USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: South Region

Jan. 17, 2025

Games of Jan. 7-13, 2025

 

Southeast Division 

Forward: Viktor Pettersson, Charlotte Rush

In his last two games, Pettersson (‘05/Sundsvall, Sweden) scored one goal and contributed three assists in the Rush’s two-game series against Hampton Roads. He now has 38 points in 29 games for this, his second season in the league. 

 

Defense: Ashton Lesher, Charlotte Rush

Lesher (‘05/Hamburg, Pa.) had a great weekend against the Whalers, putting up a goal and an assist for two points over his pair of games, and he now has points in each of his last five games. He now has 12 points, just shy of the full-season total of 14 points of last year. 

 

Goaltender: Nicholas Grosso, Charlotte Rush

Grosso (‘05/Malverne, N.Y.) gave up just one goal in each of the past two games. For the full weekend, he had 34 saves on 36 shots for a .944 save percentage. His 12th win on Jan. 12 was a career best in his two seasons. 

 

Florida Division

Forward: Matthieu Leblanc, Bold City Battalion 

Leblanc (‘07/Austin, Texas) had his best performance so far on the season, putting up two goals and two assists for four points against Palm Beach. He has improved to 24 points in 26 games, joining this year from Oakmoor Academy in the THF. 

 

Defense: Gino Saele, Palm Beach Typhoon 

Saele (‘07/Palm Beach, Fla.) is a local product from the Spanish River/Boca Raton High School team. With the Typhoon this year, he registered four assists in two games, including a three-assist output against the Florida Jr. Blades. 

 

Goaltender: Marcus Benzrihem, Tampa Bay Juniors 

Benzrihem (‘06/Odessa, Fla.) put up his ninth win of the season, and it was a career best. Benzrihem stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced from the Florida Eels on Jan. 11, and he improved to 9-0-1-0.

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