#USPHLPlayoffs – The Watch List: January 27, 2023

by Joshua Boyd

January 27, 2023January 27, 2023

We’ll be posting regular updates on what games each game day will have playoff clinching implications in the NCDC, USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite. A few notes before today’s update: No teams in the NCDC have clinched a playoff berth as of yet. But we’ll show NCDC games where a team can improve its standings […]

#USPHLPlayoffs – The Watch List: Jan. 22, 2023

by Joshua Boyd

January 22, 2023January 22, 2023

Quick Update to yesterday’s Watch List: At the Premier level, the Charlotte Rush, Springfield Pics, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings and Rock Springs Prospectors have clinched (Rock Springs by virtue of a head-to-head) edge over Bellingham. Today’s Scenarios: Premier Florida Eels can clinch with a regulation win over Tampa. They could also clinch if they pick up […]

#USPHL Playoffs – The Watch List: January 21, 2023

by Joshua Boyd

January 21, 2023January 21, 2023

#USPHLPlayoffs: The Watch List – Jan. 16, 2023

by Joshua Boyd

January 16, 2023

USPHL Premier, Elite Nationals To Be Held In Utica, NY, March 23-28, 2023

by Joshua Boyd

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022

By USPHL Staff The United States Premier Hockey League and the Utica Jr. Comets organization are proud to announce that the 2023 USPHL Premier and Elite National Championships will be held at the Nexus Center in Utica, N.Y. – the brand new home of the Jr. Comets’ USPHL teams – between March 23 and March […]

Selection Process: The league media office sends top statistical candidates to divisional coaches for review and coaches either approve or challenge the nominations.

Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

Forward: Yianni Tsatsoulis, Charlotte Rush

Tsatsoulis (‘04/San Clemente, Calif.) had a massive January when he registered five goals and added 11 assists for 16 points in six games, over which the Rush went 4-1-1-0. That 2.33 points per game average was among the best in all of the USPHL Elite. The second-year Rush veteran has again eclipsed the 40-point mark and now has 41 points in 22 games for the season. His +9 rating for January led all Rush forwards.

Forward: Spencer Barrow, Charlotte Rush

Barrow (‘04/Massapequa, N.Y.) was just behind Tsatsoulis in points per game, averaging 2.33 by putting up six goals and eight assists for 14 points. The Rush are rich in experience, with second-year players like Barrow continuing to produce at a high clip. Like Tsatsoulis, Barrow hit the 40-point mark for a second straight season and now has 88 points in 61 Elite games. Also, like Tsatsoulis, Barrow tied for the team lead among forwards in plus-minus with a +9.

Forward: Charles Norris, Charlotte Rush

Norris (‘06/Weddington, N.C.) continues to be a rising force among the younger set of Rush players, as he put up six goals and six assists for 12 points during the Rush’s six games of January, becoming the third forward on the team to register at least two points per game. The former Rush youth hockey player put up seven hits, so he certainly wasn’t shy either. In addition to putting up 38 points in 23 games, and he also had one assist in his 11 games of USPHL Premier play this year.

Defense: Kirill Golubev, Potomac Patriots

The ‘07 Russian had himself a huge month, with one goal in particular standing out. Golubev was selected to play in the NCDC’s Young Guns game and actually opened the scoring in that contest on the NCAA Division I ice of Boston University on Jan. 15. Around that big event, Golubev also put up two goals and added six assists for eight points in six games (1.33 points per game average). He was also +6 to lead the Patriots.

Defense: Ryan Bonfrancesco, Charlotte Rush

Bonfrancesco (‘05/Hellertown, Pa.) put up a goal and five assists for six points in six games, and he also was the highest ice time earner for the Rush, skating for an average of 22:00 per game. Bonfrancesco is a first-year Elite player out of the Valley Forge Minutemen AAA program who has racked up 17 points in 25 games. He’s also earned four games up with the USPHL Premier team.

