Islanders Hockey Club Showcase Begins Tuesday, Runs Through Nov. 20

by Joshua Boyd

November 11, 2022

By USPHL Staff The USPHL and the Islanders Hockey Club are excited to present the Islanders Hockey Club Showcase making its return to Gallant Arena at Merrimack College and Skate3 in Tyngsboro, Mass., between Nov. 15 and Nov. 20, featuring six days of USPHL hockey! Between Nov. 15 and Nov. 17, the NCDC will be […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: North Region

by Joshua Boyd

November 11, 2022

Week of Nov. 1-7, 2022 Mid-Atlantic Division (Summaries By Marlee Bulman) Forward: John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club Crowdell (’03/Staten Island) has put up some impressive numbers this season so far. His points per game average currently sits at 2.29. This past week, the Rockets faced the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders, getting both wins. Crowdell had […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Month – October 2022: Mid-Atlantic Division

by Joshua Boyd

November 5, 2022

(Summaries by Marlee Bulman) Forwards John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club Forward John Crowdell (‘03/Staten Island, NY) is in his fourth year with the Rockets (USPHL 16U and USPHL 18U), this being his first year with the elite team. This season he has grown to be an extremely valuable player for the Rockets. In 12 games, […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: North Region

by Joshua Boyd

October 27, 2022

Week of Oct. 19-25 North Division (Summaries by Joshua Boyd) Forward: Jared Ritter, Springfield Pics Ritter (‘06/Westfield, Mass.) was twice previously a member of the Pics’ USPHL 15U team before joining the Elite team this year. So far, in his junior debut season, he has come up with some big points in some of […]

USPHL Elite Through The Numbers: North Region

by Joshua Boyd

October 22, 2022

Week of Oct. 22, 2022 By Marlee Bulman and Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com North Division Bridgewater Bandits (2-0) The Bandits have really been enjoying the 2022-23 season. They have just come off two massive wins, perhaps no bigger than ending the Northern Cyclones’ previously undefeated streak by beating them 3-2 in overtime on Oct. […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: North Region

by Joshua Boyd

October 21, 2022

Games from Oct. 12-18 North Division Forward: Timmy Luna, Bridgewater Bandits The ‘04 from Falmouth, Mass., has emerged as “Mr. Playmaker” for the Bandits, setting up five of the Bandits’ nine goals in a big 9-4 victory against Boston Junior Bruins on Oct. 15. Overall, he has eight helpers so far this year in […]

USPHL Elite Through The Numbers: North Region

by Joshua Boyd

October 15, 2022

By Marlee Bulman and Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (8-2-0-0) The WBS Knights have been on fire this season. They made it to the semifinals last year, losing to the Richmond Generals. On Saturday, they are facing the Rockets, against whom the Knights won six out of seven games against the Rockets. Then […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: North Region

by Joshua Boyd

October 7, 2022

Week of Oct. 7 Forward: Dylan Reynolds, Islanders Hockey Club The 2004-forward has bene on fire early in the season, scoring seven points. He scored his first junior hat trick against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights on the road on Oct. 2 in an 8-5 win. Defense: Justin Pniewski, Islanders Hockey Club Another talented ‘04 for […]

USPHL Elite Players Of The Week: North Region

by Joshua Boyd

September 29, 2022

Mid-Atlantic Division Forward: John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club The ‘03 from Staten Island had a fantastic start to the year, when he sank four goals and one assist in a game against the Jersey Hitmen. He added one goal and one assist in his second game against the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders for a 5-2-7 weekend. […]

USPHL Elite 2022-2023 Preview Series: Mid-Atlantic Division

by Joshua Boyd

September 20, 2022

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com The Mid-Atlantic Division of the USPHL Elite Conference was, in 2021-22, a fantastic spectacle thanks in large part to the first-year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights completely upsetting the apple cart from the beginning. Not only did they finish at the top of the division in their inaugural season, they were also […]

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

Mid-Atlantic Division

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (1) vs. Rockets Hockey Club (4)

All games played at Revolution Ice Centre

Game 1: Friday, March 10, 12 p.m. EST

Game 2: Saturday, March 11, 1 p.m. EST

Game 3: Sunday, March 12, 4:30 p.m. EST (if necessary)

The USPHL Elite’s top dog, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are all set to play for a return to the USPHL National Championships and make it a straight 2-for-2 (and it would be an organizational 4-for-4 if the Premier Knights also make it).

