USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: Atlantic and Midwest Divisions

by Joshua Boyd

December 8, 2024

Week of Nov. 8, 2024 Games of Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2024 Atlantic Division Forward: Wyatt Stasik, WBS Knights Stasik (‘06/Wilkes, Pa.) had a big weekend to bridge November and December, scoring three goals and also had two assists for five points. The second-year Knight has improved to a career best 29 points in 20 […]

USPHL Elite Atlantic Division Players Of The Month: November 2024

by Joshua Boyd

December 6, 2024

Summaries by Taylor Dean Forwards Artur Osvepyan, WBS Knights Osvepyan (‘08) scored a goal in every game he played for the WBS Knights in October and November, registering 13 goals and 12 points over nine games. He is fourth in the franchise for most points per game at 2.78. His standout work on the ice […]

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

by Joshua Boyd

November 27, 2024

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.), […]

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

by Joshua Boyd

November 21, 2024

Week of Nov. 21 Games of Nov. 12-18 Atlantic Division Forward: Gunnar McLellan, Elmira Impact McLellan (‘05/Ogdensburg, N.Y.) was a vital contributor for Elmira Impact this week, posting five goals and one assist to help the team win two of their three games. In McLellan’s third season with the USPHL Elite and first with […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: Northeast and Midwest Regions

by Joshua Boyd

November 9, 2024

Week of Nov. 9, 2024 Games of Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 2024 Forward: Jarrett LaGrow, Metro Jets LaGrow (‘05/Kalamazoo, Mich.) put up two hat tricks in the space of three games, and registered a 7-3-10 line in a three-game sweep of the Decatur Blaze between Nov. 1-3. He is currently even at 15 points in […]

USPHL Elite Atlantic Division Players Of The Month: October 2024

by Joshua Boyd

November 7, 2024

USPHL Elite Atlantic Division Players Of The Month: October 2024 Note: September Statistics are also included in October Players Of The Month Forwards Ilya Baldin, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights Baldin (‘08/Voronezh, Russia) did plenty of damage in the short amount of time he was with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights’ undefeated Elite team, putting up eight goals […]

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

by Joshua Boyd

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024

Week of Oct. 31, 2024 Games of Oct. 22-28, 2024 Midwest Division Forward: Dylan Davis, Fort Wayne Spacemen Davis (‘06/Fort Wayne, Ind.) scored four goals and added one assist for five points, including scoring the GWG against the Decatur Blaze on Oct. 26. The next day, he added a shorthanded goal and two assists […]

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

by Joshua Boyd

October 24, 2024

Week of Oct. 24, 2024 Games of Oct. 15-21, 2024 New England Division Forward: Daniel Mordas, Springfield Pics The 2007-born Lithuanian keeps putting up points after his move from defense to forward, recently racking up three goals and an assist for four points. He has 16 points on the season, which ranks eighth in the […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: Northeast Region

by Joshua Boyd

October 17, 2024October 17, 2024

Week of Oct. 17 Games of Oct. 8-14 New England Division Forward: Ethan Hoff, Boston Jr. Bulldogs Hoff (‘07/Murrysville, Pa.) put up a four-goal and two-assist week for the Jr. Bulldogs, who split games last weekend against the South Shore Kings (7-3 win) and the Springfield Pics (6-3 loss). He has a 4-2-6 line […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: Northeast & Midwestern Regions

by Joshua Boyd

October 11, 2024

Week of Oct. 11, 2024 Games of Oct. 1-7, 2024 New England Division Forward: Sullivan Hauser, Islanders Hockey Club Hauser (‘06/South Bend, Ind.) is a second-year IHC forward who has been picking up a lot of steam early on in the season. In their first two games of October, he registered a 3-2-5 line, […]

The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) continues its strategic growth, announcing the addition of six new teams for the 2025-26 season across its Premier and Elite divisions. The expansion will strengthen the Canada, Southeast, Atlantic, and New England divisions, reinforcing the league’s commitment to its existing partners.

Three teams will join their respective Premier Divisions: Universel Academy (Canada); NY Dynamo (Canada), and Charleston Colonials (Southeast). Three teams will join the Elite Division: Charleston Colonials (Southeast), Red Bank Generals (Atlantic), and Junior Bruins (New England).

