Week of Jan. 19, 2024
Games of Jan. 10-17, 2024
Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
Florida Division
Forward: Cooper Ireland, Florida Jr. Blades
Ireland (‘04/Bangor, Maine) had a dynamite weekend against the Palm Beach Typhoon in putting up a 3-3-6 line in the two games, with a 2-2-4 performance on Dec. 11. He has 25 points in 32 games for this season, and he has a total of 12 points over each of his first six games for 2024.
Defense: Albin Rainersson, Bold City Battalion
Rainersson (‘03/Umea, Sweden) has jumped right into the fold with the Battalion after starting earlier this month, and he had a great three-day weekend in Atlanta. He put up two goals and two assists for four points, with 26:48 per game of ice time on average. He has six points in six Premier games, to go with the three points he posted in eight games with the NCDC Islanders Hockey Club this year.
Goaltender: Tommy Baker, Florida Jr. Blades
Baker (‘05/Soldotna, Alaska) joined the Jr. Blades after starting the season at the Midget level with the Windy City Storm AAA, and he’s already paid great dividends. This includes a 35-save shutout victory against the Palm Beach Typhoon, which was his first Premier/junior victory.
Southeast Division
Forward: Evan Miles, Hampton Roads Whalers
The longtime Whaler and local out of Chesapeake, Va., Miles (‘03) put up four goals – including a hat trick on Jan. 13 – in a pair of victories against the Columbia Infantry. He was a co-leader of the team in plus-minus with a +6 and led the team in shots on goal with 13 in the series. He stands with 29 points in 30 games for this season, his best total in a Premier season yet.
Defense: John Rangel, Hampton Roads Whalers
Rangel (‘03/Corona, Calif.) recently played in his 110th game with the Premier Whalers to reach the top 10 all-time for that category. Rangel was all over the ice for the sweep of Columbia, over which he put up a goal and two assists for three points. He now has 26 points for the season, a career single season best. He hit the ice for 22:56 per game and co-led in plus-minus with Miles at +6 apiece.
Goaltender: Josh Kirton, Potomac Patriots
Kirton (‘03/London, Ont.) returned to the Patriots after last playing with the team in 2021-22. And boy was his return a success – a 22-save shutout to defeat Carolina in a 4-0 victory. His new overall record is 6-1-0-0 with a .912 save percentage.