Wilkes-Barre was not in first place when the new year of 2023 came around a couple months back, but they were in the pack. In the end, what did it was an amazing 24-0-1-0 points streak for more than the entire second half of the season. WBS last fell in regulation on Nov. 12, in a 5-4 defeat to the New York Aviators.

Top performers such as goalie Dylan Boughen and forwards Eric McHale, Brody Bess and Jason DiMatteo. WBS actually had seven players with 43 or more points this season, with McHale leading the way at 78 points. Boughen crossed the regular season finish line at 15-0-2-0 with a .933 save percentage – both record and percentage ranking in the top three league-wide.

The Knights defeated the Rockets in all six of their regular season meetings this year, though the Rockets did pull out a point from a Dec. 3 OT loss.

The Rockets, who made the Nationals in 2021 and 2022, are obviously no strangers to postseason success. In fact, they were the only team to defeat the eventual National Champion Richmond Generals (in OT) during the Round Robin portion of last year’s championship event.

The Rockets have some solid players on their side to get the job done, including the regular season scoring champion John Crowdell (44 games, 29-54-83). In goal, Michael Grima was an extremely dependable backstop, posting a .919 save percentage and registering three shutouts.

It’ll be a knock-down drag-out battle if for no other reason because of what’s at stake – the series winner goes to the USPHL Nationals, and the losing team closes up shop for 2022-23.

Summaries by Marlee Bulman

Forwards

Eddie Kienzle, New York Aviators

With the Aviators, No. 91 left wing Kienzle put up an impressive 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in helping his team to eight wins and the third seed in the division for the upcoming playoffs. For the season, the Brooklyn native put up a 33-43-76 line in 43 games to place third in overall Elite scoring (after finishing sixth in 2021-22 with 62 points).

Michael McGowan, New York Aviators

McGowan (’03/Brooklyn, N.Y.), also with the Aviators and wearing No. 20, was not too far behind his teammate Kienzle. In 11 games, he posted a 12-10-22 line. McGowan also ended the season as a top scorer, landing fifth overall with 37-33-70 in 42 games. The Aviators are set to face the host Jersey Hitmen in the playoffs for a chance to move on to the USPHL Elite National Championships.

John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club

Crowdell (’03/Staten Island, N.Y.) helped bring six February wins for his team by posting three goals and 14 assists in his 10 games played, and he helped score a spot in the playoffs for the Rockets. In the end, Crowdell claimed the scoring title for the Elite Division with a 44-game total of 29-54-83.

Defense

Drew D’Emic, New York Aviators

Once again, proving to be a team that won’t quit, the Aviators saw the ’05 Long Beach, N.Y., native Drew D’Emic post an amazing 3-11-14 line, which accounted for more than half of his full season output of 27 points in 43 games. D’Emic was a star blueliner for Long Beach High before joining the Aviators this season.

Samuel Russo, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Russo (’04/North Branford, Conn.) put up a 5-7-12 line in February, and proved to be a powerful player that pushed the WBS to claim the top overall seed in the entire USPHL Elite Division. The former Hoosac School blueliner came out with 31 points off a 15-16-31 line in 41 games.

Goaltender

Christopher Lucente, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders

Lucente (’05/Centereach, N.Y.) played a league-high 378 minutes in net in February, and he also led the league in saves by stopping 229 of 244 shots for a .939 save percentage. He started the month with a 35-save shutout of the Aviators, and he also earned wins against the Rockets Hockey Club (40 saves) and Jersey Hitmen (45 saves). He also had two very strong relief performances towards the end of the month against the Rockets, stopping all 24 shots faced in 36:16 of one game, and stopping 19 of 21 in 31:50 of their Feb. 26 game.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

USPHL Elite Conference

North Division

Islanders Hockey Club (2) vs. Bridgewater Bandits (3)

All games at Gallant Arena

Wednesday, March 8, 12 p.m.

Thursday, March 9, 12 p.m.