“These teams showcase the ongoing growth and influence of the USPHL as it strengthens its presence across North America,” said USPHL Deputy Commissioner Tony Zasowski. “The USPHL is excited to continue to attract great owners and teams as a key step in the Pathway To College Hockey.”

Premier: Universel Academy (Canada Division)

Marco Pietroniro is the Academy Director of the Universel Academy Premier team, adding to the growing junior hockey presence in the Quebec province. The team will play and train in Quebec City. This addition builds on the existing Universel program, which already supports athletes in the province, further strengthening the Universel franchise’s commitment to developing young talent at the junior level.

“It’s exciting to be able to create a larger path and extend the division within the province,” said Academy Director Marco Pietroniro. “The USPHL is expanding rapidly in Canada, and we believe the future is very strong for the league in Quebec and beyond.”

Premier: NY Dynamo (Canada Division)

Operating out of the Ameri-Can North Sports Center in Plattsburgh, New York, the NY Dynamo Premier team will complement its NCDC counterpart in Clifton Park, New York. As a Tier 1 Hockey Federation member club. The NY Dynamo continues to expand its program, providing additional opportunities for players to develop and advance within the organization’s structured pathway.

“The NY Dynamo Organization’s development model is focused on progressing youth hockey players on a path leading through high-level youth hockey to junior hockey, to college hockey and beyond,” said Josh Laber, NY Dynamo owner. “The USPHL is a tremendous opportunity for players to use to help develop their skills and eventually play college hockey.”

Premier/Elite: Charleston Colonials (Southeast Division)

Returning to the USPHL for the first time since 2021, the Charleston Colonials will field both Premier and Elite teams and play out of the Ice Palace in North Charleston, South Carolina.

“The Colonials’ return is a testament to the region’s passion for hockey,” said General Manager Michael Jannace. “We believe that our program will set the bar for all junior programs.”

Elite: Red Bank Generals (Atlantic Division)

Following a successful inaugural season at the Premier level, the Red Bank Generals are expanding into the Elite division for 2025-26. Both teams will play at the Red Bank Armory Ice Complex in Red Bank, New Jersey. As members of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation and the Atlantic Hockey Federation, along with their established Premier team, Red Bank continues to provide a comprehensive development pathway for its players.

“This is an important part of the growth in our organization,” said Jack Callahan, Red Bank Premier Head Coach. “Adding an Elite team provides a complete pathway for our players from mites through juniors to achieve their goal of playing NCAA hockey.”

Elite: Junior Bruins (New England Division)

The Junior Bruins, based at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts, will add an Elite team alongside their newly announced NCDC team.

“The Junior Bruins have been a national leader in college commitments for over 20 years, and we are uniquely qualified to guide our players to the highest levels of hockey,” said General Manager Mike Anderson. “We are excited to return to the Elite Division where we have previously operated successfully for many years.”

Read About How The United States Premier Hockey League Utilizes Ken's Ratings For American College Hockey ("KRACH") to determine its Power Rankings.

These rankings are used by the USPHL only to determine Divisional seeding for Premier Nationals; for selecting the Elite wild card team to fill out the 6-team Elite Nationals field; and for seeding the Elite six-team field.

Power Movers: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has retaken the No. 1 spot. The Northern Cyclones made a big jump from sixth to third in the rankings. The Carolina Jr. Hurricanes and P.A.L. Jr. Islanders each made upward moves in the Top 10 as well.

See this week's full rankings below!

Week of Feb. 1, 2025

Games of Jan. 21-27, 2025

Southeast Division

Forward: Dominykas Jurjevas, Potomac Patriots

Jurjevas (‘04/Elektrenai, Lithuania) averaged 2.5 points per game for three goals and two assists last week. The Potomac Patriots forward is approaching a career 100 points, currently at 98. In his third Elite season, he has 67 career games under his belt.

Defense: Ashton Lesher, Charlotte Rush

Lesher (‘05) scored two goals for Charlotte Rush last week, adding to his season total of 14. The blueliner is rounding out his second Elite season. He has 28 career points across 79 games played.

Goaltender: Kaden King, Hampton Roads Whalers

King (‘04/Kenora, Ontario) went 1-1 last week, making 120 saves on 123 shots for a .976 save percentage. His 53-save shutout on Jan. 25 was the first of his career, contributing to a 1.50 goals against average last week.