Goaltender: Ryan Kalina, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Kalina (‘05/Raleigh, N.C.) is a product of the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes youth program similar to how Norris came out of the Rush youth program. He skated into the Jr. Canes net four times and four times skated out with a victory, going 4-0 with 111 saves on 117 shots for .949 save percentage. He has a goals against average of 1.49 GAA. For the season, he has a 12-1-0-0 record and a .932 save percentage as a junior rookie.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com

Beginning Feb. 8, the 2024 Northern Cyclones Showcase will kick off at Cyclones Arena in Hudson, N.H., marking the final UPHL Premier and Elite event on the unparalleled USPHL Showcase Series calendar for the 2023-24 season. The event runs from Thursday, Feb. 8, through Monday, Feb. 12.

Teams from the USPHL Premier and Elite’s New England and Atlantic Divisions will be joined by select teams from the Midwest East and Great Lakes Divisions on the Premier side; and the Midwest Elite and North American Prep Hockey League teams on the Elite schedule.

A total of 26 teams – 13 from the USPHL Premier and 13 from the USPHL Elite – will be competing at the Northern Cyclones Showcase.

The showcase will provide great drama as teams will be either pushing to clinch playoff berths or, for those who’ve already clinched, they will be solidifying playoff positioning for when the postseason kicks off in early March. For the most part, the games at the Northern Cyclones Showcase will be the last cross-divisional games until the start of the USPHL National Championships in Utica, N.Y., which will run March 21-26. A few key match-ups featuring recent Nationals competitors will take place at the Cyclones Showcase. College scouts and hockey fans won’t want to miss games such as the Metro Jets vs. Northern Cyclones or the Metro Jets Development Program (MJDP) vs. Islanders Hockey Club on the Premier side, or the Northern Cyclones vs. Rockets Hockey Club on the Elite side.

Full USPHL Premier Northern Cyclones Showcase Schedule

Full USPHL Elite Northern Cyclones Showcase Schedule

The Northern Cyclones Showcase will feature hospitality for visiting college scouts, and there is no fee for college scouts to attend the event. For those who cannot attend to see our fantastic student-athletes in person, we hope you will watch on FloHockey.tv, where all of the games will be broadcast throughout the event. We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 Northern Cyclones Showcase.

By USPHL Staff

In The Playoff Push, we will take a look at the busiest game days’ most integral games in regards to teams clinching playoffs or clinching specific playoff berths, as we head down the stretch toward the end of the regular season in early March.

USPHL Premier

Tampa Bay and Motor City both clinched in their respective divisions yesterday. With Tampa clinching, all four Florida Division berths have been claimed.

The Dells Ducks, Isanti Outlaws and Minnesota Mullets are still grappling for the last two berths in the Midwest West. All are idle today.

The Rogue Valley Royals are on the verge of eliminating Bellingham next weekend with a magic number of 2 (any combination of two points for Rogue Valley or two points lost by Bellingham). They are idle until Feb. 9, but could still clinch with a Seattle win over Bellingham in regulation next weekend.

USPHL Elite

The Rockets Hockey Club and WBS Knights have both clinched a berth in the Atlantic Division. It’s a three-team scramble among the Connecticut Jr. Rangers, Jersey Hitmen and Elmira Impact for the fourth and final slot. The Hitmen are in the fourth place position currently. All 3 are idle today.

Similarly in Florida, the Florida Jr. Blades, Palm Beach Typhoon and Bold City Battalion are vying for the fourth and final spot. The Blades are leading at the third quarter pole but the race is still tight. They host Atlanta today while Palm Beach visits the Eels. Neither game will decide anything today.

In the other divisions, all teams have either clinched or been eliminated. Now it’s a question of who gets home ice in March and against which opponent – and none of that will be answered today.

By USPHL Staff

USPHL Premier

Tampa Bay holds the head-to-head over the Florida Jr. Blades. They need to pick up a point today against Bold City or see the Blades lose to Atlanta to clinch the final spot in the Florida Division.

Steele County clinched a playoff spot Friday. This leaves the Dells Ducks, Isanti Outlaws and Minnesota Mullets grappling for the last two berths. It will be a while before we know the outcome.

The Hudson Havoc have secured home ice in the first round of the Midwest West Division playoffs, and the Connecticut Jr. Rangers have clinched home ice in the Atlantic Division.