Friday, March 10, 9:30 a.m. (if necessary)

Two USPHL Elite teams will enter Gallant Arena on Wednesday, but only one will leave the week knowing they will be playing at the USPHL National Championships at the Nexus Center in Utica, N.Y., March 23-28. It’ll take either two or three teams to figure out the answer to this season-making-or-breaking question.

The Islanders finished with a 32-6-2-3 record. For a while they challenged the Northern Cyclones for the top of the division, but the already Nationals-bound Cyclones began to pull away in December and had a nine-point lead on IHC by the first day of 2023. The Bridgewater Bandits (25-16-2-1) were actually tied in points with the Cyclones on Dec. 1, 2022, but there was only room at the top for one. There is, however, room at Nationals for two North Division representatives.

Looking back at their regular season, Islanders Hockey Club Head Coach Jay Punsky was happy to see so many of his players progress – and many get a chance at USPHL Premier ice, as well.

“We had a strong regular season. Each player on our roster improved significantly and several got game time at the Premier level,” he added. “For us, development is the most important thing so we are proud to see our players grow.”

The Islanders saw 32 players register an Elite point this year, with the leader standing as Gabriel Leduc – his 58 points put him in the top 20 of overall league scoring. Matthew Domanchuk and Nick Therrien also hit the 50-point mark. Goalie Anthony LaCroix was second in shutouts (five) and top 10 in goals against average (2.30) and save percentage (.923).

On the Bandits’ side, Quirino DoCanto tied for third in goals with 33 and was a top 10 Elite scorer with 61 points. They also had scoring depth this year, with as many as 14 different players hitting double digits on the season. Goalie Luca Bruns was one of the busiest goaltenders in the league, seeing 909 shots against, but he was up to the task as judged by his 14 wins on the season.

“We had a great group of guys that were a major part of the culture here in Bridgewater on and off the ice for two years,” said Bandits Head Coach Joey McDermott. “We had some ups and downs, but recently have been able to handle adversity better than we were able to at the beginning of the season.

“In recent games we have been able to roll all four lines with scoring coming from up and down the lineup,” said McDermott, whose team finished the season with a 4-2 win over the division champion Cyclones. “We still need to defend the interior better, but it has been a major topic at practice these past few weeks. We have felt really good after beating the top ranked Cyclones in our last regular season game.”

“We have strong offensive concepts, and have found a way to generate scoring chances,” added Jay Punsky, of the Islanders, whose team went 5-1 in the final few weeks. “We can continually improve our defensive game.”

The Islanders dominated the regular season series against Bridgewater, 7-1, with the Bandits winning the fourth game in November.

“The Islanders are always going to be one of the top teams in the USPHL Elite as they can score in bunches and always have a good structure,” said McDermott. “They have certainly gotten the best of us this season for the most part, but our players have been using it as a motivation tool as we are looking forward to the challenge of a playoff series against them.”

It’s a whole new ball game in the playoffs, with the added magnitude of two very different outcomes – the winner moving on to the biggest tournament of the year, and the losing team having to end their season and disband. Punsky knows the visiting Bandits will bring it all together hard against his team.

“The Bandit games this year were fast, physical and challenging for our club,” said Punsky. “We expect to see a very motivated and hungry Bandits team tomorrow. It won’t be an easy series.”

Forwards

Sean Boltin, Palm Beach Typhoon

Boltin (‘05/Chicago, Ill.) pulled to within one point of capturing the overall Elite scoring title, finishing with 82 points to John Crowdell (Rockets) with 83. The performance of the young junior rookie playing for the Typhoon was one of the big storylines for this past season. You get plenty of attention when you score 43 goals in 43 games. He hit the goal-per-game average for the season by putting up 14 in his last eight games. In addition, he put up 11 assists for 25 points, an average of more than three points per game for February.

Brayden Curry, Palm Beach Typhoon

The ‘05 from Torrance, Calif., more than doubled his points from his 2021-22 rookie season. He put up a 16-37-53 line after posting 26 points last season, the inaugural year for the Typhoon. He pulled off the double by picking up two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in eight February games. His 17 assists were a league high for the month.

Lorenzo Marchetta, Florida Eels

The division champion Eels had several weapons to choose from all year, but it was Marchetta who surfaced as the leading scorer for the 2022-23 season. He finished with a 28-40-60 line in 41 games, and this included his very impressive 6-7-13 totals in six games in February. The ‘03 from Montreal, Que., closed out his junior rookie season with 68 points to place in the top 10 overall.

