The Dan K Show’s Live Coverage of Draft Day!

The Dan K Show NCDC Draft Live Coverage – Phase I

The Dan K Show NCDC Draft Live Coverage – Phase II

The National Collegiate Development Conference is pleased to announce that the 2024 NCDC Draft will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, and will be conducted in two phases. The NCDC Draft will be conducted live on the USPHL YouTube channel beginning at 1 p.m. EST on May 13.

The 18 NCDC teams set to compete next season will select to a maximum of 46 rostered players during the initial entry draft, which will be open to players with birth years 2007 and 2008. Following the conclusion of that phase, teams will take part in a four-round second phase, during which teams will draft 2004-through 2006-born players until capping to 50 protected players.

Teams will reduce their rosters to 46 players on Sept. 1, separated into a 26-player active roster plus an additional 20 players on each team’s 46-player protected list. This marks a reduction in the amount of protected players by NCDC teams by 25 percent.

About the United States Premier Hockey League

Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is comprised of over 150 teams, fielding more than 20,000 players aged 9-21 in more than 100 organizations across the North, South, Midwest, West, and Canada. Our Junior Divisions consist of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), a tuition-free, Tier 2 Junior hockey division, and our Premier & Elite Divisions, all geared toward college and pro placement.

Our youth & midget divisions (operated through the Tier 1 Hockey Federation) field full season 9U through 18U teams. The USPHL has sent over 8,000 players to all levels of college hockey including over 3,300 into NCAA college hockey and over 200 players into NCAA Division I hockey. The USPHL has also had 17 players who played in the NCDC drafted by NHL teams.

By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com

The National Collegiate Development Conference and United States Premier Hockey League are excited to announce that nine players who have played in the Tier II NCDC and two more who played in the Tier III USPHL Premier Conference have been selected in the United States Hockey League Draft.

Five of the players selected on Tuesday, May 7, played in the NCDC during the 2023-24 season, while four more are NCDC alumni. Two players selected have played in the USPHL Premier, including one this past season.

Waylon Esche, G, Utica Jr. Comets NCDC (2022-24)

Round 8, 122nd Overall, Fargo Force

The ‘05 Utica-born goaltender has not only been one of the busiest NCDC goalies of the last two seasons, but he’s also sixth all-time in NCDC games played at 67 in the regular season. He also ranks in the top 10 all-time in wins and saves. Esche has been a two-time NCDC All-Stars event selection, playing in the 2023 Young Guns Game and in the main 2024 All-Star Game. The son of former NHL goalie Robert Esche, Waylon has grown up in the Jr. Comets organization and played for their USPHL 16U and USPHL Premier teams before joining the NCDC in 2022.

Anthony Allain-Samake, D, Rockets Hockey Club NCDC (2023-24)

Round 10, 147th Overall, Sioux City Musketeers

Allain-Samake, a 2007-born recruit of the University of Connecticut (NCAA Division I / Hockey East) played in 47 regular season games and posted seven assists. Allain-Samake was also a selection for the 2024 NCDC All-Star Game along with Esche. He also registered 121 takeaways on the season.

Vlad Bryzgalov, G, Ogden Mustangs NCDC (2023-24)

Round 13, 192nd Overall, Sioux City Musketeers

The 2006-born native of Haddonfield, N.J., is – along with Esche – also the son of a former NHL goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov. Vlad made his NCDC debut this year with the Ogden Mustangs, who were themselves in their first NCDC season, and put up 14-5-0-0 record with a .933 save percentage, remaining with the Mustangs from their September debut through February.

Dallas Potter, F, Rockets Hockey Club NCDC (2023-24)

Round 15, 222nd Overall, Sioux City Musketeers

Potter, a 2007-born native of Madison, Conn., was originally selected by the Rockets in the 2023 NCDC Entry Draft. He played the majority of this season with the South Kent School 16U AAA team, but was brought up to the Rockets for four NCDC games in March, scoring in his March 8 debut against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers and also adding an assist with RHC.

Luke Gallo, F, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders NCDC (2023-24)

Round 19, 275th Overall, Des Moines Buccaneers

A 2006-born native of Melville, N.Y., Gallo started the season with the Jr. Islanders and played in eight games. In his time with P.A.L., he registered 14 defensive takeaways and fired seven shots on goal.