The Fresno Monsters and Ontario Jr. Reign both clinched playoff berths in the Pacific yesterday.

In the Midwest East, the idle Gamblers can clinch today with a Fort Wayne victory over Decatur.

USPHL Elite

If the WBS Knights pick up a point vs. Elmira or if the Connecticut Jr. Rangers lose to the Northern Cyclones, the WBS Knights will clinch a berth.

Ditto for the Rockets: if they win at home today over P.A.L. or if Connecticut loses to the Cyclones in regulation, the Rockets will clinch a playoff berth.

Week of Jan. 26, 2024

Games of Jan. 18-24, 2024

Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com

Forward: Trevor Touchton, Motor City Gamblers

Touchton (‘04/Utica, Mich.) exploded for six goals and eight assists for 14 points in a busy stretch of four games in one week. On Jan. 21, he put up a 2-4-6 line for his best single game performance of the season. Including his Jan. 26 output, he’s currently on a six-game, eight-goal goal-scoring streak. For the season, he has 50 points in 31 games.

Defense: Jack Squire, Motor City Gamblers

Squire (‘06/Livonia, Mich.) registered a goal and tacked on seven more assists for eight points in three games, as he was up with the Premier Gamblers for their Jan. 20 game against Decatur. Squire has been a defensive and offensive dynamo since Day 1 for the first-year Gamblers Elite squad, posting 35 points in 30 games this season.

Goaltender: Ilan Walny, Chicago Crush

Walny (‘06/Bayside, Wis.) was outstanding as he turned away 29 of 30 shots against the Fort Wayne Spacemen, helping his team push up the Midwest Elite standings to a current second place position. Walny is on a three-game winning streak and only lost his first game this season in regulation, going 6-1-0-1 for the season so far with a .925 save percentage.

Week of Jan. 26, 2024

Games of Jan. 18-24, 2024

Summaries By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

Atlantic Division

Forward: Tyler Hamlin, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

It’s not often you’ll see a player score a four-goal game in an eventual loss, but that’s what Hamlin (‘05/Binghamton, N.Y.) did when he put up four against the Atlantic Division-leading P.A.L. Jr. Islanders on Jan. 20, a 10-7 Jr. Isles win. The next day, it was a much closer game but a victory for the WBS Knights, 3-2 in overtime. Hamlin scored the OT game-winner and also had an assist, giving Hamlin a 5-1-6 line for the two-game series.

Defense: Aedan Proof, Jersey Hitmen

Proof (‘04/Riverside, Calif.) joined the Hitmen this year from the prestigious Anaheim Jr. Ducks organization and has been a great addition to the Hitmen blue line. He recently helped the team earn their fifth straight victory, including four straight against Elmira over two weekends and stretching back to the USPHL Tampa Showcase that kicked off the 2024 portion of the schedule. He registered the game-winning goal in the Hitmen’s 2-1 victory against the Impact on Jan. 20. The five wins have helped the Hitmen to pull to within four points of second place in the Atlantic Division.

Goaltender: Jonathan Hager, Jersey Hitmen

On Jan. 20, Hager stopped 33 of 34 in the aforementioned close 2-1 win for the Hitmen against the Impact. The ‘05 from Rochelle Park, N.J., is a product of nearby Paramus Catholic High School and he’s played in 20 Elite games this year for the Hitmen, and he’s improved to 9-8-0-1 after winning four out of his last five games.

New England Division

Forward: Bogdan Guntypov, Islanders Hockey Club

Guntypov (‘06/Astana, Kazakhstan) was nearly a one-man show when the Islanders defeated the New England Division-leading Northern Cyclones on Jan. 24. He scored a natural hat trick, and the third goal stood up as the overtime game-winner. He also had an assist in that game and also registered an assist on the only goal in a 4-1 defeat on Jan. 21. For the season, he has 42 points in 32 games.