Defense

Chris Maybury, Palm Beach Typhoon

With a 5-3-0-0 record, including wins against the Florida Eels, Florida Jr. Blades and Columbia Infantry, the Typhoon were third in points earned during February. Maybury (‘04/Jacksonville, Fla.) as a +13 in February, and he also put up a 2-7-9 line in the team’s eight games. The second-year Typhoon quintupled his points total from a year earlier, going from five in 2021-22 to 25 in 2022-23.

Frederick Bonebrake, Tampa Bay Juniors

The ‘05 from Lithia, Fla., is a local product who played for Newsome High School on his path to the USPHL Elite. Bonebrake helped the Juniors to a 7-2-0-0 month and the second seed in the upcoming Florida Division playoffs. He put up a 1-6-7 line in seven games played, was a +9 and blocked three shots. For the season, he had 22 points in 37 games (and still found time to play eight games for Newsome High!)

Goaltender

Dylan Bruce, Tampa Bay Juniors

Bruce (‘05/Kitchener, Ont.) was simply outstanding for the Juniors, winning four of their seven total team victories on the month and knocking away 129 of 137 shots. This included a 25-save shutout over the No. 3 seed Atlanta (whom the Juniors will face in the playoffs) and a performance of 41 saves on 43 shots on Feb. 17. For the month, he had a .942 save percentage and a 1.85 goals against average. He finished with a 2.46 GAA and .926 on the season.

Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

Forwards

Jacob Gifford, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Improving your points total by six times over the prior season is certainly an eye-opener. Gifford (‘04/Cary, N.C.) put up an 8-8-16 line in just six games, putting his season total to 56 in 39 games. As a bonus, Gifford got his first four-game call-up to the Premier Division, and he scored his first goal at that level.

Brayden Strong, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Strong (‘04/Wake Forest, N.C.) is as dedicated a Jr. Cane as you’ll find, playing from the youth level and now up to the Elite. He more than tripled his 2021-22 output, from 21 to 66 this year. Strong led the team in points and finished eighth in scoring, and put up a 5-11-16 line in six games. Strong scored two or more points in every one of his February games and his overall scoring streak is eight games with a 5-17-22 line.

Wesley Wilding, Richmond Generals

Wilding (‘04/London, Ont.) is certainly dedicated to getting his team where it was last year – the USPHL Nationals. He will be leaned on heavily to try to get the defending National Champions past the Southeast top-seeded Carolina Jr. Hurricanes. Down the stretch, Wilding put up a 5-3-8 line in six games to finish with an even 23-23-46 line in 33 games.

Defense

Ian Dracoulis, Richmond Generals

The Gens’ veteran leader on the blue line, Dracoulis (‘04/Chester, Va.) was a defensive dynamo through the month of February. He put up 11 blocked shots, 22 hits and a +2 rating, while also putting in a 1-2-3 scoring line. In 103 career Elite games, Dracoulis has 37 points, 25 of which have come this year. He hopes to repeat as an Elite Division champion.

Daniel Garcia Ortiz, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Garcia Ortiz (‘03/Raleigh, N.C.) is another career Jr. Cane like Strong and he helped the division champions go 6-0 through February (plus a win at the end of January for a 7-0 winning streak going into the playoffs). In his six games, he put up a 2-4-6 line, blocked six shots and registered 11 hits in addition to going +3.

Goaltender

Tristan Falsetto, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Falsetto (‘02/W. Palm Beach, Fla.) stopped all but three goals in three games played during February, as he also went 3-0. Falsetto kicked off last month with a 24-save shutout of the Nashville Spartans, and went on to stop 35 saves in each of his next two games against Richmond and Charlotte. All told, he stopped 94 of 97 for a .969 save percentage. His regular season ended with a 10-2-0-0 record, 1.73 goals against average and a .940 save percentage.

Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

Forwards

Gabriel Leduc, Islanders Hockey Club

A man on mission down the stretch, Leduc (‘04/Montreal, Que.) tore it up with nine goals in his final nine games of the season. And then he added 12 assists for good measure – and 21 points, the fourth best point total for any Elite player last month and the best in the North Division. A first-year junior player out of Quebec’s Ulysse Prep, Leduc has made a strong imprint on the Elite Conference with 58 points in 35 games.

