USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: New England, Atlantic and Midwest Divisions

Week of Nov. 14, 2024

Games of Nov. 5-11,  2024

 

Atlantic Division

Forward: Artur Ovsepyan, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Ovsepyan (‘08/Moskva, Russia) was all over the scoresheet for the Knights this weekend, scoring five goals and adding one assist for six points. Those five goals are almost a blip on the radar of a nine-game, 13-goal scoring streak, and that has also been part of a nine-game, 25-point scoring streak, both of which are No. 1 in the USPHL Elite. 

 

Defense: Nicolas Brunelle, Hershey Cubs 

Brunelle (‘07/Drummondville, Que.) is a recent addition to the Cubs’ lineup, and he has been very instrumental in helping them to a win and two very close additional games the past week. In his three games, he scored two goals and added an assist. This brought his season total to five points in five games. 

 

Goaltender: Egor Chernyshov, Hershey Cubs

Chernyshov (‘07/Moskva, Russia) was massive over two starts in net for the Cubs, stopping 110 of 117 shots. This included a performance of 50 saves on 54 shots against Elmira. He also stopped 40 on Nov. 10 in a close loss, and stopped all 20 shots he faced in a Nov. 9 relief appearance.

 

New England

Forward: Chase Darcey, South Shore Kings 

Darcey (‘06/Billerica, Mass.) was a huge factor in helping the Kings get their first victory, as he put up three goals to complete a hat trick against the Springfield Pics. Outside of the scope of this week, Darcey also scored the game-winner against the defending National Champion Northern Cyclones. He currently has 13 points in 14 games this season. 

 

Defense: Brady Dunn, Islanders Hockey Club 

Dunn (‘05/Pittsburgh, Pa.) registered a pair of goals in the Islanders’ only game of the weekend, a 4-3 victory against Springfield. Dunn, who has seen time with both the Elite and Premier Islanders this season, currently has six points in his nine games. 

 

Goaltender: Andrew Libby, Boston Jr. Bulldogs 

Libby (‘05/Essex Junction, Vt.) has been a big winner all season for the Jr. Bulldogs, standing with a 4-1-0-0 record. Against the Northern Cyclones on Nov. 10, Libby stopped 47 of the 49 shots he faced for that fourth win. Libby has seen time in the Premier as well, playing two games with the Worcester Railers JHC. 

 

Midwest Division

Forward: Robert Gross, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Gross (‘05/Fort Wayne, Ind.) scored four goals – and at least one in each of the Spacemen’s three USPHL Fort Wayne Showcase games – and added one assist. Gross currently has 10 points in his first six games with Fort Wayne after starting with the Islanders Hockey Club earlier this year. He has 32 points in 53 games.  

 

Defense: Connor Edwards, Chicago Crush

Edwards (‘07/Loves Park, Ill.) had two assists in each of two out of the three USPHL Fort Wayne Showcase games, giving him four points for the event. Overall for the season, he has seven points in 11 games. Edwards joined the Crush this year from the Madison Capitols AAA squad. 

 

Goaltender: Johnny Augusta, Chicago Crush

Augusta (‘04/Medinah, Ill.) registered 59 saves on 61 shots in registering two wins for the Crush at the USPHL Fort Wayne Showcase. He improved to 3-2-0-0 on the season with a .947 save percentage this year, and 12-5-0-1 for his career, with a .930 save percentage. 

Selection Process: Divisional statistical leaders are presented to coaches, who are able to vote on the leaders, or nominate and vote on alternate candidates.

Summaries by Joshua Boyd