Defense: James Delaney, Springfield Pics

Delaney (‘05/Palmer, Mass.) is a five-year Pics and USPHL veteran who put up a 1-2-3 line recently in a split weekend featuring a loss to the Northern Cyclones and a win against the Boston Junior Bruins. His third goal of the season, against the Junior Bruins, was the game-winning goal and helped him set a new career high for single season points with 17 this year in 16 Elite games. He’s also played in five Premier games this year.

Goaltender: Mateo Lachance, Springfield Pics

Lachance (‘06/Haddam Neck, Conn.) earned his second victory of the season with flying colors, stopping 37 of 39 Junior Bruins shots. He stands with a .917 save percentage for the season thus far. Lachance had played the prior two seasons with the Pics’ 15U and 16U teams.

By USPHL Staff

USPHL Premier

Tampa Bay’s magic number against the Florida Jr. Blades is 3, meaning any combination of Tampa Bay points earned and Jr. Blades points lost equaling 3, and that 3 would clinch a playoff berth for Tampa. The Jr. Blades host Atlanta for three starting tomorrow, and Bold City plays two vs. Tampa starting today. Should Tampa falter, they will still clinch if Atlanta wins two out of three.

Steele County plays the Minnesota Squatch today and the Dells Ducks host the Nashville Spartans. A Steele County win or a Ducks loss clinches a spot for the Blades.

A Lake Tahoe loss to Fresno today would clinch playoff berths for both Fresno and Ontario. An Ontario win over Bakersfield will clinch it for the Jr. Reign without help from the Monsters.

USPHL Elite

The Atlantic is where things could happen this weekend. The WBS Knights and the Rockets Hockey Club are tied for second with 39 points. Their magic numbers are 4 vs. Connecticut and 2 vs. Elmira.

A WBS win over Elmira today would mean Elmira can’t catch them. WBS gets a second chance vs. Elmira tomorrow. Meanwhile, tomorrow, the Rockets start a two-game set vs. P.A.L. and Connecticut plays the Northern Cyclones tomorrow and the Springfield Pics on Sunday.

Week of Jan. 26, 2024

Games of Jan. 18-24, 2024

Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

Florida Division

Forward: Colby Sims, Atlanta MadHatters

Sims (‘04/Rocky Mountain House, Alb.) helped the Elite MadHatters match their Premier brethren with a three-game sweep of Palm Beach, leading the way offensively with two goals and three assists for five points, including a game-winning goal in the middle chapter of the story. He currently has 33 points in 31 games this year and, with the fifth of those five points, he just became the MadHatter Elite team’s all-time leading scorer with 77 points in 66 career games.

Defense: Lucas Gonzalez, Tampa Bay Juniors

Gonzalez (‘05/Superior, Colo.) has been on a tear lately on the offensive side, with a line of 2-6-8 in his last five games back to Jan. 4 at the USPHL Tampa Showcase. Defensively, he also helped his team to split with the Eels and help keep the Juniors in first place in a tight Florida Division race. Against the Eels, Gonzalez’ 21:52 of average ice time per game was good for second on the team. On the season, Gonzalez has 26 points in 33 games.

Goaltender: Terry See, Atlanta MadHatters

See (‘05/Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) put up his first junior career shutout, stopping all 29 saves against Palm Beach on Jan. 21, the second shutout for the MadHatters last weekend as veteran Jackson Bernier also had a 29-save shutout on Jan. 19. See has won his last three starts going back to Dec. 2, and is currently 3-1-0-1 for the season with a .934 save percentage.

Southeast Division

Forward: Dominykas Jurjevas, Potomac Patriots

Jurjevas (‘04/Elektrenai, Lithuania) came out of the Patriots’ sweep of the Charlotte Rush with three goals and two assists for five points in the two-game series. In doing so, Jurjevas also improved upon his already impressive 43 points of 2022-23 by posting his 44th this season. His +3 in the series against Charlotte also tied for the team lead, as did his 11 shots on goal.

Defense: Kirill Golubev, Potomac Patriots

Golubev (‘07/Kostroma, Russia) was also on fire for the Patriots during their weekend wins against Charlotte, which helped Potomac remain second not only in the Southeast Division but in the USPHL Elite overall. Golubev scored the game-winning goal in each of the two games (his first two in the USPHL) and added two assists. He did this all while playing 26:17 per game, 2:30 more than the closest teammate, and his +3 in the series also tied for the team lead. Golubev improved to 47 points in 27 games.