Matthew Domanchuk, Islanders Hockey Club

The Islanders had the second most productive month of February in the Elite Conference by going 7-1-1-0 for 15 points in nine games. Like his teammate Gabriel Leduc, Domanchuk (‘04/Oklahoma City, Okla.) posted better than a goal-per-game all month by putting up a 10-7-17 line in eight contests. He ended up as one of the Islanders’ three players with 50 points or better this year, a highlight for the league’s second best offense.

Nicholas Stevens, Northern Cyclones

The Cyclones are already headed to the USPHL Nationals thanks to a 2-0 playoff sweep of the Springfield Pics. Towards the end of the regular season, Stevens (‘03/San Clemente, Calif.) was absolutely on fire as he posted 11 goals and helped out on four others for a 15-point total in 10 February games. With that outburst, he brought his points per game to an even 1.00 to close the campaign with 43 points in 43 games.

Defense

Nicolas Majeau, Islanders Hockey Club

Majeau (‘03/St-Lin, Que.) came to the IHC with his Ulysse Prep teammate Leduc – as well as Joshua Huard and Felix Hawkins – and has experienced a similar level of success but on the blue line as defense. He put up 1-8-9 totals during the month of February to bring his season total up to 22 points in 37 games. Majeau has helped the IHC give up just 29.19 shots per game, fourth fewest in the league.

Brady Bomal, Northern Cyclones

The second-year Cyclones blueliner continues to be a leader and hopes to bring the Cyclones back to the National final this year – and cashing in on unfinished business from 2022. Bomal put up the same total as Majeau this past month to tie for the lead for North Division defensemen at 1-8-9 in nine games. The Cyclones were second in both team defense (2.02) and fewest shots against (27.02).

Goaltender

Chase Ebeyer, Springfield Pics

Ebeyer (‘04/Scottsdale, Ariz.) and the Pics took 10 points in their final month, and the goaltender finished up with a 2-2-0-0 record and a .926 save percentage in playing 284 minutes. He gave up 15 shots out of the 204 he faced, including a 26-of-27 performance against the Junior Bruins and 29 of 31 against the Aviators, both wins. Even in losses, he was strong – witness him stopping 41 of 44 in a relief spot against the Islanders Hockey Club, and 47 of 50 against the Cyclones on Feb. 11.

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

North Division

All Games At Cyclones Arena

Friday, March 3, 4 p.m. EST

Saturday, March 4, 4 p.m. EST

Sunday, March 5, 4 p.m. EST (if necessary)

There exists the possibility that, by Saturday evening, we may know our first USPHL Nationals participant. The Springfield Pics will travel to face the Northern Cyclones for a best-of-three that starts on Friday, and the winner of one of the eight USPHL Elite playoff series will also be one of the eight Elite Nationals-qualifying teams. A lot is at stake right off the bat in each series.

The host Cyclones know very well what it takes to go far at the Nationals. They went to the Final at their home rink last March, falling in a track meet of a game against eventual champions the Richmond Generals, 8-4. All they needed was that taste, and now the No. 2 overall team in the Elite have the handle on what is needed. They very quickly exorcised their playoff demons last October by defeating the Richmond Generals in a shootout at the Rockets Hockey Club Showcase.

“I think my team’s strength is their willingness to compete at all times,” said Cyclones Head Coach Tim Plummer. “They have worked all season pushing each other every day on and off the ice to be the best hockey players they can be, and they are ready for the task ahead of them.”

The Cyclones played a lot of hockey – in fact, among the most of all Elite teams during the regular season. They tied the Jersey Hitmen with nine games going beyond regulation, and came up with a 4-1 OT record and a 4-0 shutout stand for a league-best 17 points. Defense has won games, however, as well. The Cyclones are No. 2 in team defense (2.02) and No. 2 in fewest shots against (27.02).

With 68 points in 42 games, Josh Bruno ranks among the top 10 scorers, and goaltender Maximilian Pierce was No. 1 in save percentage at .936.