Jack Hamilton, D, Columbus Mavericks Premier (2023-24)

Round 13, 189th Overall, Tri-City Storm

Hamilton, a 2006-born defenseman from Powell, Ohio, started this past season with the Mavericks and played in eight games, scoring six goals and adding one assist for seven points. He was the only player from the 2023-24 USPHL Premier season to be selected.

Alumni

Tyler Dysart, F, Rockets Hockey Club (2021-22)

Round 8, 117th Overall, Sioux City Musketeers

Dysart, an ‘04 from Sunnyvale, Calif., played the entire 2021-22 season with the Rockets, putting up a 9-19-28 line in 49 games, and he also had two goals in five playoff games that year.

Luke Santilli, D, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs NCDC (2021-22)

Round 9, 133rd Overall, Youngstown Phantoms

Santilli (‘04/Reading, Mass.) played in the Islanders Hockey Club and former New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs Midget programs between 2018 and 2021 before joining the Monarchs NCDC team in 2021-22. The defenseman played in 44 games and registered one assist.

Kyle Rohrer, F, Rockets Hockey Club NCDC (2022-23)

Round 14, 203rd Overall, Sioux Falls Stampede

Rohrer came out of Team Wisconsin when he joined the Rockets in 2022-23, having been drafted in the first round, 10th overall, by the Rockets in the 2022 NCDC Entry Draft. He joined in November 2022 and played right through March 2023, getting additional call-ups to six USHL games with the Sioux City Musketeers during his time with RHC. With the Rockets, he scored 27 points in 28 NCDC games in the regular season, plus two points in two playoff games. He is bound for NCAA Division I Lindenwood University in 2025-26.

Zackary Ferris, G, Rockets Hockey Club (2022-23)

Round 15, 214th Overall, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Ferris (‘05/Venetia, Pa.) went 10-7-2-2 with the 2022-23 Rockets, coming out of the prestigious Long Island Gulls AAA program.

Landon Wright, F, Idaho Falls Spud Kings USPHL Premier (2022-23)

Round 16, 235th Overall, Waterloo Black Hawks

Wright, a University of Maine recruit, joined the Spud Kings – formerly of the USPHL Premier Conference – in November 2022 and spent the remainder of that 2022-23 season with Idaho Falls, scoring 24 points in 30 regular season games, and he also played in all four of the Spud Kings’ playoff games.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

The United States Premier Hockey League’s USPHL Elite Conference thanks everyone who took part in the first round of Fan’s Choice Award voting these past couple days.

We are excited to announce Final Voting, between just two players in each category.

One winner in each category will be announced during the live coverage of the 2024 NCDC Entry Draft on Monday, May 13, on the USPHL YouTube Channel!

You are voting for the Most Valuable Player and Goaltender Of The Year. Please see the final candidates below for each category. We again want to thank the more than 1,750 fans, players, parents and other USPHL supporters who voted for these following candidates and many more during the first round of voting. Below are the two top vote-getters in each category.

USPHL Elite MVP Candidates

Jace Lombardo, Rockets Hockey Club – Lombardo currently holds the single season points record with 113 after this year, after putting up 44 goals and a league single season record of 69 assists. Lombardo was a second-year Rocket along with teammate and fellow MVP candidate John Crowdell, and is ranked fifth all-time with 147 points.

Noah Malcolm, Northern Cyclones – Malcolm improved from 39 points last year to 69 points as a veteran Cyclones forward. He helped lead the Cyclones to the 2024 USPHL Elite National Championship, when he added 11 points in seven games. He was one of 12 second-year Elite Cyclones who lifted the trophy at the end of the year.

USPHL Elite Goaltender Of The Year Candidates

Jean Berthaudin, Hampton Roads Whalers – Berthaudin set a single season and career record for shutouts in 2023-24, getting eight doughnuts during the year – he is tied on the career side with former Whaler Ty Morton. He went 14-7-1-1 for the Whalers, his .948 save percentage ranked second in the league, and his 1.74 GAA was good for sixth.

Ryan Kalina, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes – Kalina is an ‘05 homegrown product from Raleigh, N.C., who made his USPHL debut this year and was huge for his team. He finished in a tie for the league’s lowest goals against average at 1.48 and finished sixth in save percentage at .934. He also finished with a 13-2-0-0 record and five shutouts for the season.

