USPHL Elite Players Of The Month – January 2023: Mid-Atlantic Division

Summaries by Marlee Bulman

Forwards

Eric McHale, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights

Left wing McHale (‘05/Maple Shade, N.J.) led all Elite players in scoring for the month of January. Over 10 games played, McHale posted 9 goals and 16 assists for 23 points to help bring the Knights straight wins and one shutout for January. They have not lost in regulation in 18 games, putting up a 17-0-1-0 record through Feb. 5. McHale is second in scoring with 63 points in 36 games.

Jared Showen, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Also with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights, Showen (‘03/Brushton, N.Y.) put up eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points, including one game-winning goal last month. He scored his 20 points in all but one January game, with six being multi-point games, including five in a row. Showen has 87 points in 57 Elite games to date.

John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club

Crowdell (’03/Staten Island, N.Y.) put up six goals and 10 assists for 16 points through 11 games and is currently the USPHL Elite’s leading scorer with 68 points in 36 games. The Rockets picked up four wins in January as they pursue a Mid-Atlantic Division playoff berth. Crowdell registered all of his points in an eight-game point streak through January.

Defense

Matt DiCarlo, Jersey Hitmen

DiCarlo (’04/Saddle Brook, N.J.) posted nine games and picked up a 1-5-6 line, including a power play goal he put up against the Florida Jr. Blades en route to a Jersey Hitmen win at the USPHL Tampa Showcase. DiCarlo has 25 points in 37 games this year, and 37 points in 75 games over two years.

Oliver Kiel Staarup, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Left defenseman Oliver Kiel Straarup (‘04/Herning, Denmark), wearing number 23, had a crazy month. Playing in 10 games, the defenseman posted five goals and three assists for the Knights, who continue to dominate the Mid-Atlantic, leading by 24 points. Kiel Straarup stands with 21 points in 28 games this season.

Goaltender

Dylan Boughen, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

With winners at each position, we have again another player from the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Knights, goaltender Dylan Boughen (‘04/Bedford, N.S.) In January, Number 33 posted a 1.72 against average over 348 minutes. With 195 saves on 205 shots, he posted a .951 save percentage, one shutout and a sparkling clean 6-0-0-0 record on the month. Boughen is undefeated in regulation this year at 13-0-2 with a 2.35 GAA and .931 save percentage for the season.