“I expect the Cyclones to be a tough, hard-nosed team especially in their home building where it’s tough to play,” said Springfield Head Coach Chris Beaudoin. “I expect them to be physical and fast-paced through the whole game. As far as the regular season goes, we had a couple close games and then we had some games where we were out-matched. But in the playoffs, the series gets reset and we will see what happens.”

The Cyclones did indeed win all eight regular season games, but like Beaudoin, Plummer flings that number out the window ahead of Friday’s game.

“I think that you can expect any team in the postseason to compete extremely hard to get to the next round,” said Plummer. “It will be on us to manage our own compete level and make sure we are raising the bar each shift.”

The Pics had some hard times this year, going 11-29-1-3, but they had some bright spots over the year, including wins against all other North Division teams, including the playoff-bound Islanders and Bandits, and they defeated the non-playoff Junior Bruins for six of their 11 wins. Goaltender Chase Ebeyer was a top 20 goaltender in save percentage as well, sporting a .915 save percentage by season’s end.

“I think our strengths will be put to the test against the Cyclones,” said Beaudoin. “Our strengths are different each game that we play, and it will be something that is going to be interesting to see if we can put them together all in one game.”

An update to yesterday’s Watch List:

New Teams that have clinched playoff berths since yesterday

P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (NCDC)

P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (Premier)

Rockets Hockey Club (Elite)

New York Aviators (Elite)

NCDC

All three Sunday games are in the South Division and none of them will change the standings

Mercer, Connecticut and the Rockets are the three teams vying for two remaining spots, and they will be for some time.

PREMIER CONFERENCE

MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION
Hershey (sixth) visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (second)
Elmira (seventh) hosts the Aviators (first)
P.A.L. (eighth) hosts Utica (four)

P.A.L. will visit the Aviators in the playoffs.

Elmira and Hershey will finish today. Elmira is down by one point to Hershey and will stay in seventh pending an upset today.

A Utica loss gives the idle Rockets sole possession of third. If Utica win, they will need a two-game sweep next weekend to finish third, when they host the Rockets for two games.

MIDWEST WEST DIVISION
We have a three-way points tie with 41 points for 5-6-7

Ox-Blades-Isanti. Tiebreakers will be the determining factor. All three teams are visitors next weekend, so where to go is what’s at stake.

Playoff pairings:

Isanti visit Squatch

Steele County visit Moose

Ox visit Riverkings

Head to head

Ox:Isanti 6:2

Blades:Isanti 7:2

Blades:Ox 4:4

Most Wins

Blades:Ox 19:19

GF-GA

Ox: minus 19

Blades minus 26

MIDWEST EAST DIVISION
Motor City (third) hosts Battle Creek
Fort Wayne (first) hosts the Cougars (fourth)
A Motor City win gives them third place , based on winning percentage. They played a 43-game schedule. Cougars need a win and a Motor City loss

PACIFIC DIVISION
Playoff pairings set.
San Diego (fourth) will visit Fresno (first)
Las Vegas (second) will host Ontario (third)

MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Idaho Falls clinched fifth, relegating Provo to sixth

Today,
Idaho Falls (fifth) hosts Northern Colorado (third)
Pueblo (fourth) hosts Vernal
If NoCo wins, they will finish third and Pueblo will finish fourth

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Rogue Valley (fourth) pulled ahead of Bellingham (fifth) with a win last night

Rogue Valley will go to Vernal next weekend, based on the tie-breaker. Today’s Rogue Valley vs. Bellingham result could make the tiebreaker moot.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Carolina (fifth) hosts Charlotte (first)
Potomac (second) hosts Richmond (third)

Charlotte takes first, based on the H2H with Potomac notwithstanding game results.

Nashville still sit in fourth and are still done for the season.

Carolina are one point behind with two games remaining with the Rush. Carolina hold the tie breaker vs. Nashville.

Nashville can only wait to see if the Rush can help them out. Interestingly, there is an unscheduled game remaining between the Canes and the Rush. Today will render it meaningless or mandatory.

ELITE CONFERENCE

In the North, the standings are set. Not yet in the Mid-Atlantic.

In a repeat of yesterday,

Elmira (sixth) host the Aviators (fourth)
The Rockets (third) host P.A.L. (fifth)
The Hitmen (second) visit Hampton Roads.

The next Hitmen win or Aviator loss will clinch second and home ice.