Florida Division

Forward: Ben Grossman, Tampa Bay Juniors

Grossman (‘06/Tampa, Fla.) scored four goals and four assists, averaging an impressive four points per game last week. The Tampa Bay Juniors forward has 46 career points and 73 career games under his belt over two Elite League seasons.

Defense: Carter Trussler, Tampa Bay Juniors

Trussler (‘06/Land O Lakes, Fla.) averaged 3.5 points per game, posting three goals and four assists for the Tampa Bay Juniors last week. The blueliner is in his third Elite season and has an impressive 114 career games under his belt with 81 career points.

Goaltender: Jasper Brophy, Palm Beach Typhoon

Brophy (‘07/West Palm Beach, Fla.) garnered a .938 save percentage last week, going 1-1 for Palm Beach Typhoon. He made 75 saves on 80 shots for a 2.55 goals against average. He has a .909 save percentage in his rookie goaltending season.

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 Taylor Dean

Week of Feb. 1, 2025

Games of Jan. 21-27, 2025

New England Division

Forward: Brendan Birmingham, Springfield Pics

Birmingham (‘04/Ellington, Conn.) has been on a tear recently, with a 1-5-6 line in a pair of games over the last full January weekend. He would go on to end the month with a hat trick in a 3-0 victory to start the Pics’ run at the Northern Cyclones Showcase. He has 52 points this season and 74 points in 70 career games.

Forward: Matteo Johnson, Northern Cyclones

Johnson (‘05/Laguna Niguel, Calif.) was a busy man last week, putting up a 1-3-4 line in four games, giving him 24 points in 36 games this season.

Goaltender: Kaiden Ames, Springfield Pics

Ames (‘08/Enfield, Conn.) stopped 33 of 36 shots he faced against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers on Jan. 25. With that win, he improved to 4-2-1-0 on the season,

Atlantic Division

Forward: Tyler Bertelsen, Rockets Hockey Club

Bertelsen (‘07/Palmer, Pa.) registered five goals and added one assist for a six-point weekend – including his second hat trick this season. He would go on to finish January with a third hat trick and second consecutive.

Defense: Will Olear, Jersey Hitmen

Olear (‘08/Mahwah, N.J.) put up a 2-2-4 line in a pair of games against P.A.L. and the Rockets last weekend, giving him 20 points in 31 games this year.

Goaltender: Dominik Feiler, P.A.L. Jr Islanders

Feiler (‘07/Farmingdale, N.J.) had a big 34-save shutout performance against the Hershey Cubs on Jan. 25, which came one day after stopping all nine shots in a relief showing. He is now 9-5-0-1 with a .930 save percentage.

Midwest Division

Forward: Cooper Moses, Motor City Gamblers

Moses (‘08/Macomb, Mich.) registered his first hat trick – and added an assist – on Jan. 25 vs. Decatur. He also had an additional goal over the weekend and finished with five points in three games. In 30 games, he has 14 points as a junior rookie.

Defense: Brody Stroud, Motor City Gamblers

Stroud (‘04/Elkhorn, Neb.) enjoyed a 1-3-4 line in two games against Decatur, representing half of his eight points scored this season.

Goaltender: Johnny Augusta, Chicago Crush

Augusta (‘04/Medinah, Ill.) stopped all 40 shots he faced on Jan. 24 against the Chicago Cougars. That was his fourth shutout and also accounted for his 20th career win.

Read About How The United States Premier Hockey League Utilizes Ken's Ratings For American College Hockey ("KRACH") to determine its Power Rankings.

Power Movers: The switcheroo trend in the top two spots continues, as the Tampa Bay Juniors return to the No. 1 spot. The Islanders Hockey Club are the biggest upward movers in the Top 10 this week, moving from sixth last week to fourth this week. The Boston Jr. Bulldogs move into the Top 10 as well.

See this week's full rankings below!

Jan. 30-Feb. 3, 2025

Cyclones Arena, Hudson, N.H.

The Northern Cyclones Showcase, a new event during the 2023-24 season, returns for its second edition at Cyclones Arena in Hudson, N.H., featuring intense late-season competition in the USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite conferences. There will be 31 teams in total clashing at the event, with playoff berths up for grabs for many of the competitors as they push to qualify or improve their standings position in their respective divisions.