Final Ballot Below!
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By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com

The National Collegiate Development Conference and United States Premier Hockey League are gearing up for their second Combine Series event of this season, as the 2024 USPHL NCDC Chicago Combine kicks off Saturday morning and runs to Sunday afternoon. All the action will take place at the Fifth Third Arena in downtown Chicago, Ill.

Dozens of NCDC and USPHL junior teams’ coaches are expected to be in attendance, and will be meeting with select players to discuss opportunities with their teams.

There are currently two spots open for hopeful registrants (forward or defense only). Register NOW, as this opportunity will not last!

This event also comes immediately prior to the NCDC Entry Draft on May 13. The Draft will have a Phase I focusing on 2007-and 2008-born players, but will also feature a four-round Phase II where teams will have the opportunity to draft players born between the years 2004 and 2006. All of the NCDC Entry Draft will be broadcast live on the USPHL’s YouTube channel.

For those players registered, Team Assignments will be sent out today, including Game Schedules. We wish all the players the very best of luck in paving Their Path To College Hockey.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

The United States Premier Hockey League’s USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite Conferences are pleased to announce that the league is opening up Fans Choice Awards Voting for individual awards – Most Valuable Player and Goaltender Of The Year – for the 2023-24 season. Following the USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite All-Star awards announced from mid-April through early May, we now pass the selection of these new awards on to all those beyond the league and coaches: to the players, the parents, the fans and all other supporters.

For the USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite, any forward or defensemen who skated in at least 22 games or goaltender who played in at least 14 games during the 2023-24 season are eligible for these awards.

In conjunction with our media partners at The Dan K Show, the league has identified four prime candidates for each award, but the write-in option allows all those voting the freedom to voice their choice for each award!

We will again hold a vote of the top two vote-getters in each category later this week.

USPHL Premier MVP Candidates

Hunter Scanlon, D, Connecticut Jr. Rangers – All-time leading defenseman scorer for the USPHL Premier with 212 points. First USPHL Premier blueliner to cross 200 points in a career and 100 points in a regular season (108). Ranked seventh in all-time USPHL Premier career scoring. Captain for USPHL Premier National Champion Connecticut Jr. Rangers.

Noak Persson, F, Fresno Monsters – Became the USPHL Premier’s all-time leader in points for both a career and for a single season, with the latter marks being 85 goals and 62 assists for 147 points, an improvement by 54 points over his prior season totals. He not only has a league-leading career total of 126 goals and 240 points, but his regular season 3.75 points per game average – over just 64 career games – is also the best ever in the Premier.

Siamion Marshchanok, F, Potomac Patriots – His 112 points tied for fifth all-time in a single USPHL Premier season, and his 73 assists ranked fourth all-time. He won 558 faceoffs for a 63 percent success rate.

Jay Ellingson, F, Minnesota Squatch – Scored 101 points this year, becoming second member of his family to score 100 points in the Premier Conference (brother Daniel scored 103 points last year). Jay’s hat trick goal ended a triple-overtime playoff games against the Hudson Havoc, which won the series and sent the second-year Squatch to their first USPHL Nationals.

USPHL Premier Goaltender Of The Year Candidates

Levente Hegedus, Vernal Oilers – Hegedus, a Hungarian native, finished fifth in USPHL Premier save percentage at .935 and was eighth in wins, with a 16-4-0-0 record. He helped the Oilers make a second straight run to the USPHL Nationals in their two USPHL Premier seasons.

Bora Yildirim, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings – Yildirim led the USPHL Premier with his .950 save percentage, the best all-time for a single Riverkings goaltender season, and seventh all-time in the USPHL Premier. He also went 3-0 in the postseason to help the Riverkings to a Nationals berth for the first time since 2018.

Aiden Winslow, Bold City Battalion – Helped the first-year Bold City Battalion make it to the USPHL Nationals in their inaugural season. He tied for fourth in save percentage with a .935, and also tied for eighth in goaltender wins with a 16-10-0-0 record. His five shutouts this year were also tied for fourth.