Goaltender: Connor Wilkerson, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Wilkerson (‘04/Richmond, Va.) earned his second victory for the Jr. Hurricanes after starting his third USPHL season in Richmond. He stopped 24 of 25 shots against the Columbia Infantry, giving him a 2-0 record with the Jr. Canes. He’s stopped 46 of 48 for Carolina since joining them prior to the start of 2024. For his Elite career, he is 6-2-0-0 with a .926 save percentage.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com

The United States Premier Hockey League and the Hershey Cubs organization are excited to announce that the Cubs will be starting a USPHL Elite team to work in conjunction with their current USPHL Premier team, which began play during the 2021-22 season.

The Cubs are partly owned by Bruce Boudreau and Crystal Boudreau, and they are excited to bring in a developmental junior team for younger and first-year junior players to act as an introduction to junior hockey while focusing on skill and personal development, with an eye on player advancement to higher junior levels as well as college hockey. Bruce Boudreau has been a professional level hockey coach since 1992, working at leagues including the ECHL, AHL and the NHL (starting 2007-08). Boudreau has coached the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks.

“We are excited to expand the Hershey Cubs program. We look forward to being able to develop young talent, promote them to the USPHL Premier level, and then on to NCDC or college hockey,” said Bruce and Crystal Boudreau. “We have been wanting to have an Elite team since the beginning. However, we believe in starting slow and growing to keep the quality of our program at the highest level. After three years, and improving each year, the Hershey Cubs are ready for the next step: adding an Elite team. Our ownership group is amazing and we could not do this without their support. Let’s go Cubs!”

“The USPHL is lucky to have dedicated owners such as Bruce and Crystal Boudreau and their fellow Cubs owners, all of whom continue to work hard for their players and will now open up their offerings to younger players in Pennsylvania and beyond. These players will benefit from the hockey knowledge and coaching/management experience of Bruce and Crystal Boudreau have accrued over decades of dedicating their lives to the sport,” said USPHL Commissioner Bob Turow.

The Hershey Cubs started in the USPHL Premier three seasons ago and have advanced more than 20 players to college hockey, as well as one player to pro hockey (Lincoln Gingerich, FPHL) and another to the NCDC (Mason Moore, Connecticut Jr. Rangers). As Crystal Boudreau pointed out, the Cubs have improved every season, from 11 wins in 2022-23 to 14 last year and up to 22 this season with still more than a month of games to go in the regular season. The Cubs have proven they can build a strong program from the ground up.

Since its 2013-14 inaugural season, the USPHL – including all its tiers and conferences – has sent more than 8,000 players to college hockey of various levels, and more than 250 players to pro hockey leagues around the world. Several current NHL players cut their teeth in the USPHL, including Tage Thompson (P.A.L. Jr. Islanders), Jordan Harris (Islanders Hockey Club), John Marino and Ryan Donato (South Shore Kings) and Joey Daccord (Boston Junior Bruins).

Week of Jan. 19, 2024

Games of Jan. 10-17, 2024

Forward: Lukas Kurowski, Chicago Cougars

Kurowski (‘05/Elk Grove Village, Ill.) put up a pair of goals and assists for a four-point outing against Decatur, his second such game in a row and he currently has 15 points over each of his last five games. He leads the Cougars with 26 points in 24 games.

Defense: Nolan Machala, Chicago Cougars

Machala (‘04/Tinley Park, Ill.) registered a pair of assists during the Cougars’ Jan. 17 victory against the Blaze. The junior rookie has been a big part of the Cougars’ overall game this year as he puts up 12 points in 26 contests.

Goaltender: Johnny Augusta, Chicago Crush

Augusta (‘04/Medinah, Ill.) was good for 27 saves on 29 shots on Jan. 13 against Decatur, which was his third straight victory. He currently stands with a 6-2-0-1 record and a .911 save percentage for the season.