The event is also a heavily-scouted event by NCAA, ACHA and AAU college coaches, due to its location in southern New Hampshire, close to several dozen colleges and universities at each level. There are 44 NCAA Division II and III schools located in New England, and all within easy reach of the centrally-located Cyclones Arena.

College scouts and fans will get to see all of the USPHL Premier Canada and New England Division teams in action, plus five from the Atlantic Division for a total of 20 Premier teams in action at the event. In addition, there will be 11 USPHL Elite teams competing, including four from the affiliate North American Prep Hockey League, plus four from the New England Division, two Atlantic Division teams and the Florida Division’s Palm Beach Typhoon.

If you can’t make it in person, tune into all the action on FloHockey.tv!

USPHL Premier Northern Cyclones Showcase Schedule

USPHL Elite Northern Cyclones Showcase Schedule

Read About How The United States Premier Hockey League Utilizes Ken's Ratings For American College Hockey ("KRACH") to determine its Power Rankings.

Power Movers: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights have reclaimed the top spot after two weeks at No. 2. The Northern Cyclones and Islanders Hockey Club moved up within the Top 10 to No. 5 and 6, respectively.

See this week's full rankings below!

Week of Jan. 23, 2025
Games of Jan. 14-20, 2025

Southeast Division
Forward: Taryk Filipuzzi, Hampton Roads Whalers
Filipuzzi (‘05/Spruce Grove, Alb.) registered a goal and added three assists for four points as the Whalers faced the Jr. Hurricanes on the weekend. He now has 55 points in 84 career USPHL regular season games.

Defense: Moosa Dessouky, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
Dessouky (‘08/Cary, N.C.) is a product of the Jr. Hurricanes youth organization and has become a solid junior defender for the Elite squad as a 2008-born player. He assisted on the Jr. Canes’ big overtime winner on Jan. 19, which helped put them into a tie for first place in the Southeast Division.

Goaltender: Benicio Castellucci, Potomac Patriots
Castellucci (‘07/Springfield, Va.) put up a strong 45-save shutout in 65 minutes of what was eventually a 1-0 shootout loss to the Charlotte Rush, giving him his first shutout. Castellucci is a product of the THF’s Team Virginia as well as the Capital Hockey Academy.

Florida Division
Forward: Frankie Murano, Palm Beach Typhoon
Murano (‘06/West Palm Beach, Fla.) registered three goals and two assists for five points to lead the division with 2.5 points per game last week. He put up a 2-1-3 line against the Florida Jr. Blades including the GWG on Jan. 18 and he now has 12 points over each of his last five games. He has 26 points in 26 games this season.

Defense: Ari Chernobelsky, Palm Beach Typhoon
Chernobelsky (‘06/Wellington, Fla.) put up a line of 2-1-3 during the team’s two-game sweep of the Florida Jr. Blades. The second-year Typhoon has 19 points this season and 39 points in his 74 games.

Goaltender: Filipp Vitanov, Florida Eels
Vitanov (‘07/Sofia, Bulgaria) stopped 39 of 41 shots as he posted his second straight victory against the No. 1 ranked team in Elite Power Rankings, the Tampa Bay Juniors. With the two straight wins (Jan. 12 and 19), he improves to 11-5-1-0 on the season.

Week of Jan. 23, 2025

Games played Jan. Jan. 14-22, 2025

New England
Forward: Vincent Leclerc, Islanders Hockey Club

Leclerc (’06/Grand Falls, New Brunswick) averaged a massive 3.33 points per game, putting up six goals and four assists over three games for the Islanders last week. The Elite rookie has 21 points in his inaugural season, with 12 games played so far. He’s scored points in all but three of those games.

Defense: Gavin O’Keefe, Islanders Hockey Club

O’Keefe (’05/Reading, Mass.) scored three goals last week, bringing his rookie season total to 20. The Islanders blueliner has played 30 games so far this season and has one game-winning goal and two powerplay goals to his name.

Goaltender: Mateo Lachance, Springfield Pics

Lachance (’06/Haddem, Conn.) conceded only one goal out of 38 shots for a .974 save percentage in his win on Jan. 19. In his second Elite season, he has a .905 save percentage.