Cameron Prodin, Northern Cyclones – Prodin (‘04/Dearborn, Mich.) was able to close his season by finishing in the top 10 in both goals against average at 2.07 and save percentage at .929. In his second season with the Cyclones, Prodin put up a 14-3-3-1 record during the regular season. Prodin was one of 11 members of the 2022-23 Cyclones championship team that returned in 2023-24.

Premier Voting Ballot
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USPHL Elite MVP Candidates

Kirill Golubev, Potomac Patriots – The 2007 Russian-born blueliner led all USPHL Elite defensemen in scoring this year with 56 points in 34 games. He was the Elite’s only representative at the NCDC Young Guns prospects game at Boston University on Jan. 15, and started the scoring in that highly-scouted event.

John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club – In February, Crowdell became the USPHL Elite’s All-Time scoring leader with 191 points over his 87 games in two years. His 86 career goals and 105 career assists are also both No. 1 all-time in those categories, and his 108 points this season was second to teammate and fellow MVP candidate Jace Lombardo for single season scoring in Elite history.

Noah Malcolm, Northern Cyclones – Malcolm improved from 39 points last year to 69 points as a veteran Cyclones forward. He helped lead the Cyclones to the 2024 USPHL Elite National Championship, when he added 11 points in seven games. He was one of 12 second-year Elite Cyclones who lifted the trophy at the end of the year.

USPHL Elite Goaltender Of The Year Candidates

Nick Cowles, Northern Cyclones – Cowles was an essential piece to the Cyclones’ championship puzzle. He registered a save percentage of .931 while going 13-1-0-0 in the regular season. In his three postseason appearances, he went 3-0 with a .961 save percentage and just a 0.74 save percentage.

Jean Berthaudin, Hampton Roads Whalers – Berthaudin set a single season and career record for shutouts in 2023-24, getting eight doughnuts during the year – he is tied on the career side with former Whaler Ty Morton. He went 14-7-1-1 for the Whalers, his .948 save percentage ranked second in the league, and his 1.74 GAA was good for sixth.

Ryan Kalina, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes – Kalina is an ‘05 homegrown product from Raleigh, N.C., who made his USPHL debut this year and was huge for his team. He finished in a tie for the league’s lowest goals against average at 1.48 and finished sixth in save percentage at .934. He also finished with a 13-2-0-0 record and five shutouts for the season.

Shane McKone, Springfield Pics – McKone came in fourth overall in save percentage this season, with a .939, which now stands as the Pics’ single best mark for a single season as well as for a career mark. In the playoffs, McKone gave up only three goals on 139 shots against the Islanders Hockey Club, giving him a .976 save percentage. That was the USPHL Elite’s second best save percentage not only in the postseason this year, but also in Elite playoff history.

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Summaries By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

Selection Process: Voting took part in two phases. In the first phase, the division’s coaches voted for three of their own players and three players from other teams in the division. Once these results were compiled, the division’s coaches voted on the final team.

Forwards

Peter Spiridonakos, Metro Jets

Spiridonakos (‘05/Laval, Que.) was one of a set of twins who put the Jets Elite team right on the map immediately, following the trend of their precedent Metro Jets and Metro Jets Development Program (MJDP) squads in the USPHL Premier. The Jets won the first-ever Midwest Elite regular season championship and earned one of their first two USPHL Nationals berths. Spiridonakos was a driving force of this success by scoring 31 goals, 52 assists and 83 points. He also saw nine games up with the MJDP and put up a 4-1-5 line. He put up five points in five playoff games.

John Spiridonakos, Metro Jets

John Spiridonakos (‘05/Laval, Que.) was the Jets’ goal-scoring leader, putting up 36 goals to rank fourth in the Elite Conference this year. He added 28 assists for 64 points in 39 games. Like his brother, he also played in five MJDP games and also played in one additional game for the Premier Jets team.

Mark Bonnay, Motor City Gamblers

Bonnay (‘05/Casco, Mich.) joined the Gamblers from Anchor Bay High School and was a big hit with his new junior team, scoring 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 41 games. The Premier Gamblers also brought Bonnay up for six additional games.

