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

Week of Nov. 27, 2024

Games of Nov. 19-25, 2024

 

New England Division 

Forward: Sullivan Hauser, Islanders Hockey Club 

The Islanders swept their way through the 2024 IHC Showcase as hosts, and Hauser was a major driver of these efforts. The IHC is now on a seven-game winning streak, and Hauser (‘06/South Bend, Ind.), and he stands at 21 points in 18 games this season and 44 points in 51 games for his two-year IHC career. 

 

Defense: Brady Dunn, Islanders Hockey Club

Dunn (‘05/Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored a pair of goals and added three assists for five points during the IHC’s sweep of their hosted event. He put up nine points in seven November games, all of which the Islanders won, and overall, he has 13 points in 14 games in his first USPHL season. 

 

Goaltender: Olivier Caballero, Northern Cyclones

Caballero (‘06/Tustin, Calif.) helped the Cyclones in their 3-1-0-0 run at the IHC Showcase, including putting up a 22-save shutout win against the Montreal Black Vees team from the North American Prep Hockey League. He currently stands at 3-1-0-0 with a .926 save percentage since joining the Cyclones from the Anaheim Jr. Ducks organization. 

 

Midwest Division

Forward: Landon Graham, Metro Jets

Graham (‘05/Lake Orion, Mich.) was massive offensively for the Jets Elite squad as he put up a 4-3-7 line over five USPHL Detroit Showcase games, over which the Jets went 3-2-0-0. He put up a hat trick against the Hershey Cubs on Nov. 22. He has improved to 21 points in 22 games this year and 48 points in 61 career USPHL games, including three up with the Premier’s MJDP squad.  

 

Defense: Eli Kolasa, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Kolasa (‘07/Brownstown, Mich.) put up a 2-3-4 line for the Spacemen in five USPHL Detroit Showcase games, including a huge 2-2-4 performance against the Decatur Blaze at the event. With the big week for the Spacemen – who went 3-2-0-0 – Kolasa improved to 14 points in 22 games. 

 

Goaltender: Daniel Gurtner, Chicago Crush

Crush goalie Gurtner (‘06/Berwyn, Ill.) put up 55 saves on 57 shots in going 1-1 at the USPHL Detroit Showcase. This included a 24-save shutout on Nov. 21 to open the event against the Motor City Gamblers. Gurtner stands at 4-1-0-0 with a .955 save percentage and two shutouts. 

 

Atlantic Division

Forward: Alexander Halford, Hershey Cubs

Halford (‘07/Arlington, Texas) put up four goals and six points during his team’s four-game stand at the USPHL Detroit Showcase. He also had the Cubs’ only game-winner on Nov. 24 against Decatur. He currently holds eight points in 11 games for Hershey. 

 

Defense: Samvel Barsegyan, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

The WBS Knights went 3-1-0-0 at the Islanders Hockey Club Showcase, and the Russian 2008-born Barsegyan played a big part in all of their wins, registering a 2-2-4 line. He continues to impress with 16 points in 19 games in this, his first North American season. 

 

Goaltender: Jack Nahf, Hershey Cubs

A second-year USPHL veteran, Nahf (‘06/Lehigh Valley, Pa.) made his debut for the Cubs over the weekend at the USPHL Detroit Showcase. He stopped 55 of 59 shots in a 1-1 stand at the event, including a 25-save shutout of the Decatur Blaze. He took a .932 save percentage away from his first USPHL weekend of 2024-25. 

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