Atlantic
Forward: Gunnar McLellan, Elmira Impact

McLellan (’05/Ogdensburg, N.Y.) averaged 3.5 points per game, putting up three goals and seven points across two Elmira Impact games. He is on an astonishing 15-game points streak, scoring in every game since Nov. 9. In his third Elite season, McLellan has played 103 career games and has 58 career points.

Defense: Yaroslav Chelbayevsky, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights

Chelbayevsky (’08/Astana, Kazakhstan) posted three assists for the WBS Knights on Jan. 17, his first appearance in 2025. In his rookie season, the blueliner has 11 points (three goals; eight assists) across 19 games played so far.

Goaltender: Kyle Antonucci, P.A.L. Jr Islanders

Antonucci (’09/Manorville, N.Y.) garnered a .958 save percentage on Jan. 18, conceding only one goal before a shootout loss for a 1.43 goals against average. He is 4-0-0-1 in his inaugural Elite season, with a .899 save percentage.

Midwest Division
Forward: Jarrett LaGrow, Metro Jets Elite

LaGrow (’05/Kalamazoo, Mich.) averaged two points per game last week, scoring one goal and posting five assists over three games for the Metro Jets Elite and continuing an eight-game points streak that began on Dec. 13. He has 36 points across 43 career games played over two Elite seasons.

Defense: Ryder Tracy, Metro Jets Elite

Tracy (’06/Tecumseh, Ont.) posted three goals and three assists for the Metro Jets Elite last week, bringing his season points total to 21. He has scored eight goals and 13 assists in his rookie Elite season, with 31 games played and counting.

Goaltender: Nate Maurin, Chicago Cougars

Maurin (’05/Harrison Township, Mich.) captured a 20-save shutout alongside a one GAA win, garnering a .50 goals against average across the two games. This was the rookie goaltender’s first shutout win. He is 7-6-0-0 this season with a .894 save percentage.

Week of Jan. 17, 2025

Games of Jan. 7-13, 2025

New England

Forward: Chase Darcey, South Shore Kings

Darcey (‘06/Billerica, Mass.) put up five goals and added one assist during a busy week of moving frequently between the Elite and Premier Kings. With the Premier squad, he also had a goal and an assist over the past week.

Defense: Daniel Mordas, Springfield Pics

Mordas (‘07/Lithuania) registered two goals and two assists for four points recently, giving him 26 points in 24 games. He has seen a huge improvement, offensively, from the seven points he registered in 31 games last season.

Goaltender: Nick Cowles, Northern Cyclones

Cowles (‘05/Irvine, Calif.) took a shootout loss, but he was fantastic during the Jan. 10 game against the rival Islanders Hockey Club, stopping 53 of 55 shots in 65 minutes. He stands at 9-2-0-1 overall.

Atlantic Division

Forward: Tobias Tokos, Connecticut Jr. Rangers

Tokos (‘05/Bratislava, Slovakia) just recently joined the Jr. Rangers, and he’s already made a huge impact with three goals and five points in his first two games with Connecticut.

Defense: Jake Strong, P.A.L. Jr Islanders

Strong (‘07/Shirley, N.Y.) joined up to the Elite Islanders this year from the Atlantic Hockey Federation P.A.L. 16U squad. He put in three assists during the team’s recent pair of games against Connecticut and the Rockets Hockey Club. He has 22 points in 29 games.

Goaltender: Brody Teitelbaum, Rockets Hockey Club

Teitelbaum (‘07/Livingston, N.J.) stopped all 42 shots he faced against P.A.L., giving him his first shutout and fourth win in seven games played with the Rockets this year.

Midwest Division

Tyler Dix, Metro Jets

The second-year Jet and homegrown talent Dix (‘05/Mount Clemens, Mich.) scored a hat trick, the first of his two-year career, to improve to a career-best 28 points in 31 games.

Defense: Logan Landmeier, Chicago Crush

Landmeier (‘05/South Elgin, Ill.) had his first point streak of the season and registered a 1-3-4 line for the Crush in a three-game series with the Decatur Blaze. He now has 10 points in 28 games after joining the Crush out of the Fox Valley High School team.

Goaltender: Johnny Augusta, Chicago Crush

Augusta (‘04/Medinah, Ill.) stopped all 31 shots he faced on Jan. 11, giving him his third shutout of the season and a 9-3-1-0 record for this season, which matches his wins total from his full 2023-24 season.

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