Lukas Kurowski, Chicago Cougars

Kurowski (‘05/Elk Grove Village, Ill.) came up with the Northwest Chargers Midget program for several seasons before being picked up by the first-year Cougars Elite team. He played in 36 games, with 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points. He was called up for the first Cougars Premier game on Jan. 31, and scored his first Premier goal right away. Kurowski also played in three more Premier games, as well.

Joe Richardson, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Richardson (‘03/Broomfield, Colo.) joined the Spacemen after an earlier Elite season with the former Richmond Generals in 2022-23. This second season, he provided the Spacemen with some great veteran experience, scoring 22 goals and 34 points in 27 games. He helped the Spacemen to a 22-16-3-3 record, registering three points in five games. Richardson also provided three assists in five games with the Premier Spacemen.

Trevor Touchton, Motor City Gamblers

Touchton (‘04/Utica, Mich.) is a local product who came to the Gamblers via the Metro Jets organization, after a strong career with the Utica-Ford Unified high school team. He scored 27 goals and 59 points in 41 games. Touchton got an eight-game call-up with two points.

Nick Allen, Motor City Gamblers

Allen joined his Utica-Ford Unified teammate Trevor Touchton in coming to the Gamblers Elite program and kicking up some junior offense right off the bat. He scored 19 goals and added an additional 22 assists for 41 points in 34 games. He had two points in two playoff games. He, too, had a call-up with the Premier Gamblers, earning an assist in three games.

Samuel Shaul, Motor City Gamblers

Shaul (‘04/Trenton, Mich.) is another in the long line of junior-experienced players that the first-year Gamblers brought on board, helping them to a 24-17-1-2 record in Year 1 of their Elite existence. The former Trenton High School defenseman scored 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 25 games.

Austin Kessel, Chicago Crush

Kessel (‘05/Crown Point, Ind.) is a first-year junior player who pushed the Crush to a 27-14-0-3 record and a Nationals berth in the end for the second-year Crush organization in their first year with the Elite squad. Kessel scored 20 goals and 15 assists for 35 points in 42 games. He had four points in six postseason games, including two points in three Nationals games.

Andrew Engstrom, Chicago Cougars

Engstrom (‘06/St. Charles, Ill.) came to the Cougars Elite squad out of the Orland Park Vikings program. He scored 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points in 38 games. Engstrom, Kurowski and fellow All-Star Jack Gardner were keys to the Cougars coming across the finish line with a winning record of 23-18-2-1 overall.

Defense

Jack Squire, Motor City Gamblers

The ‘06 native of Livonia, Mich., was especially impressive as a newcomer to junior hockey, bringing good size (6-feet-3-inches, 205 pounds) and an offensive edge to his game. He scored six goals and added 39 assists for 45 points, leading all Midwest Elite defenders in points. In addition to also registering two assists in two playoff games, he had a helper during a four-game USPHL Premier call-up.

Jack Gardner, Chicago Cougars

The ‘06 defender Gardner was a similarly energetic newcomer for the Cougars, putting up 31 points in 39 games as a junior rookie. He put in four additional points in three games as the Cougars pushed the Fort Wayne Spacemen in a three-game series. He is another who also brought size to his team’s young blue line, standing 6 feet and weighing 185 pounds.

Tyler Rentner, Chicago Crush

Renter (‘05/Skokie, Ill.) brought valuable junior experience from the Premier level as he helped guide the Elite Crush to the organization’s first USPHL Nationals berth. He put up an 8-20-28 line in 37 games, in addition an assist during a run of eight games at the USPHL Premier level for the Crush.

Goaltender

Johnny Augusta, Chicago Crush

Augusta (‘04/Medinah, Ill.) led the Elite Midwest Division in both goals against average, at 2.27, and save percentage, with a .924 mark. In 15 games played during the regular season, he went 9-3-0-1 in his full decisions, and he was aces in his relief spots. He held the high-powered offense of the Metro Jets to one goal in 40 minutes of action in November, and nearly shut down Fort Wayne, giving up just one goal in a period of relief duty in February.

Braedyn Sullivan, Motor City Gamblers

An impressive up-and-coming ‘07 goaltender, Sullivan – a native of Manchester, N.H. – joined Motor City out of the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning 16U team and registered a .921 save percentage and 8-3-0-0 record as a 16-year-old, along with a 2.80 goals against average. With four years remaining of junior eligibility, he has a long runway to move up in the junior world.