In the Florida Division, the standings are set.

Palm Beach hold the tiebreaker over Atlanta and will finish 3rd. They will face Tampa

Atlanta, at fourth will play the Eels

In the Southeast,

Carolina (1) host Charlotte (3)

Potomac (2) host Richmond (4) next week

First and fourth are set. With one game left each, the Patriots are a point up on the Rush. A Charlotte loss today will give Potomac sole rights to second. Otherwise, wait until March 4.

Updating yesterday’s Watch List:

Today, we have five NCDC games, 10 Elite and 25 Premier games. In total, we have 39 NCDC, 56 Premier and 23 Elite remaining.

A lot should be decided today.

A note on playoffs:

For Premier Divisions who have multiple rounds, and the New England Elite, playoffs start next weekend.
For Divisions with single rounds including all other Elite Divisions, playoffs start March 10th.

NCDC

In the South, Mercer (third) hosts Wilkes-Barre (seventh)

Connecticut (fourth) hosts the Hitmen (first)

Rockets (fifth) hosts P.A.L. (second)

The Rangers are one point behind Mercer with a game in hand. The Rockets are two points behind Connecticut and have two games in hand on them.

The Hitmen are the only team that have clinched. P.A.L. is eight points behind them in the race, so today’s results won’t settle first.

A P.A.L. win or a Mercer loss will clinch a spot for P.A.L. P.A.L. holds the tiebreaker. No one can be eliminated today

In the North, Junior Bruins (sixth) host Islanders Hockey Club (seventh). A loss by either team will eliminate them.

Cyclones (third) host the Advantage. Cyclones could bump the idle Kings who are 2nd and 1 point up.

USPHL PREMIER CONFERENCE

FLORIDA

Atlanta (second) hosts Tampa (third). Last two games this weekend for both, Atlanta lead Tampa by a point. They will face each other in the postseason.

Eels (first) host Blades (fourth), Palm Beach (fifth) host Columbia.

Palm Beach, with a game in hand, trail the Blades by one point for the fourth and final spot. The two teams play each other twice next weekend. It can’t be decided until then.

NEW ENGLAND

Pics (fourth) host South Shore (eighth).

A Pics win will lock up fourth and set up the Bandits in fifth as playoff visitors.

MID-ATLANTIC

Hershey (sixth) hosts Wilkes-Barre (second)

Elmira (seventh) hosts the Aviators (first)

PAL (eighth) hosts Utica (fourth)

Hampton hosts the Hitmen (10th)

First, a P.A.L. win or a Hitmen loss gives P.A.L. the 8th and final slot. They would visit the Aviators in a Long Island showdown.

The Elmira and Hershey match-ups repeat tomorrow, when both will close their seasons.

Elmira is down by one point and will visit Wilkes-Barre, unless they pull an upset this weekend and Hershey doesn’t.

A Utica loss gives the idle Rockets possession of third. If Utica wins, the Jr. Comets will need a two-game sweep next weekend to finish third, when they host the Rockets for two games.

MIDWEST WEST

The Ox (39 points) host Isanti (41 points)

Riverkings (fourth) host Steele County (41 points)

Last game of the season for all four teams.

An Ox loss means seventh place and a trip to the Squatch. If that is coupled with a Blades loss, the fifth place Outlaws visit the Riverkings and the Blades visit the Moose.

That’s one of eight possible outcomes if the three games end in regulation.

If the Ox win, they hold the tiebreaker over Isanti

Steele hold the tiebreaker over Isanti if either both win or both lose.

The H2H is non-deciding if the Ox and Blades are tied, but the Blades would take it on Most Wins.

All three teams are visitors next weekend, so where to is what’s at stake.

MIDWEST EAST

Motor City (third) host Cincinnati

Crush (fifth) host MJDP (two)

An MJDP win locks them into 2nd and has them hosting Decatur.

A loss has them in the 2-3-4 conversation with Motor City and the idle Cougars.

All three teams have home ice.

PACIFIC

Las Vegas clinched second place and home ice yesterday.

San Diego (fourth) hosts Ontario (third) today

San Diego are one point back with a game in hand.

They need to win today to take third.

Ontario has the tiebreaker, so an OT loss won’t be enough to keep them in the hunt for third.

