By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
The National Collegiate Development Conference congratulates its selections for the 2023 NCDC All-Star “Best of the Best” Game, set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Mass. We are announcing each team this week in two sets – forwards in one set and defensemen and goaltenders in another.
Every one of these players was voted on by the NCDC’s coaches, and every player is greatly deserving of the honor to be named as an All-Star and to wear the All-Star jersey on Feb. 21.
Rosters, while being announced this week, are subject to change due to injuries or illnesses.
Team National (White Jerseys – Home Team)
Goaltenders
Jake Fillion
New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs • 6/17/2003 • 5-11/159 • L • Granby, Mass.
A star stopper with Deerfield Academy prior to his arrival in Hooksett, N.H., Fillion continues to be among the very best in the NCDC, with his 2.24 goals against average ranking third, and 13 wins good for fourth. He made a huge impression right off the bat this season, posting back-to-back 24-save shutouts at the BJB Shootout on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Nicholas Bevilacqua
Boston Advantage • 8/6/2003 • 5-10/189 • L • Abington, Mass.
A career Advantage player and second-year NCDC goalie, Bevilacqua is easily the most-improved goaltender in the league year over year. He currently ranks third in wins with 15, while also posting a 2.88 GAA and .912 save percentage so far this season.
Jacob Torgner
South Shore Kings • 11/21/2003 • 6-1/195 • L • Mjolby, Sweden
Another veteran goaltender, Torgner was signed by the Kings in November and has been an outstanding addition, putting up a 2.47 goals against average, good for fifth in the league, and a .926 save percentage over his 14 games. Torgner was the anchor of the goaltending crew of the former Philadelphia Hockey Club NCDC squad last year.
Defensemen
Zander Lizotte
New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs • 2/20/2002 • 5-8/162 • L • Scarborough, Maine
The Jr. Monarchs’ all-time defenseman scoring leader continues to put up an A+ performance in Year 3 with the Monarchs, ranking seventh in the league in scoring (25 points) and fifth in assists (19). Lizotte is fourth all-time in Monarchs scoring with 59 points and second in games played at 115 since joining the team in 2020-21.
Charlie Ross
Northern Cyclones • 1/25/2003 • 6-3/180 • R • St. Louis, Mo.
A USPHL veteran since 2019-20, Ross first hit NCDC ice in 2020-21, and is now a second-year blueline leader for the Cyclones after a 2021-22 trade from the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs. Ross is four games away from crossing the 100-game milestone, and he has 42 points over that stretch. This season, Ross has 15 points in 34 games, and he leads NCDC defensemen in shorthanded goals (two) and points (three). This is Ross’ second time as a USPHL All-Star, having also been a member of the 16U All-Stars in 2020.
Conor Lally
Boston Advantage • 7/19/2002 • 5-10/170 • R • Scarborough, Maine
Lally is enjoying his fourth USPHL season and second NCDC campaign with the Advantage. Originally a member of the Islanders Hockey Club 16U (where he won a league championship with current Team American teammate Patrick Somerville), Lally has been one of the top offensive blueliners in the league for two years. He is currently tied for fourth with 27 points, and he is among the leaders in power play assists and points. Lally has 50 points in 84 career NCDC games.
Noah-David Dayan
Boston Advantage • 1/3/2003 • 5-10/181 • L • St.-Laurent, Que.
Dayan has played in parts of four NCDC seasons going back to 2019-20. At 95 games, he is close to crossing the 100-game milestone, and continues to be a very effective two-way defenseman. He is currently 10th in league defenseman scoring with 20 points, and he has 37 points for his career.
Charlie Killian
South Shore Kings • 1/4/2002 • 5-10/191 • L • Mendota Heights, Minn.
Killian is a third-year Tier II veteran in his second season of NCDC hockey. Over 61 games in the league, he has an impressive 31 points, with 19 of those coming over his 34 games played with South Shore this year. He is certainly very adept in the back with 219 takeaways on the season, as well.
Nicholas Pomerleau
Twin City Thunder • 4/13/2003 • 5-9/160 • R • Lewiston, Maine
A great example of #USPHLAdvancement in action, Pomerleau had a strong season with the USPHL Premier’s Thunder last year and earned four games with the NCDC squad in 2021-22. Now a full-time blueline leader for the Thunder, Pomerleau has posted 20 points to tie for 10th in NCDC defenseman scoring.
