Week of Feb. 14, 2025
Games of Feb. 4-10, 2025
Midwest Division
Forward: Keith Watkins, Chicago Crush
Watkins (‘06/Antioch, Ill.) registered a goal and added three assists for four points in two games against the Decatur Blaze. Watkins has 23 points in 25 games with the Elite. He’s also played in 16 games with the Crush’s Premier team, putting up six points at that level – USPHL Advancement In Action.
Defense: Carter Murphy, Decatur Blaze
Murphy (‘07/Kamloops, B.C.) scored his first goal of the season and that was the first goal in an eventual 3-2 loss the division-leading Crush. He also put up two assists during the two-game series. He now has a 1-5-6 line in 17 games.
Goaltender: Charles Landers, Decatur Blaze
Landers (‘06/Andover, Kansas) put up a heroic effort in stopping 52 of 55 Chicago Crush shots despite a close 3-2 defeat.
New England Division
Forward: Nicholas Posthumus, Islanders Hockey Club
Posthumus (‘05/Vancouver, Wash.) played in just one game between Feb. 4-10, but it was a huge showing with two goals and three assists for five points on Feb. 7 against South Shore. Posthumus improved to 55 points in 42 games.
Defense: Gavin O’Keefe, Islanders Hockey Club
O’Keefe (‘05/Reading, Mass.) put up a 1-3-4 line in the Feb. 7 game against the Kings, pushing him up to 37 points in 41 games.
Goaltender: Osvaldo Agostini, Northern Cyclones
Agostini (‘06/Pierrefonds, Que.) stopped all 31 shots that he faced against the Springfield Pics. That was his second straight shutout after also turning away 27 of 27 against the Montreal Black Vees at the Cyclones Showcase. He is 7-3-0-0 with a .923 save percentage.
Atlantic Division
Forward: Matvei Orlov, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Orlov (‘08/Moskva, Russia) joined the Knights this year from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s 16U squad in January. Orlov has since posted a 5-5-10 line in just five games with the Elite team, including the GWG and three assists in two games against Elmira.
Defense: Ilya Buranov, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Buranov (‘08/Yekaterinburg, Russia) put up four goals and also added an additional shootout goal. He also had one more point from an assist. Buranov now has 16 points in 22 games.
Goaltender: Alexander Wutzke, Jersey Hitmen
Wutzke (‘06/Chicago, Ill.) stopped 61 of 62 shots against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers to earn his second victory in four games. He has a .925 save percentage in 13 games.
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