MOUNTAIN

Pueblo (fourth) hosts Vernal

Utah (first) hostsProvo (fifth)

Idaho Falls (sixth) hosts Northern Colorado (third)

If NoCo win, they will finish third and Pueblo will finish fourth.

An Eagles’ loss and a Bulls win won’t clinch third for Pueblo today, but will keep things in play.

Provo and Idaho Falls are neck and neck for fifth and sixth. Idaho Falls are a point behind with a game in hand.

Both teams are traveling to Colorado for the first round.

NORTHWEST

Bellingham and Rogue Valley are tied for 4th with 20 points and two games remaining against each other.

Whoever gets the most points this weekend goes to Vernal next weekend.

If they split, Rogue Valley gets the nod on the tiebreaker.

SOUTHEAST

Carolina (fifth) hosts Charlotte (first)

Potomac (second) hosts Richmond (third)

A Charlotte win or a Potomac loss solidifies first and second.

Nashville sit in fourth and are done for the year.

Carolina are 3 points behind with three games remaining with the Rush. Carolina hold the tiebreaker vs. Nashville. Nashville can only wait to see if the Rush can help them out.

ELITE CONFERENCE

In New England, there is nothing left to be decided. Not so in the Mid-Atlantic.

Elmira (sixth) hosts the Aviators (fourth)

The Rockets (third) host P.A.L. (fifth)

The Hitmen (second) visit Hampton Roads

The next Hitmen win or Aviator loss will clinch second and home ice.

A P.A.L. loss and and an Aviator win will eliminate P.A.L. and clinch Aviators and Rockets

In Florida, Atlanta hosts Tampa (second), Palm Beach hosts Columbia (fifth)

Atlanta and Palm Beach are tied for third. Palm Beach have two in hand and will play them next weekend (Hurricane Ian postponement)

Palm Beach and Atlanta have clinched. We’re just watching and waiting to see who draws the Eels in the playoffs.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Potomac (third) hosts Richmond (fourth)

Carolina (first) hosts Charlotte (second)

First and fourth are set. With two games left each, the Patriots are a point behind the Rush. Their weekend matches will determine who gets last change when they meet in March.

Their H2H tiebreaker doesn’t solve anything, so let’s hope the standings do.

Games of Feb. 15-21

North Division

Submitted By Joshua Boyd

Forward: Loik LeClerc, Springfield Pics

LeClerc (‘03/Mont-Tremblant, Que.) put together four goals and one assist during his three games at the South Shore Kings Presidents Day Showcase. This included a hat trick against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, the Mid-Atlantic Division champions. In 14 Elite games, LeClerc has posted 11 points.

Defense: Thatcher Berman, Springfield Pics

Berman (‘06/Blandford, Mass.) is a lifelong Pic who has come up through the levels, including playing two 15U seasons – his first, as a 14-year-old. He continues to show a maturity beyond his years in being one of the blueline leaders for the Elite Pics. He put up a pair of assists for two goals as the Pics came away with a victory from the SSK Showcase. He has 11 points in 40 games this year.

Goaltender: Luca Bruns, Bridgewater Jr. Bandits

Bruns played one of his best games of the season as he pulled off a 2-0 shutout victory against the Rockets Hockey Club. Bruns turned away all 33 shots he faced for his 13th victory of the year for 13-11-1-1 record, while putting up his second shutout of the year.

Mid-Atlantic Division

Summaries By Marlee Bulman

Forward: John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club

Crowdell (03/Staten Island, N.Y.) had 11 points in Foxboro this weekend on 2 goals and 9 assists, lengthening his lead in the Scoring Title race for the entire USPHL Elite Division for the season. In 42 games, he has a line of 28-50-78 and a slim three-point lead on his nearest competition.

Defense: Samuel Russo, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Number 9 of the Mid-Atlantic Division-leading Knights put in four games played and posted a 3-3-6, leading to four straight wins and one shutout for his team. The former Hoosac School defenseman has 15-10-25 in 40 games.

Goaltender: Frankie Smith, Jersey Hitmen

For our goaltender, we have a 34-save shutout by Frankie Smith of the Jersey Hitmen. Smith made the most saves of any Elite goalie in a shutout last weekend for his first, this coming against the Elmira Jr. Enforcers.